The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-04
When Minneapolis
Goes to Lunch
4 RTIFICIAL class distinctions
~ disappear when hungry indi-
- viduals are satisfying the crav-

Il n viduals are satisfying the crav-
| ings Of the inner man.
Hence it is there is no time more
opportune for study of human nature
than the busy noon lunch hour, and no
! place more demonstrative Of the democ-
racy Of the usually undemocratic than
| the "quick lunch,' downtown res
| taurant.
At the bustling lunch counter, the
hurried millionaire often rubs elbows
with his business neighbours office boy,
and very likely the price Of their lunch
cons is checked off on thumb-marked
tickets in the same figures. With the
former, it is case Of fall he wants. -
With the latter, case Of "a1l he can
get.''
The restaurant at the "rush'' hour
is humming loudly with the noise of
conversation. Business, politics, relig-
ion, and in fact every subject, is dis
cussed between mouthfuls Of sandwiches
and sips Of steaming coffee. IF the
scintillationsr Of wit and humor in the
different localities could be sifted out
and put together, they would each noon
make up a bunch Of good stories on
prominent men Of the city. Above the
noisy chatter Of conversation is fire.
quently to be heard the call of the
walters by "wireless telephone - to the
cooks, ham and, "plate of wheats,''
"beans and,' accompanied by the in
cessant clatter of somewhat roughly
handled, unbreakable dishes. j.,
Some Eat at Tables.
Several degrees more comfortable, but
considerably slower by necessity of
service, is the moderate priced res
taurant where food is served at tables.
Here there is larger per cent Of fem
ininity. The CHATTER Of serving and
cooking utensils is confined to distant
kitchen. The waiting maids take their
orders in subdued tones, and if they
are eventually shouted to the cook, the
shouting is beyond the hearing of the
guests. To such restaurants, HE bust
ness women, stenographers, clerks, and
men who do not have to return to their
, Offices fifteen minutes after leaving
them. -
Many of these business men sit in the
same place every day. Some have done
SO for years. In many cases chairs at
tables are turned up' for the "regu.
lars" every: day that the transients
may not usurp the places. Tables of
"regulars are generally jolly places
Dignity of commercial life unbends
stories are exchanged, good-natured
} jibes are passed, and hearty laughs arc
frequent. There is generally good
natured Bohemian" familiarity exist
ing between the regular guests and the
al w oh 90 hi,
tables. -. ..t..
4 = II Department Store Lunch.
OF recent years, that wonderful com
mercial hive and product of twentieth
century competition and enterprise, the
great department store, has entered
the "noon lunch' field. It is no longer
necessary for the woman who wants tt
[ spend most Of the day shopping, te
rush out of the store at noon to some
> restaurant, and then return. She sim
ply steps into the department store
+ elevator and is taken to the tearoon
> where she may enjoy tastefully served
| refreshment.
r The saloon is an important factor ii
: the :" noon lunch" trade. Perhaps hal;
| the saloons now cater to this business
I This is testified to by the signs which
= greet the eye at the noon hour in from
!. of so many saloons. VA ...%.c
= "Soup and roast beef with potatoes
: today, and a glass Of beer-for II
f cents" or sign Of similar characte
is frequently to be seen.
e And to the poor fellow who has bu
t a small silver coin and large, health,
t appetite, the advertisement is yer,
e tempting. Hundreds Of men dali,
e patronize liquor houses for noon lunch
o The foreign visitor when he become
/, acquainted with the American habit O.
n gulping down noon lunch in as short
e time as possible, stands agast. It i
e especially hard for the English mer
T chant, who likes to take an hour an,
8 half to his noon meal, to understan,
how his American competitor who i
equally successful, perhaps more SO, cal
stand for such indigestion creatin
Q methods. Yet the rush lunch is doubt
$ less here to stay, with poor and rio
/ alike Eating at noon, while a salts
y faction to the cravings of the stomach
is at the same time looked upon by to
), many business men as something to b
r passed over in the shortest possibl
n time. And so it is, that while Amer
d lean industry among individuals is O
d the increase, Indigestion has also be
d come more general s.