Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-27

Good-by Corn Pone and Home
Made Pie-Adios to the Little
Plate of Cold Slaw-But Here's
. Hoping You'll Be Back on
Time.
BY WALTER TAYLOR.


II will open again. but that makes no
difference now to the thousands that have
been eating there for a generation.
1t will reopen in about 80 days in a new
dress. The costume 1t has worn for
years will be torn away and when the
doors are flung wide again IL will be COW
cred with fashionable attire.
But the old-timers will miss it for a
month. Today they are looking ror some
other place where they may eat and be
satisfied. Many of them took part Thurs
day In the final scenes incident 10 the dis
mantling of the rooms wnere they had
fed for years. Others stood about and
looked on and talked of the old days when
things were different.
Perhaps the man who is most distressed
over the changed situation is i. Il. Fol
som, who founded and owns the business.
II don't know whether l like this
thing" he said over and over as ne walk
ed about the litter-strewn rooms.
The patrons of the Reading room res
taurant," for that has been IT'S name for
10 these many years, have not been con-
fined to any one class In the ney day OF
his glory John L. Sullivan rook dinner
there and said the corn pone he got would
make q man strong enough to whip the
world. Politicians made it their headquar-
tiers and more than one campaign Of state
and national Importance has been planned
within it's walls
STARTED BY PROHIBITION.
Prohibition founded the place "a years
ago Before that Mr.. Folsom operated
saloon, billiard hall, barber shop and
bath rooms. When Fulton county voted
dry. one of the first men to besi; work
under the new state of affairs was l.. b.
Folsom A few days after the law went
into effect a sign was hung to the wall
opposite what had once been the entrance
of the saloon.
1t read: "Pro-hi-bi-tion Restaurant"
Some of the more ardent ants didn't
like this, but Mr.. Folsom said he did not
have any time to lose arguing, and was
going to get right down to business.
The sign also announced that the place
would be open day and night. The first
time it was closed after opening was when
Grover Cleveland came to Atlanta.
1t was during the first term of Mr..
Cleveland as president, and Atlanta was
crowded to the bursting point.
1t then became necessary to close the
doors and admit the people in such num-
bers as could be accommodated. The next
closing was during the riot few years
ago, when Marietta street was filled with
a bowling mob. thrsting for blood.
Send all the walters TO the basement" /
said Mr.. Folsom. land close the doors"
Then Billy Wells, who has been with
the house for a number of years went to
the front and told the leaders of the mob (
the negroes employed in the place had
run down the street. That saved them !
from violence.
DIsLIKES THE CHANGE.
When Mr. Folsom made the changes Ia |
his place he closed the bath rooms by !.
mailing up the doors. He left the bath ;
tubs and ali the furnishings in the base |
ment where they had been used. They are !
there vet.
II never took them out" he said to- |
day, with a smile. Il hate to see these !,
things 60. And If you boys" turning to !
his nephew. Henry Folsom, and HIS right I
hand man. Jake johnson, were "a years !
old you might not like 1T so we'll If 1t was /
not for you ! would retire
Then he took another look about the /
place and walked cut. :
Mr.. Folsom is q quiet man. He loves !
his friends and has no enemies. Fer |,
years he was devoted to two parrots thar /
made their home in his restaurant Both !
met violent deaths. One was killed by I
dos that gloried in the name of Joe !,
Wheeler, and the other was killed by g /
blow from n spoon held by n custome~. !
But while both died Of violence. both 1
lived lives Of ease until overtaken by the |
grim reaper. !
The victim of the rate customer died .
because ne was too friendly lie perched |
on the shoulder Of the man, and then flew !
to tho table. where he took a seat on ,
one of the dishes Get cut" said the !
nan. Then the spoon DESCENDED and tho !
parrot fol- dead.
Tho first one to die became famous
because he consumed a costly paint
ing that hung on the walls OF the
restaurant. The painting showed i
field Of grain. a lot Of rocks and lit
tie farm house in the distance. Tho
parrot liked the green and began
eating IT. lie mad Decked off about
n bushel of wheat before he was dis
covered. Some OF the employees would
chase him away from the picture when
MT Folsom was not about. but when
he was i'm the place the bird went on
his merry way unGisturbed. He finally
stopped when all the green was gore.
He did not eat the rocks or the house.