New Britain herald., 1930-03-04

Ne" 1Ork, Mar. 4.-fe CIV DuSl- ness ventures in New York have such unstable popularity as the res- taurant. One night it may be blaz- ing with light and the next deserted. And once the shutters are closed, 1t is rare that interest is revived.
 When I came to the big town, the crowded eating places we're Rectors, the Knickerbocker. Church ill's. Shanley's and Martins. Not one is open today. In each instance the high class service has be+n maintained. But crowds began 10 drift elsewhere.
 Restaurant popularity is at the mercy of a public whim. Som etim@s this is the head-waiter, the orche5- tra. the decorations or special dishes. But mostly d cafe clientele is like sheep. blindly following the bell wether. In New York people dine out chiefly to be seen.
 Many restaurants-the Casino in the park is an example-have at tained a sudden prosperity largely through exploitation of very high prices. Yet the appeal of swank is uncertain. Every restaurant insist ing upon full evening dress has been invariably short lived.
 A conspicuous example of the rise and fall of a restaurant Was noted in the closing of the restaur- ant Quan in the East Fifties. It WAS opened, by Ping Quan. former stew ard on the presidential yacht May flower. and was decorated in the manner of a yacht deck.
 Quan had won nation wide notice as a cook for Coolidge and Harl- ing, and a number of his dishes were named for them. The place got away to a flying start and the food was highly bespoke by gour- mands. Yet just as suddenly tra!e fell away and Quan waited hope fully amid his empty tables.
 Several years ago a cafe called The Flotilla was fitted up like ship at the cost of q million dollars. IL engaged the celebrated Theodore as Maitre de hotel, but lansuisheI only a short while. One explanation vas that it's marine trappings sus- gested seasickness. And mayue that is what happened at Quans.
 The power Of suggestion does no, always, however, affect appetlteS. For many years a lunch room pat rcnized by seamen on West street did a thriving business although it displayed a poisonous live snake in it's window.
 And San Francisco had or dil have last summer prosperous restaurant called The Fly Trap.
 One meets strange people at those afternoon teas curiously tagged as literary" A bobbed. soulful lady you know, Countess with q bandeau--was explaining she and her writer husband occupied sep arate apartments. Ut is the only way" she gurgled, flor him to feel free to express himself" Diligent inquiry developed that up to date his sole literary activity was to write an occasional review of Il book for an obscure quarterly.
 Yet it is not quite fair to class Ill these attic dreamers as poseuca. There are any number quite willing to gnaw-. at crusts for their ideal. A young poet whose poems lack the bounce has a knack of writing bright advertising slogans. He has been offered $S.000 year for his talents by an advertising concern. He returned the letter with q pen cied notation. T am not q literary prostitute.'
 For more than 20 years I have eaten but two meals d day-break fast and dinner-With not a bite between. Rec antly l decided 10 have a light breakfast, a heavy lunch and light dinner. After six days Of it l could neither cat, sleep The Bonneville Trolley