The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-08-04
.4WERIcANl PL4Nl

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HERE has been some mention Of the return Of
the old style American plan hotel. No doubt
the average person will shed tears Of joy al the pros
pect, recalling the varied menues and the generous
portions which featured the vanished hotel custom You
arrived at theehostelery wrote your name in large
blue INK letters, were assigned your quarters and at
that instant knew exactly how much you were going to
spend for food and lodging
This dining in gilt cafes with French walters
lowering about is something that never did make an
actual bit with the ordinary common garden variety Of
American travellers If the menu was printed in French
The situation was very bad Il had taken all Tie years
since the American plan became obsolete, for the
travelling American to become accustomed 10 being
served food by white men, There was something about
this feature which did not set we'll II was all right
for an occasion" but when there became no alter
native, It was awful
There was none Of this feeling regarding The white
girl IN the dining room. chiefly because women are
associated with cookery and It's ACCOMPANYING service.
and also because nearly every other diner accus-
toned to have the hired girl wait table m his own
home The real king Of the American plan hotel ser
vice however was the darkyl The tenn has become al
most obsolete the type Of negro to whiehit proper
" belonged
Hundreds Of travelling men today can lean back
in their waying pullman and picture the old Amer
lean plan hotel dining room with its squad Of arkies.
Their greeting. which displayed whittier teeth and more
Of them than would be thought possible to harbor in
human mouth. Their bow. which was real gesture
Of pleasure at serving you Their enthusiasm even
the poorest food, which almost convinced the grlmbler
that the trouble was with his own palate Their cordial
invitation to come again extended almost like host
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sonable dpl
No wonder the travelling public found il hard to
become accustomed to the superior, icy. Indifferent
srasping white man waiter Nowonder they puzzled
over the menu card in silence, and the happy COM
aradene Of the dining room vanished
The advent Of the cafeteria was hailed with Joy.
and appropriated as the greatest relief for the food
seeked since the vanished American plan dining room
with its elored army. viii the return Of the American
plan service bring with it all the things which memory
exacts1 The American taste has become caprcious.
The old fashioned hotel served food beautifully, Sbut
it was not always well cooked nor arranged in apetiz-
ing fashion The darky which served was not always
immaculate in appearance nor very prompt in action.
We forget the faults We only member that we got
three square meals. in honey atmosphere and our
room and bath for $3.50 per dll We only remember
the half shuttle, half dancing step Of our darby waiter
advancing to our table with an accurately balanced
tray heaped high with steaming food
We are willing to take chance on the American
plan hotel but we only know one genuine old fash
toned darby waiter. and he may not be yet living He
served two years ago in the old Moorefeld hotel and
he came out to our departing car to bid us farewell in
hotel that can establish the American plan dining
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