Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-12-13
A Lonely Banquet.

iaouiohuuiS poatuihS hVuoO III A'S" NAN'
They divided up in parties of twos and
tnrees and fours, attended theaters, and
lectu res, and other places of interest in
the evening, and when they returned
they made it point to meet in the par
and adventures of the day, before they
retired to their rooms. The close friend
ship, and method of each communica-
ting his experience for the benefit of all,
proved both instructive and entertaining,
and these daily reunions possessed local
attraction enough to draw them all to-
gether at regular hour in the evening.
This mode of life continued for some
years. At length the time came for
them to separate. The country needed
its young men, and called for several of
this party of ten. They had farewell
dinner in their boarding house on the
10th of September, 1861, and grand
time feasting and talking and singing
songs.
One remarkable feature of this cele,
bration was that before they separated
at two o'clock in the morning each arose
in his place and made solemn vow
that, if living, he would meet the rest of
his companions at s o'clock in the same
place, and dine with them ten years
hence, as they had dined that night
Each one was to occupy the same seat,
and. as nearly as possible, they were to
have the same kind of dinner. So they
bade each other good night and sepa-
rated. In the course of years the house
changed hands, and set up the more pre-
tentious claims of hotel. The dining
room remained, however, just as it was,
and probably the old table and chairs
were still on duty.
Some days ago, Mr.. Edward K. Win
ship, broker, No. "a Bond street, called
on the proprietor of the hotel and re-
quested him to prepare dinner for ten
gentlemen in the old dining room on the
evening Of September 10th. Mr.. Win
ship briefly narrated the circumstance
of the compact to explain the request,
and that being the eldest of the party of
ten, he had been appointed on the even
ing of their dining in 1862 as chairman.
At precisely eight O'Clock on the even
ing OF September 10. Mr.. Winship en-
tered the dining-room, and the doc! s
we're quickly closed behind him. No
one else came. The table was bounte-
ously spread three colored walters were
there, and nine empty chairs, and plates
and glasses at every chair. The meal
was begun, and the solitary banqueter
was served with the prescribed courses
almost in silence. Mr.. Winship occasion
ally passed word with the head waiter
Poor boys They're all gone said he
"One went down in the Monitor in Mo.
bile Bay, another was drowned in the
same waters. Two were shot in Mobile
One lost both legs by ball, and the
other was pierced through the heart
Another died in Philadelphia, and an
other died in New York" He said tha
while, in February last, he was walking
up Broadway one evening, he felt tar
on the shoulder, and voice asked hin
whether he knew M, do" re
piled Mr.. Winship. :" He died at foul
o'clock to-day" Though Mr.. WinshiE
turned quickly upon feeling the tap anc
hearing the voice, he was unable to as
certain who it was that addressed him
He afterward learned that one of th,
party of ten had died that day at th,
hour indicated. Mr. Winship said tba
the oldest of the party, next to himself
was only 29.-& Louis Republican.
THE Sons OF SUCCESSFUL MEN