The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-06-25

1fuCS <AAoD1t Ill inC Sid1 AoAis
~ oCIETY is about to sup. The police
man on point duty near the restau-
~ rant is busy keeping the coast clear
for the fleet of motors. Liveried attend
ants stand where the strip of red carpet
ends at the curb, open the brougham
doors, and salute notabilities whom they
read about in the lower half of the
Court" column.
Country men stand as near as they are
allowed to get and declare tits grahnd!'
meaning the sight of Mammon helping
Beauty through the doorway The res
taurant (for the information of sight
seers) is sandwiched, as rule. between
ragged news lads who would willingly
part with their. evenings stock-in-trade
for square meal, and batch of London
| bedless lining up on the Embankmen'
| to walt for the salvation Army man with
soup tickets.
Now-"tinkie, tinl1le." The door OF an
other electric broughan is opened by
starched and ironed looking footman, and
I get a glimpse of jewels, and the i'm.
preston which comes of standing for an
hour in a Bond street perfumier's.
Come along" the manager calls
you've come at good time. All smart
London is here tonight. 1t is Sunday, you
know; Sunday is a weary day in town
Through this door. Mind the steps. Yes,
little bit dark here. We have the light
where it is needed, you see-in front
Take my arm
I do. and am thankful, for the way
\ into the kitchen is through a maze OF
catacomb-like passages. Flushed walters
race by us carrying laden trays. On each
side are doors partly open. through which
now and again 1 get a peep at some of
the cleverest fancy food makers in the
world.
This is it," my guide says. suddenly
finging a door open. stand there-noi
too far In Or. And from his face he
wipes Imaginary perspiration.
If you can picture the inhabitants OF
Hades suddenly possessed of madness
which asserts itself in a succession of cal
piercing yells, you will have fair idea
of the deafening noise which greets the
visitor to this giant kitchen of this great
and fashionable restaurant.
| Whatever language that shout was in
| have no idea 1t sounded like "Oh-ay
| oh-ahy!' 1t came from a man at the
further end of the chamber. and was re-
| spopded to with similar call from a
fellow at my elbow. Just now, learn,
Lord Helpus or somebody just as impor-
tant, ordered Poussin Anglais. The
waiter rushed the written order down,
| handed it to the kitchen clerk, and that
call heard meant get 1t ready while
that of the man near to me was equiva-
| lent to fright you are"
'Oh-ayl< oh-ayi'
| A crash, now, which means that a hum
dred or so metal dish covers have been
called into action by man in an apron
whose agility reminds me of Cinquivalli.
The heavy door of massive oven is
crashed to, and start like a sick man In
a troubled dream.
There are savouries calculated to make
professional fasting man swear that
he will never fast again; live fish look
sadly at fish frying and fish boiling, seas
of soup are simmering in big shining caul-
drons near masses of cooking meat which
| look like oxen. Chickens, pigeons, aspar-
| aeus. peas, lemons, beans. toast-they are
| all here, and hundreds of things more i'm
portant. amidst wonderfully colorec
adornments which remind me of lamp
shades. and which fit the dishes like 9
pair OF good kid gloves fit your lady's
| hands.
I'VE are cooking tonight" grill mar
remarks to me. six hundred dinners. and
we can do most of them in an hour; look
| outr'
AS he speaks something resembling 8
booking window opens near me, ant
through it ''1ies" featherless bird, m,
| friend catches it, and in a few second:
it is sizzling. For several minutes
through the booking window are float
ing the beasts OF the field. the birds o.
! the air, and the fishes of the sea. whils
the kitchen clerk bowls and the cook.
howl back, and the group of French, 1tal
ian, Swedish. German, and Austrian
walters by the counter tremble will
eagerness until they remind me of wind
swept wheat field
The tips that will soon be in their hands
are now in their eyes. Thes
1 walters can see them. feel them. hear thu
rattle of the coins and-nobody would
deny that they are earning them
The head chef Is stolid - . Sultan