New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-02
HUNGRY PATRONS LAUGH
At COMEDY WATERS
Many a Restaurant Provides I'm.
promptu Cabaret Show
Instead of Food.
MANICURE GIRL TAKES TRAY
With BARRIERS and Counter Girls
The Other Hand" Next
and Cash" Take the
Place of Draw One"

and Cash" Take the
Place of Draw One"
It's hard to feel happy on an empty
stomach and to see the humor In some
things. but the frequcnters Of New York's
big restaurants and palaces OF eats die
both yesterday--they actually appeared II
take keen enjoyment I'm the waiterless
situation.
Comedy and humor were on every side
They lurked i'm the most unsuspectine
places and helped digest many an other
wise barren supper hour Some OF the
more dignined hostleries which. In the or
binary course of events would not deign &c
employ a cabaret show 20 entertain their
dinner guests. last night found themselves
unwittingly supplied with the most side
splitting actors--in waiter garb.
A stroll up Broadway or Fifth avenue
and in the side streets. with an occasiona
plunge into the dining rooms OF some OF the
| larger hotels intermxed with dips Into
| the beef and resorts on Sixth and Third
avenues was redolent Of humor In ~
broadcast and most satisfying style.
For instance. peek into the Taverf
Louis. In the basement OF the Flaufor
Building. just before the noon hour rush
would have afforded a dried up. joked out
pessimlstic humorist with fun material FOL
year and a day
AS the clock at the foot OF the stairway
struck ~ the dozen walters serving at tn
tables dropped their Jobs like hot plates
and marched out In lock step. leaving Tn,
hai . al nj \ "a
stifed and wondering what the next min
ute would bring forth.
Their anxiety was relieved in mo-
mont Directly above the restaurant Is
barber shop. In that barber shop Is 4
golden glory OF A manicure girl Word oil
the walters untimely departure reached hor
and she proved herself a heroine In tho
dire hour Of need. Retaining the dainty
apron which adorned the front of her pan
nier skirt and stopping only to powder her
nose as she looked I'm the mirror. she
waited down tho stairs and offered heI
services as an emergency waitress.
Crowd Follows New Waitress.
The proprietor cast his eye over IN
length OF her syelte figure. not missing thC
turreted gold OF her hair and decided she
would do she was engaged on the spot
In few moments the restaurant wa
crowded with half-staryed young men who
had developed capacous appetites on tho
spur OF the moment. Five minutes more
and there was n waiting line extending ur
the steps and clear into the street. with
Young men largely predomnatng.
Just when II appeared that the beauteou'
manicurist had more than she could handle
two sirens in the form OF counter girl'
from one OF the big department stores ap.
peared in the offing. They took In IN,
situation ri glance and volunteered Il
wait on the tables. Ten minutes more aud
the BARRIERS. Respondent In white coats
made a rush from the shop and were soon
engaged in the business OF rushing order.
Of food 10 the tables.
To one who stood outside the entrance ot
the restaurant medley Of conversation
was lifted up through the stairway and
fell upon the listening car somewhat IN
this tenor:
did YOU say YOU wished your nails GU,
short. sir? Give me the other hand. pleas,
oh | mean will you have your chops
well done. Why don't think your nail:
are in bad condition. considering that you
haven't had them---I meant to say. IN,
chicken frcsssee Is very nice to-day"
Hardly had this interesting bit OF CONVEX
sation subsidized than up through the staii
way came:
Next, shave or haircut. sir: want
Il trimmed short? I understand. Just once
over. Pardon mo. sir, intended TO ask
YOU II you would like the fowl cut before
bringing II 10 the table yes. sir
Next a high soprano shrieks: cash
Cash, Third counter over TO your left FOR
dress goods. maam. oh. pardon me. Tor
got. did you ray You wished the tea iced
yes ma'am'
Bits of begemmed persinage like tho
above soon become matter-of- fact: it Ii
time 10 move on and see what the rest OF
the world holds forth.
IN some of the upper strata Of hoteldom
the managers. in casting about for substi
tutcs to I'LL the places OF the striking walt
ers. managed to employ help from thu
quick lunch food emporIums. These re-
cruits got along fairly well. In most cases
until they were caught mapping while gag
ing AT tho unaccustomed richness OF tho
furnishings. In such lapses they wer,
likely 10 utter such faux pas as Coffee
and sinkers, SIR or, again, Double III
on the browns and turn two over-makc
that one beef stew for a bum-number two
coming"
They could rot wholly be blamed that
their minds inadvertently returned TO the
scenes OF their former activities Men ac-
customed to think In "beef-an'" and but
ter cakes could not be expected suddenly
10 attunc their minds To pate de fois gras
and steak Chateaubriand.
Patrons OF the ready made eating houses
In Sixth and Third avenues found that
some OF the striking walters from Filth
avenues dining halls were not averse ia
earning an honest penny In dull times by
hiring out as walters I'm less renowned eat
ing retreats. More than one Bowery pa
iron was waited on last night by Chester
field Of the dining hall
An idea of the anguish suffered by those
lords OF the svenue may be had when Att
uatiDns similar TO. this are taken into con-
sderation seedy individual sits down
at II greasy table and orders cup o. oof.
fee and slug o corn beef. with little COW
Juice In the cup"
He who once degned to preside az Fifth
avenues dining halls could not but Vince
and snort and hold his head high. 10. no Y
the mighty have faIleni