Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-16
TWO MEALS A DAY
AND FRENCH EAT
MUCH LESS THAN FORMERLY.

from the New York Tribune.
Long ago a number of thoughtful persons
discovered that by emitting breakfast and
making the midday meal the first of the
day they were healthier and brighter in
every way. For those who wished to re-
duce flesh the system of dispensing with
breakfast did away with two or three
pounds day, and if hot water was drunk
instead of the usual cup of coffee results
were still better.
Luncheon and dinner thus constituted the
two meals of the day and proved sufficient
for those who tried the plan and expert
enced no unpleasant results by lost strength
or vitality, although the weight was re-
duced
Now an equally strenuous cry has arisen
Tor no luncheon as Il means to better
health and achievement in business. The
no-luncheon advocates claim that, while the
system requires some nourishment after the
long all-nght fast, the pause between
breakfast ard the early American dinner is
DarbarouS and deadening TO the accomplish
ment of any business success during the
later hours of the day.
The luncheon of the New York business
man and business woman has become one
OF the institutions of the day downtown.
The business done by the various restaur-
ants and hotels of all grades is enormous,
and if vote could be taken the general
opinion doubtless would be that the lunch
con is necessary and healthful meal as
well pleasant break IN the monotony
of offices and counting rooms.
The restaurant that does the most exclu-
sive of the downtown catering for luncheon
nowadays claims that its trade is larger
than that of the dinner and supper trade
combined of any of the large uptown hotel
dining rooms.
THE no-luncheon idea might be a good
one for persons who do not rise until very
late in the day and then take a large
breakfast" said the manager of this res
taurant That L believe, is the rule with
late breakfasters, and it is an excellent
one. But the average business man who
comes 10 his New York office leaves his
nome at an early hour and rule does
not stop for a very hearty breakfast
The American breakfast is taken in a
hurry, and consists usually of a cup of
coffee or cocoa, and some rolls and fruit.
Then a man rushes for his train or car.
and by the time u or 1 o'clock comes
al ound he has genuine appetite for lunch
con, and 1t is no longer the hurried lunch
eoh of a few years ago.
The midday meal has become the one
lelsurely and luxurious meal of the day
with many business men and women for
their dinner, like their breakfast is usually
hurried affair, owing to theater or social
engagements
There is nothing at all light about the
luncheons we serve, as a general thing. al
though we have a few clam juice and
cracker customers. We have to provide
everything that goes to make up a dinner,
from the oysters to the dessert and we pro-
vide tons of extras in the way of Holsters
entrees, cold dishes and German dishes
that are popular
Desserts of all kinds are in great demand
with our men customers. Men are fonder
OF sweets nowadays than women-or they
indulge themselves more in them. Women
are afraid of their compilations and of
gaining in weight, and they are not willing
to spend as much on what they eat as
men.
Il should say that, judging by the mid
day meals we put up each week. the no.
breakfast rule is in favor with American
business men. If they ate large breakfasts
they could not possibly keep up the pace
which they set here each day from 1890
until 3, and sometimes 4, o'clock
This you know, e in accordance with
the French custom of beginning the day
with the grande dejeuner, a comprehensive
and satisfying meal, not so much like a
dinner as the American luncheon. For in
stance, the meal will begin with radishes,
SardineS or anchoVieS ecrevettes
Then there will be Il dish of delicate
hsh-more delicate than a dinner fsh-or
else a chop with peas or spinach. Then
some fowi or birds en- casserole, salad.
cheese, sweet and coffee. But there Is
plenty OF time taken over it, and nothing
Is eaten until dinner. The French do NOT
go in much for Afternoon tea, although they
do drink coffee in the afternoons
THE French methods of eating are DIFF
ferent from the English and very much like
the American-so there may be some reason
for the belief that the nations are some
what similar in their tastes. The French
dinner like the American dinner is not
very heavy. The English dinner is ire
mendous.
1--WE hear so often about the foolish way
in which women order luncheon. This may
be true of the shopping woman, but the
business woman who lunches downtown
knows how to order sensibly and econOm-
ically. Women, a rule. have one dish
of some sort with a salad, or if two of
them have luncheon together they will al
ways have a more extensive meal.
american women-that is, the women of
leisure-are getting very fond of the 5
O'Clock tea al hotels. All the fashionable
places are making speciality of serving
an unusually dainty and attractive tea
wear their pretty gowns and hats and
see other women's buds.
"Qf course this will not appeal to the
woman whose social cares are Iegion-but
in spite of all we hear of the rapid pace
at which New Workers live, there are a
lot of women immersed in the duties OF
caring for their homes and their childden.
of meals and even making their own ana
their children's clothes.
ITO such women the notion OF getting
away for Afternoon where there are
pretty costumes and perhaps a little music
is an attractive one, and the hotel managers
have learned that fact and are making this
one of the most important and also profit
able functions of the day.
''They are providing extra menus OF the
special sweets served at the o'clock tea
table, and at one hotel there are spread out
on long table with dishes containing the
different dainties lighted candles and plen-
ty of flowers There are also flowers on the
small tables and program OF light music
popular airs"