The Portland daily press., 1874-09-04
TERMS $500 PER ANNUM IN ADVANCE.

tllence that was stalking over it, and which
had thus far baffled the combined skill and
science OF the entire medical profession.
Naturally enough the conversation turned
upon this subject. After it had been dis
cussed Tor a while, it was suggested that
those present should form themselves into a
society to be called the Society of the Last
Man. The main idea was that they should
have banquet each year, at which places
should be provided for all, and that when
only one of them remained, he was to drink
bottle of wine, which they were to provide
at the first meeting and seal up for his use.
A mahogany casket was provided for its re-
ception, and ON the night of the first meeting
the wiue was procured and locked up, the
key-ho.e illed with sealing-wax, and the
casket sealed with the seal of the society.
The key was moreover thrown away, so that
by no means could the box be opened and
closed again without its being discovered.
The fist meeting of the society was on the
night of the 18th Of October, 1882. All the
members were present, and the ceremony of
locking up the bottle of wine was gone
through with. They also cast lots for the
custodanship of1ihe casket; it being agreed
that it should be conf;ded to one member for
the first year, to another for the second, and
so on until it has gone around. DR.. Waiter
won the lot, and in his hands it was placed
versaries did the society meet regularly with a
full membership, all of them still living, and
each one making it point of duty to be
present, no matter what else might intervene.
In June, 1887, DR.. James NJ. Mason died,
and their mystic number seven was broken
into, and in the following October, when
their banquet took place, there was one va
cant seat at the board, one plate lay at the
table untouched. In November, 1889, Wm.
Had nd on. Ill
when they came together again, only five SAT-
at the table, and there were two vacant
places. In September, 1912, j. r. Mason,
tho artist, breathed his last. and the following
month, when the society of the last man
cams together, there were but four of them
three vacant chairs and three upturned plates
told the story. For seven successive years
did these four hold their anniversary banquet
without further change, the sealed casket be-
ing handed around from year to year among
those who remained. In November, 1919,
VIM. Disney died, leaving but three OF the
seven alive. In June, 1855, Fenton Lawson's
earthly career was ended, and DIR. Waiter
and Henry l.. Tatem were the only survivors.
Mr.. Tatem had possession of the casket at
this time, and had morbid fear that he
would be the last man and be left with it in
his possession. Two months after Lawson's
death he was taken sick, and in his delirium
tnlS ldea ODtalned possession OF his mlnd, and
he cried, Break open that casket and pour
out the wine It's worse than fate in haunt
ing mep' And DR.. Waiter became the Last
Man.
In October, 1855, the Last Man held his
first solitary banquet at his home. Seven
plates were laid, and seven chairs placed
around the board. The caskst was placed on
the table, its seal broken, and its lid pried off.
The bottle of wine which for twenty-three
years had reposed within, was opened and
drank in silence and solitude by the successor
of all those seven. No one was permitted to
break that solitude, and the meal was eaten
and drank without the sound of a voice. An d
each succeeding year, on the sixth Of Octoss
Der, does the Last, Man repeat the solitary rI-
past, he sitting with six vacant chairs around
the table, with six upturned plates on the
board. And while he sits there, in silence
and alone, there come trooping around him
the memories of all those who once joined
with him in merry-making, and yet the heart
of the kindly old man is as young and his
feelings as tender as they were forty year ago.
when he little thought of ever becoming the
Last Man.