Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1861-08-30
Seventy-Fivo Dollars for a
Dinner.

Among the many anecdotes told o.
&" Billy Gibbons" the New Jersey million
airc, is one of his high-priced dinner IL
the country. 1t seems he was on visit
to country village in which he owned
some real estate and after transacting his
business he came to the village hotel
about ! Z. NJ, tired, dusty and hungry,
and applied for hot dinner. a smart
clerk in attendance, glaneiug at his rather
rusty habilimcnts, told him they didn't
have hot dinner for travellers at that time
Of dav, but to wait till the committee on
the New Town House were attended to,
and If there was any chance then he
would see"
But" remarked the old gentleman,
whose ollactorics were salutcd with the
grateful incense of ccrt n roasts and
broils "therc scents TO DC something
ready now ?"
30, yes" said the clerk, "thc commit
tee Of sclectmcn for purchasing new
Town House lot have a dinner here to-
day, and he hustled off in one dircc-
ton, the landlord in another, and two
white iacketcd waters flew hither and
thitltcr, impressed with the vast impor-
tancc of providing for the six magnatcs
who were to honor the house by dining
there.
"Why cant I have dinner with the
committee :" said the old gentleman, ar
resting the clerk once more as he passed
+ by him, " I'm perfectly willing to pay for
all have"
You. Well, my old fellow, that is
cool, " said the CLERK, "why do you think
the sclcctmcn would let yoM i'll to their
! table ~
Stranger things have happened was
the reply; at any rate | should like to
try ~
:" la. ha! ha." laughed the clerk,
couldn't think of such thing"
The old man at this moment, however,
ms the clerk turned away, caught sight,
through a hall-opcnol door, Of we'll
spread table, evidently all in readiness for
the committee, who were assembled III a
room above, and would soon be summoned
to discuss the yiandS that were already
smoking upon the board. Without any
ado he therefore, passed in, took seat,
aud commenced vigorous attack upon
the dish nearest him. which chanccd to be
an excellent pair Of roast chickens. 1t
i happened that there WAS no person IN the
room when the unlimited guest took his
seat, and the two or three servants who
came in within the next few minutes to
place upon the table the remaining arti-
elcs which were necessary, only honorcd
him with curious stare as they perform
ell their dutes,-whilc he piled his knife
and fork with II yigor that betoaencl a
,harpcncl appetite and proper apprecl-
alton Of the excellence Of the fare before
him.
The clerk, who catered a short time
after to take final glance and see that
all was right, was horritiea at the Specta,
Gle. why, you old sinner - said he
rushing up to the object of his wrath, who
was enjoying the sayory yiands before hin
with great gusto,-" didn't tell you that
this dinner was for the committee? " ha,
are you doing here.
Cant you see for yourse!f??' said tho
old man. cutting into Il huge decorated
ham, " I'm having soed dinner"
"lIaying a good dinner Why yoC
are spelling everything said the clerk
aghast, at the lri-htiut gap made by thu
onslaught upon the ham.
That's very true, young man." was
the reply, I'm spoilins my appetite also
and if matters proceed in this manncr II
will soon be gone altogether
The clerk, in disnay, hurried off fol
the landlord, while the cause Of Iii:
trouble continued to cat away as indus
triou,ly and quietly as though nothing
had happened. la few minutes til,
landlord rushed in boiling with wrath.
"lIow dare you, sir exclaimed tha
worthy, how dare YOU" said he ad
yancing with hostile intent.
"neep perfectly COOL said the oi'
man, with Il dangerous look in his eye, a
he suspended operations, with a lars
carving knife upon a roast turkey he wa
d,membcrine,-s remember I'll pay 10
all have"
Pay tor all you have :" said the land
lord, cycing the carving knife, "why yo'
will have to pay tor the whole supper !!
"Yery glal to do that, said the other
rcsuming his knife and fork and finishing
his repass with few choice morseIS.
YES, you shall pay for all you've de
strovcd," ;" said the landlord, almost chok
ing with rage, as his visitor cooIly pour
cd out glass of wine from decantel
. and uoddns to him, drank it of,
agreed" said the other, as he wipe
his mouth and fingers upon napkin am
drew long breath of satisfaction, "ant
landlord, you say | shall pay for all DIES
troy ?" =.
"That do, and rounlly, too" re2lie
Bonifce.
, We'll, then, let's have the bill for til
sum total ," said the old man as he ros'
: bringing up one side of the table Wit
! him at the same time, and prcclpltatln;
with crash, the whole contents III Oh
common ruin upon the floor,
The landlord started back with horrt
and dismay at the sight, while his Gu
. toner, coolly drawing tooth-plck fro
:, his vest pocket, exclaimed:
oLet's have the bill, landlord! Don
: be frightened at little broken crocker.
: Let's know the price of the supper
e The landlord, giving VIII k at h
! clerk to keep an eye on the old 1elloN
ond coo that ha did not escape procccd(