The Detroit times., 1915-03-31
SEEING AMERICA FIRST.
BY FRED {. KELLY

Nv going about the thing quietly and syste
matically. Il is possible to have lot Of fun and
harmless amusement out OF the New York sys
tenn OF Extra Charges in restaurants.
Se, York is-naturnlly--the home OF the Ell
ira Charge. But like many another thing OF 2
vicious or silly nature that gets its start In Ne"
York. the Extra Charge 4 making headway IN
other cities-just as did the eyebrow mustache
the tango craze and kindred misfortunes.
Charging ten cents extra for one small bite Of
bread. or one small drop OF cream for coffee OF
dessert. Is form OF practical Joke that would
grow tame TO anybody except New YORK walt
er And IL Is the undated zest OF the waiteI
TO see how the joke viii work on each newcomer
that gives the guest the opportunity 10 derive
fun from an otherwise dull situation
remember going with New York friend
into the dining room Of big hotel there year
ago-just after the practice OF charging ten
cents extra for bread first became vogue
The food prices were extremely reasonable
hen considered from the point OF view OF the
man running the hotel That Is. they were rea-
sonably high-high enough TO give him chance
10 make a profit even II he wished 70 give each
guest a bite OF bread entirely free OF charge.
noticed these prices. but what did not no
tice was that my friend did not eat any bread
Instead he kept showing the bread plate over
toward me. II contained two cute little rolls,
each about the size OF an infants fist Now, ]
rarely eat bread. but just to fill In the time
while waiting for the approach Of other food.
broke the end off one OF these wee rolls and
gently casually, nasticated t.
Later saw my friend exchange funny little
glance with the waiter and the waiter put some
thing down on his pad with the air OF sprins
poet jotting down a new phrase That one
r Bite Of bread cost me. of course. ten cents.
But IL was cheap at the price. for have work
4 the joke on various others since then, and.
that is more to the point. have had the FUN
4 keeping jocuiar walters from working II on
ne.
You sit down al a table IN any of the so-called
Irst class New York eating places and waiter
7laces a bread dish with two rolls on it--nobodJ
Gems TO know why there are always just two
ffer which he turks about TO see what VIII hap
pen. II you pick up one OF the little rolls and
eat a piece Of Il. or even IL you mutflate II by
breaking of bite and do not eat It. an en-
preston Of fiendish satisfaction sweeps over the
walters features. He has worked his joke and
a happy Your meal costs you ten cents extra
But II you know about the prank and gaze
bout at other diners in preoccupied manner
a. II you hadn't noticed the handy proximity Of
the two little rolls, the waiter win become a
nervous as a witch.
In the biggest hotel in New York the othes
day. the waiter lurked about with dotted line
running from one eye to the bread dish and ths
other one on me. until he was scarcely able Il
control his emotions. Three times within five
minutes he came over and Hospitality showed thu
two little buns trifle closer. lest might have
overlooked them. When I still manfully refrain
ed from touching them he leaned over and In
quircd confidentially
/ Don't you care for bread, sir"
\ III you would completely exasperate a waite
Just wait until he asks II you don't care for breas
/ md then give him a noncommittal reply.
| Tell him that you have not entirely made al
| -our mind yet whether you are going 10 ca
bread or not. Explain to him that on SONS
| rays you will not eat 80 much crumb. ant
| hat. on the other hand. without moment o
warning you will often be seized with an i'm
| 1uIse 20 pick up little roll and eat it--or par
| " H. Let him think that even while you talk {,
/ I'm this impulse may strike you. Keep him II
yuspense as long as possible.
| Ny the time you have reached the desser
! course without breaking any bread he viii re-
4 slgnedly remove the two little rolls 60 sid
| able and HIS face will wear an expression o
aortification and despair that cannot but nj
.ou with deep sense of Joy