The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-03-19
Chef of Great
Smith Street
By GERALD Brennan

Ccopyrlght.)
"Ah, msieu'l Does not m'sieu' re-
member me? / am Gouvin."
Wandesford stared at the speaker
in mute establishment. Gould this
seedy, staryed-looklng specimen of hui
manity be indeed Gouvin2-Gouvin,
the famous chef whose cookery had
been the talk Of Paris?
But the duke Of Montmlrallf You
were his prize chef"
Gouvin lifted both hands In elo-
quent protest. "Ah, m'sieu'," he
cried, 'it is a sad story. win m'sieu'
care to hear?"
Installed at table In modest res
taurant, Gouvn opened his heart.
ut was at the Hotel de Montrni-
rail-" he explained. Il was at the ze-
NTH of my glory. All Paris spoke of
my dinners. Ifs grace loaded me with
honors. lost my head, to such dizzy
heights did | seem to soar.
The duke worshiped at the shrine
Of Mile. Mimi Martigues of the Vari-
cites. In an evil moment | allowed
myself to fall in love with that fair
est Of mortals. She invited me to
call and wheedled out Of me the recipe
for the famous Sauce de Montmirail-
the joint invention Of the duke and
myself.
"As we sat together the duke him
self entered unexpectedly. Then the
false Mimi denounced me as an up
start mental who had dared TO pose
as his masters rival.
q was Kicked out Of Minis house
and the next day dismissed from the
Hotel de Montmirall.
Suddenly there came to Wandesford
an inspiration,
Ny love Gouyih," he exclaimed, 81
have It. You shall start a restaurant
Of your own in my house in Great
Smith street.
II.
Reggie Van Hooper rushed into the
smoklnsroom Of the Tepee club, sim
mering with excitement.
"Tlullo, Reggie" sang out one Of
the youthful loungers, you have got
secret--I can tell by your manner"
u say" Reggie exclaimed, docs any
one here know where Great Smith
street isl"
There was a general head-shaking.
"Then let me tell YOU" continued
Reggie. u was there last night. l
had dinner there. And such a dinner!
1t was the best, the very best, have
ever INDUCED in.
"Wcll, my friend Wandesford," con.
tinued Van Hooper, "asked me to din
ner last night. / was simply pining
for a little excitement and when he
suggested a voyage into the unknown
regions Of the lower East side, |
Jumped nj the proposition. OF course
did not intend to eat anything there.
I merely wanted to see a little low
life and have a little adventure.
Il assure you that l was well re-
paid. Out Of a cellar came an old
chap In genuine cooks rig and Wandes.
I ford and be had a talk. pride my
self on my French; but / really
I couldn't keep pace with those two.
by and ny dinner began to come in.
The first sight Of The soup set me
thinking. Just to please Wandesford
took q spoonful. 1t was simply a
triumph Never In all New York can
you beat that 'potage la Central
Park Thereafter l capitulated and
from soup to dessert, I did not miss
course. There were some 'coctellettes
aux Monselgneur lie DUE suppose
the chef took me for a duke-tha
haunt my,palate still"
For some minutes there was silence
in the smoking-room. Then the dear
of the loungers said solemnly:
Reggie, is this a practical joke? l
It is"
Good heavens, now cried Mr.. Var
Hooper. Everything happened jus
as told you. The dinner was superb
The chef is treasure. Tell yol
what, let us go over there in a bod,
tonight. I'll notify Wandesford, an
he can act as guide. If the Grea
Smith street cellar is not just as say
? promise to pay the entire reckoning,
III.
Wandesford stroled down the eel
lar steps in Great Smith street, tele
gram In his hands, At the Kitche
/ table sat Gouvin, connecting a vision
airy menu,
"Hullo, Gouyin, victory is ours
Tonight you must prepare dinner 70
. % persons"
$ A smile Of Joy overspread the chef
+ features,
J.. It was Thanksgiving evening,
r murky, misty Thanksgiving, when tn
Q delegation from the Tepee club stol
r stealthily along Great Smith stree
l. and disappeared into the Gouyin &c
> lar.
. The dinner at the "Restaurar
GOWN" was all that Reggie Va
y Hooper had painted 1t. At the clos
t Of the feast GOWN was sent for.