Evening journal., 1915-08-26
lunch Basket HAS
BECOME POPULAR
More Than 10000 Picnics
Every Day at the Panama
Exposition
SAN FRANCISCO'S BIG
FREE FEED COUNTER
BY FRED S. FERGUSON,
United Press STAFF Correspondent.


SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. 26.-The
great American lunch basket has
come into its own. If il isn't a has-
ket. then it's a box. but in either in
stance. concealed in the depths is
picnic food
There are probably more than TO-
600 picnics here every day. One of
the strongest indications that Amer
lea is really here and taking in the
exposition for all it's worth Is that
IL brought it's lunch. In the early
days of the exposition visitors TO the
big fair were mostly native SONS.
San Francisco spent It's afternoon
wandering through the big palaces or
along the palm-lined avenues. or
hustled out in the evening for a whirl
on the zone. But these people we're
not troubled much with the question
of eating. When they did eat they
dropped into one OF the cafes where
there is music and dancing. IL they
did not grab something quick from
n spindle on which roast chickens,
hot dogs and slabs of beef were re-
volving. They are still doing the
exposition and hundreds of others
like them afe on the scene. But an
exposition crowd travels on its stom-
ach just as much as an army and no
successful army can depend on for
aging. Therefore the lunch basket.
The crowds now visiting San Fran
cisco are made up of people who have
travelled across the continent or part
way across to see the exposition.
They 60 out TO the grounds early
and stay late. One, or possibly a cou-
pie OF filings at the zone and they
are about through with that part OF
the fair. But hour after hour they
put ia viewing the various exhibits.
Restaurants, cafes and quick lunch
stands are iammed by those who did
not come prepared. There Is no time
TO be lost in long waits for a bite to
eat. II is only a step to the broad
steps OF some building. A short walk
through one-seeing things az they
go-will carry this great American
crowd to the Marina. overlooking the
bay. Others may jam and elbow and
think of the time they are losing,
II they like. but big America from
bonneville. takes these short cuts TO
food. mysterious package appears.
There are smiles of anticipation and
In about Eve minutes your sight-see-
ing crowd is at mess"
Toward noon or around the dinner
hour in the evening benches, steps
and grass plots on the Marina are
flled with these picnic parties. There
is a brief period of rest possibly
the stop is made long enough to
write a postcard to someone back
home. and they're off again. Exposi-
ton white wings" are on the Job
in some numbers throughout the day
removing traces of the picnic part
les but at night they appear
emasse. The broad avenues. lawns
and corridors OF buildings are fairly
FURNISHED. The next morning the
grounds shine in the sunlight. ready
for new thousands and the return Of
thousands of others who picnicked
there the day before.
While on the subject of food. il
might be mentioned that San Fran
cisco now has the biggest free lunch
counter in the world. Il is the food
products building at the exposition.
In this building there are exhibits
of anything and everything in the
way of food Spend one hour in the
food products building. accepting a
sample from every exhibitor urging
you to Just try Il" and a weeks
siege Of indigestion is guaranteed.
But everybody does il. II is only a
step from breakfast food to desert and
then possibly TO soup, topped on with
California liquer Everybody tries
10 sample everything with the result
that the food products building has
been given a name by the crowds
which probably will last longer than
the formal title bestowed by the ex-
position officials. II is known as the
Nibbling Palace