New-York tribune., 1908-05-18
CHEF TO LEARN SLANG
CAN'T DO DISHES JUSTICE.
american Idioms Puzzled Escofcr TN
Talk zcith Reporters.

M. Esconler the French chef. has made up his
mind to study English He is about fifty years
old, but he believes II Is too late to learn.
and anyway he thinks even brief study Of the
language will enable him to express his views
direct to the ship news reporters when he arrives
here three months hence.
Escofier's intention Of taking up English was
learned through correspondence received here yes
terday from . fellow passenger who accompanied
the chef to Hamburg on the last eastward passage
OF the Hamburg American liner Deutschland
1t was intimated that the greatest chef In all
Paris pleased with America and her people
that zee gran new deesch." which he Is evolving
will be a roast with a new sauce. and will most
likely be called Partridge la Americafn
NJ Escofner said he was pleased with everything
he IN America. but the one experience that
did not come up to his ideas Of American perfec-
ton his interview on board the Deutschland
when he arrived here.
IF could talk to the gentlemen direct" he Is
quoted as saying, "I could tell them much better
just what 1 The id:om. ah IT is the French
idiom that they cannot grasp. Then they give
me the idiome American, which means nothing to
me, and I cannot reply. Then the translator Is
at a loss. Maybe will learn . little Of what you
call American slang"
The extraction of interview from NJ. Escoft1er
when he came up the bay the Deutschland on
his first visit to America several weeks ago was
accomplished by seven reporters and two inter
prefers.
NJ. Escofher smiled when he was told what zee
seven journaleests' had assembled for. and said
in French that he wouId-as the great President
would say-be delighted II zee correct man" could
be found to translate.
But possibly some OF the learned '.Journaieests
could speak French. The seven wise were
sorry, but they had not had the advantage of az
other tongue. Escofler laughed outright. He did
not think. Of course, that the gentlemen were en-
idiom again, and the outlook for interview
seemed at its nadir.
There was a hurried search Of the steamer. and
steward who spoke French and German and
understood little English brought before
zee gran chef He able to convey the
questions OF the reporters to Escof1er, but
unable to give in return the reply OF the chef.
Another search Of the vessel brought forth stew
ard who could speak English and German, and
with his able support the first American interview
Of the first chef in all France" began
The first set of questions concerning his age and
general history delivered fairly well. and ths
replies were sufficient for publication. but a look
Of CONSERVATION came the face Of Escofier
when the following question was set in motion:
do you think French cooking conducive TO
Bright's diseaseT'
BY the time It reached the OF tho chef he
was led to believe that the reporters wanted to
know II his dishes caused those who partook
thereof 70 contract the "nlaladie brilliant"
Certainly, he had never heard Of person getting
a brilliant disease from eating, and such thing
anything he had devised.
Escoff1er did not wholly approve Of the round
about method of transatng. and the question on
Bright's disease, which he believed to be an Amer
lean joke. did not please HIM But he continued
to talk cheerfully enough until the final question
came, and it almost staggered him.
The "seveen journaeests.' who by this time had
warmed up to the interview, begged Of the stew
ard who spoke French and German and under
stood little English TO ask Escoff1er II there had
been many cases OF ptomaine poisoning IN any
OF the big restaurants in Paris. The steward
thought he understood. and when the question was
conveyed in French to Escofffer the latter looked
puzzled and raised his brow Then he replied IN
French to steward No 1, who converted the
thought into German and passed It on TO steward
No. e. Steward No 2, who spoke only German
and English. replied that Escofer had never heard
of any In the whole world. much less IN \
France, who had had his main toe poisoned by
eating anything in any restaurant 1t was usually
In the stomach that poorly prepared food had
caused the poisoning.
Escofier has lived twenty years IN London. but !
has cared to study English. II is said he |
will either talk direct TO the press when he re- !
turns to New York in September avoid in |