KinSource - Tale of the Week - Ordered 'The Same'

KinSource

Minnesota Tales

The Minneapolis Journal, August 16, 1901, p. 7

ORDERED 'THE SAME'

Mackay's Eyes Bulged When He Had to Pay $6.

CHAMPAGNE SERVED IN STEINS

The Theatrical Man Thought the Mugs Looked Good and Ordered Another Round.

This is the story of how a wily eastern theatrical impressario was taken in and done for by two of his Minneapolis friends. It is a sad story, a hard luck story, but it is not without its humorous side, as the two Minneapolitans will testify. The manager in the case was T. D. Mackay, "representative in front" for the Pike Theater Stock company. The others are well known "first-nighters" at the Metropolitan. The way in which they victimized the easterner was as follows:

The local men were sitting in the rear dining hall of a big local refectory Monday evening when Mackay happened in and spied them. He went over to their table, sat down and reaching over to the wall, pressed a conveniently situated electric button. When the waiter arrived Mac remarked:

"Those steins look pretty good to me. I don't want anything better." He then looked inquiringly at his friends, who smilingly replied they would "take the same." The waiter hesitated a moment, then asked: "You want another round of the same?" That's it," replied Mac, "Just another round." Then, as the Ganymede departed, he added: "That boy possesses almost human intelligence. If he ain't careful they'll draw him for jury duty the first thing he knows."

The remark seemed to amuse the local men greatly and they laughed uproariously for several minutes.

"Glad I made a hit," said Mac. "Didn't know I was so funny."

After some little time, during which the easterner remarked that "They must have sent to Milwaukee for that beer," a sally which again sent the local men off into peals of laughter, the waiter returned and carefully deposited a large stein in front of each man. Next he passed over a check to Mackay, who picked it up and looked at it. A startled expression stole over his face.

"You've made a mistake," he said, "This check is for $6. I don't want to buy your place, I only want to pay for three mugs of beer."

"You didn't order beer," answered the waiter, imperturbably. "You said you wanted another round of the same."

"What in Gehenna were you fellows drinking?" demanded the victim.

"Champagne," chortled one of his friends, gleefully.

Mac dug into his pocket and passed over a bill. He raised the mug to his lips and downed the contents in a single draught. Then he arose, sadly and sought the outer air. The situation had been too pathetic for words.

"That's the second to-night," murmured one of the survivors.