Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-04-30
CHAPTER VI
AT THE CAFE TATHENEE-

AT THE CAFE L'ATHENEE
The cafe rAthenee was in a narrow
tack street and consisted OF ground
floor apartment Of moderate size, and
a number OF small rooms. most OF whicn
we're already crowded with diners There
we're no smooth-faced maitres hotel
"a conduct new arrivals TO a table no
iift 10 the upper rooms. no palm-lined
st.frwave. or any Of the modern APP
rurteuances OF restaurant life Ken
bricks. taking the lead as an habitue,
rushed his way up 10 the first floor.
pushed his way past the hurrying and
terSufring walters. who did not even
stop to answer questions. and nnally
rosrnced upon table which was just
icing vacated by three other people
The two men set down before the debris
nd waited patiently for its removal
Don't turn your nose up yet" Ken
srfcks begged. Wait till you've tasted
the SPAGHETTI. And don't look at the
fahIecloth as though IL would bite you.
Thev'u put a clean napkin over II d.
rectlv and you'n forget all about those
stains This IS where one takes on the
Kid gloves and deals with the realities
OF eating and drinking / am inclined
to think sometimes. Julien. rs humble
nauirer from a long way OF. that you've
worn those kid gloves little TOO
long"
Julien looked across at his friend.
Hendricks was still smoking his pipe
and he was evidently in earnest 1t was
obvious. toe. that he had more to say.
"You know" Re continued. loudly
sslmmoning a waiter and pointing TO the
fable before them. you know, JuIien,
/ have alwavs had this feeling about
Won I thirk that life has been made
, tribe too easy for you. You have
slipped with so little effort into the
POLISHED places You never had to take
your coat and waistcoat of and try a.
rough-and-fumble struggle with life. No
nan is the worse for IL Prosperity and
smooth travelling along the easy ways.
even though they come to one as the
reward OF brain work. lead TO a certain
Habbiness in life. lead to many moments
when you have TO stop and ask whether
things are worth while. lead sometimes.
/ think. to that curious neuroticism
from which clever, successful people
suffer as well ss the butterflies Of fash
ion You are Up against IL now, Julien,
real and hard You don't feel that
you've got day 20 live that you care
a snap OF the fingers about. You look
at what you think are the pieces OF
your life and you imagine yourself
eaunt spectator OF what has been, gaE-
ing down at them. and you've quite
made up your mind that II isn't bit
OF good trying TO collect the fragments.
such id nonsense. Julien. You may
have made a jolly hash OF things as a
cabinet minister. but that isn't any rea-
son Why you shouldn't make a success
OF life as a man. Look here. Carlo"
he added. addressing the waiter. "the
table dhote dinner-everything and
serve IL hot Bring US fresh butter
with our spaghetti. and a flask Of
Chianti-"
Isl. signor!" the man replied. gazing
fo- a moment in wonder at this shock
beaded individual who spoke his own
language so perfectly.
Hendricks laid down the menu and
glanced across the table at Julien's face
with its slightly weary smile.
or course. I know how you're feel
ing now" he went On-"rotten.-so
would any one Try and forget IL, try
and forget yourself Look about you.
What do these people do FOR a living. do
you think2 They weren't born with a
title There's no one in this room who
went 10 Elton and oxford, played cricket
for their University. and lolled their way
into life a. you did Look at them all.
The thin chap in the corner IS a barber,
got small shop Of his own now. / go
mere sometimes for a shave. He lived
on IS shillings a week for six years.
while he saved the money 10 start for
himself. II was touch and go with him
afterwards. In three months he'd near
~ lost the lot He'd married a little
wife who stood behind the counter ana
had worked almost as hard as he. but
somehow OF other the customers
wouldn't come Then she had a baby.
vas laid up for a time. he had TO
engage some one 10 take her place. and
a. that time he had about Is shillings
left in the world I used 10 be shaved
there every day then. I knew all about
a. used 20 hear him. when he thought
no one was listening. go and call
cheerful word up the stairs-"Shop full
OF customers Sold another bottle OF
hair restorerr or something OF that
sort. Then some one lent him a aver.