The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-27
DIoney Nade m 7ea Room By
 B1ght, Energefic Woman
An Enterprise Which Has Paid We'll of Success-Tes
 Room One of Birminghams Most Attractive Places.
By DOLLY DALRYMPLE.

when I ventured this observation Mrs. Stevens said
 Don't think for a moment that 1t is all beer and sktt1esl this tea room busi- ness. It requires work, and lots of it. Close attention and endless energy. And a large expenditure of money. l try to keep everything up to date as possi- ble, and in my trips abroad and in this country study closely the new ideas and arrangements and put them into effect as soon as it is practical"
 Aren't there lots of queer people who come in here? And don't they, like my self, ask all sorts. of foolish questions?"
 'Oh, yes," said she. We have con- stant inquiries as to whS< brand o< coffee we use. And where do you get your olive oil? How much do you pay quart for it? What sort of flour do we usef How long do we let the rolls rise How much money did we take in last week And so on ad infinitum
 How annoying" I eJaeulated. Not necessarily. To all such have instructed the staff to answer meekly, I don't know"
 ''Then this must be the place that I heard of the amusing little contretemps concerning the old duffer who asked a string of questions about various things and receiving the same answer to each and all, finally said: Well, who runs this place, any how?' and the little cash fer raised her innocent eyes to the face of the questioner and sweetly said: I don't know
 You must have learend great deal about the appetites of Birmingham peo- pie, haven't you. Mrs. Stevens?"
 q certainly have. I have learned that my fellow citizens like chicken in every form-country style, in salad, and cro- quettes and they like chocolate cake and sandwiches. These are favorite dishes and always easy to serve.'
 And the idiosyncracies of the men who patronize the tea room?' I ven tured
 Would fill a book" she laughingly re- piled. ''The funniest thing that we en- counter Is what we call the breakfast grouch.' You should see it. I put Mrs. Gogin in charge some time ago for this delectable meal hour and my only ad- vice to her was: Don't speak to them l discovered this wise idea long ago. Those who come to the tea room for breakfast are usually those who have had a pretty good time of 1t the even ing before, or have missed their home breakfast, or thousand and one other reasons, and they don't want to be in terfered with. And they never are"
 Are men finniky about their surround ings?" I asked.
 '"To be sure. some are," said Mrs. Ste-
 
 always wants certain cup to drink from-the white cup with the delft blue border. and another paid for an especial sort of glass, so he could always have it. And, of course, the first question that nearly every male patron asks is: May I smoke? ?, so that the little signs We have here and there, Smoking al- lowed is rather an unusual answer to the query, as we'll as quite amusing" 'T suppose men eat awfully sensible luncheons, don't they?'' inquired, hoping to gleam some idea of their foolshness on this point.
 s'You know the picture of Gibson's, Find the Man Who Is Paying for the Supper ?'-well. he Is easily detected here. For instance, man and his wife lunched here one day and when the check was presented the wife handed her check to her husband and asked him to pay 1t. When he saw the size of lt-75 or 80 cents he exclaimed. heavens, you must have had a banquet
 Turning to the sentimental side of the question, is there much matchmaking going on in the. tea room?''
 Now, that would be telling" said Mrs. Stevens.
 T don't imagine there is. for eat ing Is not very conductive to sentiment in my opinion I have a girl friend who says she just couldn't marry; a man if she saw him eat It's so material and practical"
 But just the same, there is lot of love-making going on right here. You freouently see the love-sick, swain and the object of his neart strolfing in and lingering over cup of tea with the loyelieht beaming in their eyes. But we are always discreet and never ap- near to see this especial kind" And with your splendid achievement in this enterprise, Mrs. stevens, what word of encouragement do you hold out as the guiding star on the royal road of success?" I asked. "Hard work and watchfulness,' was the prompt reply, and with this mes sage to others who are treadins the inc Golden T,ion Tea Room after most charming and delightful visit.