The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-12

their parents, II had TO wait also until
every cocktail had been paid for, the rune
Of the establishment being that extras must
be paid for on delivery.
Meantime the regulars were having q
sociable time. They seemed 10 know each
other and TO meet as II II were q great family
party. Most OF them looked hke Italians:
but there were a few 6paniards n several
who were unmistakably Of English origin.
These last were women, wives Of the
foreigners. Notone OF them could speak the
language Of her husband, and the result
was that most OF the conversation at both
tables was in English. and surprisingly good
En- lish too. .
This would have interested bis fogyship
II he hadn't been so hungry, n he listened
unsympathetically while the professor and
the pianist snapped yarns about touring
the Tvrol, and having finished their cock
tails began on their red wine. Across the
table the american wife OF an Italian was
p~ersuading' her little daughter not to open
a box Of candy until the meat courses had
been served. her husband was talking shop
with his next neighbor, and a group Of four
at the end Of the table had further delayed
the normal procedure by ordering the boy
to bring a huge flask OF Chant to supple
ment the ordtndire.
II was getting to be really serious when
at half past Z the hard working boy an
peared with a very large platter which he
set among the wine bottles at the emo OF
llc IdDlC uIlO NoN No"h
stairs for another. The platter was
covered with sliced sausage and stripped
ham.
The persons at the table end helped them
selves literally and passed the platter along.
II was bare long before it reached the pro-
fessor's group and the bows next incursion
was for the purpose OF delivering a platter
to the other table.
IAN things come TO him who waits
murmured the professor, TRANQUILITY, n
still waiting for their appehsers: the old
fogy. held his peace. but he thought dread
full thoughts.
More platters came up and were act
moving along the tables. Naturally the
professors group wa attended to last.
for they were strangers and might never
come again.
When the platter finally came 70 the
old fogy there was just ono small. slice
OF sausage left on it. He took It without
protest. for he would have gone without
rather thar DELAY the serving OF the dinner
proper by insisting on his share.
The patrons piled all the emptv matters
together and the bow made two trins in
removing them to the Lower regions. Then
he staPpered upstairs with an immense
turAen of boiled spaghetti.
This WIS in lieu Of SOUP and for the cnlv
tiuls in the course Of the meal the hov had
assistance for the proprietor himself.
c~oatless like tho waiter, brought I'M an
other tureen. Two theirs came also In
time. and eventually one was pushed In
front Of the old fopv.
He had watched the regular patrons
az they helped themselves. skilfullv twin
ing the spaghetti on . fork and using a
spoon TO helm carry n great mass from tu-
reen to plate. and he did likewise as best
he could. but with restraint admirable
In view of his furnished condition he took
no more than q halt portion.
SH should eat q whole platPful,r he
explained tn the professor. At shouldn't
have room for the meats"
The professor. wiser II not hungrier,
took a big portion. and so did the pianist,
who had already begun to praise the quail
itv % the wine. He emptied his own bottle
and helped himself, TO the old fogy's.
There is no dispute about the quality
OF he spaghetti. It was very good, but
the old foRy's prudent restraint reacted
in the most unfortunate manner. for as
subseouent courses came SLOWLY on-there
we're two meats and a ealad-the regulars
invariably cleaned the platters before they
got as far as the professors party. >.
The old fogy managed to get a small
piece OF mutton and one-half OF a chicken
leg. but every scrap OF salad was o before
even the experienced professor had a chance
at the bowl. The pianist filled up or bread
and wine and had a thoroughly good time.
He said so himself, and the genial professor
manifested his ~.oontentment by singing
nVm0k IN n klDI VI I6llllllbCSut butF-bdbo
that scandaIised the old foEy dreadfully.
For goodness sake!" he whispered.
don't attract attention to US whereupon
the professor raised his voice and chanted
raucously;
Here I'll raise my Ebenezer.
Hither by thy help I'm come.
which led the italian and Spanish con-
tingent to pound the table and call 'Loude !"
''More!" and things like that.
sNo No . eaiI The nr0fouaAr rnnIaaflv
Il really can't sing. I'm only absent minded. v
You didn't need to add that qualification,
muttered the old fogy, Grossly. Il wish
they'd bring coffee. I wonder IL it will be
as hard to get out as it was to get IMP.
Don less hurry" urged the pianist.
Mos exlen' wine. Helluvagood dinner
Bestimeverad,"
Somebody sprung q joke In Italian tina
made the foreign contingent laugh heartily
The pianist caught the infection and chortled
till the tears ran, though he hadn't under
stood a word.
Coffee was passed around at last, a little
after 0 O'Clock. and Immediately thereafter
the old fogey broke away, convinced tn at
a conventional a la carte place on Broad
way was good enough for him. Tit rest of
the company was divided between listening
to a Spaniard who a n an English love
song in a superb tenor voice at one table
and a funny story in Italian at the other.
The proprietor, still in his shirt sleeves
guarded the basement door. He let the
strangers out without question on payment
OF IS cents each. That was il. Dinner,
with wine, IS cents.
1t explained the difficulty Of getting in
Rampolli saved expenses by neglecting TO
take out a license, and his successor has
adopted the same economical policy.