Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-23
LUNCHEON In CHICAGO
PLENTY OF TINE TAKEN FOB IT
BY BUSINESS MEN.
Will Get to Once Early, Work Furious
ly, but Eat at Ease at
Midday.
From the New York Tribune.

From the New York Tribune.
There is just one place In the hours Of
business in which the Chicago man OF af-
fairs forgets that he is in hurry. remem-
bers that the world was not made In a day
and that engines which run under a full
head of SIAM all the time are soon worn
out. This place is his luncheon club. and
he does not consider two hours any too
much time to spend there. The New York
man OF similar position would consider
spending two hours over the MONDAY meal
almost criminal waste of time but the
Chicago man knows that lie will work all
the harder the rest of the afternoon by
loafing through four or five courses at
luncheon
The Chicago business day begins earlier
than 1t does in New York. The difference
o. an hour In time between New York and
Chicago may have something to do with IL,
for no matter how strenuously the windy
city may deny 1t Gotham remains its pulse.
When the New York Stock Exchange opens
Tor business IL is . o'clock in Chicago. and
the hustle and hustle of the business day
are well under way. In fact, one will find
a great many men of affairs in their offices
at o clock.
The pace is tremendous one until noon.
II the Chicago man has business on the
street he goes to IL like n countryman
headed for fire or a New York policeman
getting away from trouble. He does not
walk, but lopes along, lodging his fellows.
scurrying from crossing to crossing. The
business district of Chicago is not drawn
out in long, slim line from a Battery to
42d street, as it is in New York. dozen
blocks square. contain the ma jor portion OF
ft-retail, wholesale and financial. There
Is less riding In cars and cabs. for one can
go faster on foot, especially II ii is Chi
cago foot.
Telephone and Cab Bells.
The average Chicago office is an exhibit
m 90 tEs,-A
phones and tickers are attached to the
chiefs desk. Push buttons to call his as
sistants run along the entire front OF the
of one side of his mouth and chews black
cigars on the other side If you get TO him
with your proposition at all you know that
you Will have only two or three minutes at
most to put IT before him. But then your
time Is as valuable as his and you learn
perforce to be concise
So pass the hours from o'clock until
11:45 o'clock. An early breakfast means
an early luncheon, for the Chicago appe-
lite, like the CHICAGO Deal-always with a
capital letter-is tremendous. Like a fire.
man turning out TO a midnight alarm, the
Chicago man slips into his coat, for OF
course, he has been working in shirt
sleeves, grabs his hat and rushes of to his
luncheon club But at the portals OF his
club change comes over him. He forgets
that he has ever been In a hurry remem-
to spare to the enjoyment of luncheon, 40
minutes away from business and Deals.
Perhaps the man you have been watch
ing through the morning rush is a member
of the Midday Club II So he steps into a
private elevator and is whisked to the top
floor of the new building OF the First Ma
tional Bank, which is in the heart OF the
business district. The club was organized
two years ago. when the corner stone OF the
new bank building was laid. II has been
In active operation for about six months.
Where They Eat.
He goes into an enormous room. paneIed
high in white With great windows on three
sides and a skylight of stained glass over
1t all. 1t Is as bright and airy room as
one could possibly find in Chicago, where
thousands Of factory stacks spout the thick
smoke of soft coal twenty four hours n day
Just in front of the entrance to this
luncheon room is a large serving table load
ed with the food which Is served cold
There are most inviting roasts of beef and
lamb Turkey and chicken are there await
ing the carving knife. Huge dishes OF salad
of various sorts form the outworks, and
there are piles OF berries and fruit in a
most appetizing array. All this by way OF
suggestion.
The Chicago man looks IT over and makes
a mental note of the dishes which appeal to
him. Then he seeks his faverite table, fall
ing into step with college chum bust
ness friend his way down the room.
They inspect the menu of hot dishes with
care, and eventually write out most gem
erous order.
There is a wine card on the back OF the
menu, but at luncheon the Chicago man
touches it most lightly. A few indulge in a
cocktail More pass over the appetizer for
a Scotch and soda, which is served with
the roast. 1t contains very little Scotch
and much soda in a tall glass. The noon
meal does not end the Chicago mans busl-
ness day as New York's , clock luncheon
Goes for many successful Gothamtes
The Tribune correspondent tried to get at
the reason for the luncheon situation Why
it that men who were in breathless
hurry all the rest of the business day could
take two hours out of the middle of II and
seem to forget that they lived for anything
but good fellowship and a fine meal?
The mostly likely answer seemed to be:
I'VE don't have to hurry at luncheon, for
there is no hurry about getting home. We
do not have suburban homes a rule like
so many New Workers. and II suits us bet
ter to let up for a while in the middle of the
day, even though we have to keep at IT,
afterward until 4 or o'clock in the after
noon"