South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-26
Seeing America
First
BY Fred Kelly.

Three of us, one a New Y Ork person,
were headed toward a .ew York res
taurant
our New York friend was talking
with enthusiasm and civic pride of
the ridiculously high prices prevailing
in New York eating places.
There is nothing that will make the
average New Yorker point with pride
and Jingle with pride so readily as
to have somebody take money from
him. He readily accepts almost any
new or needless form of extortion as
inevitable, and then boasts to his out
of-tOwn friends about how shame
fully he is being robbed.
Now, in this place." proudly re-
marked the New York member of our
party, as we were about to enter
restaurant they won't take an
order after 9 o'clock, unless you buy
wine"
His tone was one of prideful
warmth, as if he had been saying:
only those of US who are direct
descendants of kings can enter here"
How do you know that?" asked
Ross, of the Out-of-tOwn twO-thirds
of our little party.
"Oh, everybody knows that" the
New Yorker assured us. "Ha ha. If
you llNtQ mere you WOulQ soon Unu
that out. No sir, nothing served after
9 o'clock without wine"
But did you every try it," pursued
Ross.
why no. OF course not. Nobody
tries it. The thing simply can't be
done"
well. ! haven't been in a restau-
rant here for several years" remarked
Ross. but I'll bet you four dollars it
q In in
after o'clock and get as much or
as little food as we want and with
out buyin~ any kind of wine"
I'm willing to try it," agreed the
New Yorker. but you'll simply en-
barrass yourself The waiter will
think you aren't familiar with the
rules
Like many New Workers our friend
had horror of not being thoroughly
approved by the waiter.
We waited until after the theater
and then went in to settle the bet.
This coat and hat check thing is
certainly an outrage" proudly OBJ
served the New York member of our
party as he went in. You know all
the money goes to the man higher up
who pays for the concession. The boy
you tip gets nothing"
Certainly. and why do you tip
him." asked Ross.
"Oh. it's pretty hard to get out Of
if. It's an awful graft though. No
place like New York for graft"
Soon we were seated and waiter
stood at one of our elbows with much
gravity.
Just a ham sandwich and a glass
Of buttermilk for me-" ordered Ross
The waiter gulped, looked apoplec-
tic. and was about to say something,
but | FASTENED 10 place an order Tor a
glass Of lemonade and a cheese sand
witch. our New York friend was
game and said he also would take
a sandwich and lemonade.
I'll take your wine order now re-
marked the waiter in an offhand yet
confidential tone.
But we don't want any wine
just buttermilk and lemonade" cut
in Ross. Get that nOw-twO lemon
AIDES and one buttermilk. Make It
Tactic buttermilk.
The waiter was really a rather toll
Grant person. Just as gently and in
Extensively as he cOuld-almOst like
a mother soothing a child-he purred:
I'VE serve only wine after
o'clock"
DO YOU mean to say that We
can. have what we want demanded
Ross. You wouldn't expect us to
buy wine when we don't care for vine,
would YOU Kun alOuS now anu
rush our order. And be sure to bring
some horse-radish.
After a moment or two Of hesita-
ton. the waiter departed. We saw
him go to the head waiter and there
was much interchange of talk ana
worried looks in our direction. me
two walked over 10 another person,
apparently an assistant manager or,
at least. a sort of glorihed super
head waiter. All three talked. Ny
impression is that they then called
for the cook. the hat check boys, and
the proprietor. and telephonod 10 the
owner Of the building.
Il don't think they'll serve us, our
New York friend told us He vas
nearly as excited as the waiter. His
citv's honor was at stake If we got
our sandwiches and drinks without
wine. IL would look as If New York
was less graft-ridden in Ns eating
places than he would have us believe
They'll not put us out declared
Ross and they'll serve as, too Ana
II everybody here wanted just a
sandwich and q glass of lemonade OF
glass OF beer. they would serve
them all"
Ross was risht. too. AT the close
OF the conference OF the various heads