New Britain herald., 1927-03-12
SELF CONTROL PART
 0F SODA MAYS JOB
Foolish Questions and Women
 Put Iron in His Soul

There was q time not long ago when soda dispensing was an occu. patton for those who couldn't make good at anything else or for those who wanted an occupation which would keep them busy during spare hours. Times have changed and today soda fountain work entails a considerable amount of tact, judg- mcnt, skill and courtesy which would make nervous wrecks out Of many of the uniaitia.ed.
 Getting one ot the young men who work behind the marble slab To cout!de in one js q job which needs plenty Of patience. Usually the fountain artists are ttI Up on small ia. and are suspicious of those who seek 70 start a conversation with them. But once they come 70 regard visitors as harmless. they can give a surprising amount of information concerning their work.
 Yeah. We ect all kinds here" confjded the young man behind tho counter. 't sually they're In-and- out customers who rush in for drink and rush out again. They're the kind we Ike, they know what they want before they come in and they leave as soon as they finish. SUal'y they're men-women like 10 run their eyes over the list before they choose and they like 10 take their time over whatever they get.
 Usually it's the women who get 'he sundacs and the heavy concoc- tions, Half the time I'll bet they don't know just what they're order- ing but they seem 10 enjoy what ever they select We paste up new name on some dish and it's the women every time who fall for it without asking what it Is. If a man does get it he has to know what it's made Of and all about it.
 This Luncheon Business
 This luncheon business that we have now gives us a lot of new kinds Of pests. There is the person who wants 10 know what kind Of sandwiches we have when there's a whole list with prices half foot from his nose. There's the person who wants 10 know what's good.' and then gets wise when we use the old formula of 'Everything's good.' There's the bird that looks over everything in the store and then asks for nickel drink-not that We mind the low cost Of the drink but he takes so much time over it."
 Here the clerk rushed over to get an order from woman who had just walked into the store and who obviously had just finished shop ping. She asked: "What kind Of sandwiches have youH" The soda clerks courteously recited from the board which both could see-'Ham. Chicken, Cheese. Egg Salad ." The woman gazed blankly at the list for fully three minutes without saying a word and then scanned the menu with isticss eyes. Finally she gave her order and the clerk came back to fountain.
 "One think We don't like" said the youpgster in the white apron. And that's 10 see a drink we've made up, half finished when it's left. Of course we know that the customer might not have been as thirsty as he thought or that it wasn't what he wanted after all bu, JIst the same We always have the feeling that We didn't make it up right. l wouldn't say it hurts LIS but just the same it doesn't make us feel any too good.
 smart Alec and His Girl
 Once in while we run across a bird who is trying to impress his girl by cracking wise about us. We usually don't pay any attenton to him but manys the time I've wish ed for chance to lay into some of them, It's strictly small town stuff and it goes over big with ua when we get q chance to take q fall out of them. l usually hand them their change with one hand and have the money in the other hand. When l click the money down on the fountain they reach for it at the wrong place. II takes a big ride for some of the big shots.
 Every so often We get call for q new drink or a new mixture. It's up 10 us to taste it and see how good it is as anything new In our line is welcome. some Of the drinks I've tasted have been awful---they must have made them different where the customer who asked for them came from. We've got a lot of good drinks through customers asking for them.
 Its every soda mans idea 10 make up a new drink that will knock them cold, and which won't take a fortune 10 put out. Experimenting Is lots Of fun except when you hit the wrong combination and swallow q couple of mouthfuls Of it before finding out how terrible 1t is.'