Wilmington Daily Commercial

The Holly Tree Inn.

Progress of the Enterprise—The Number of Patrons—Bill of Fare.

The Holly Tree Inn, at Water and Market Sts., is apparently prospering. The number of persons patronizing it has been large. The place is neatly and cleanly kept, and its whole air and appearance is attractive. It was opened on Thursday the 14th instant, and the receipts that day were 81 cents. They have since run as follows: Jan 15th, $2.84; 16th, $5.00; 18th, $4.41; 19th, $4.87; 20th, $5.17; 21st, $7.45; 22nd, $7.09; 23d, $7.46; 25th, $4.73.

As the average amount expended by each person is over five cents, these figures show an attendance, daily, of from 75 to 100 persons.

Quite a number of additional persons come in, however, every day, with tickets, which are purchased by the benevolent and given to those who are begging food. Twenty of these tickets were presented on Monday.

The bill of fare includes many excellent and substantial articles, all furnished at very low rates of charge. Among them are the following:

Bowl of soup, with bread 5 cents

Hash and bread 5

Coffee and bread 5

Sandwich (ham and butter) 5

Glass of milk 2

Half a pie 4

2 large slices of fried mush, with syrup 5

Cup of tea with bread 5

Cup of tea with bread and butter 6

The soup is nicely made, and a good full bowl of it is given. The hash is prepared from good wholesome meat, with a few vegetables mixed in it. The coffee is good, and a bowl of white sugar is set out with it, to the purchaser. The milk is given, daily, by Edward Tatnall. It was at first sold at a cent a glass, at which price more was sold than at two cents.

Many workmen from the shops are among those who come in, and there is a marked increase in business on market days.

Whether the enterprise is paying its way, or will do so, is not yet ascertained.