The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-12-11
A Monkey Dinner-Party.

1t was the funniest dinner-party that
could be imagined. Five hignly.respect~
able monkeys in full dress sat at = table
with plates and wine glasses, and the
sprightliest, most attentive Of monkeys
waited upon them, tray in hand, IKE q
good, highly-genteel waitress. as she
was.
The monkey at the head of the table
was dressed as q naval officer, with ad-
miral's hat, spaulettes and side-whiskers
all complete. He was very elegant in
his manners, when not licking his plate,
and he had I'D injured, eproachfultway
Of turning of his seat and lookingrst the
waitress when she failed to bring what he
wanted, that was wonderful to see, At
the foot Of the feast sat a farmer monkey
in funny felt hat, white smock and loose
trousers. He had q tremendous appetite,
and soon finished his meal and began
knocking hard upon the table for more.
The, admiral. WHO was very proud, never
once noticed him, which the hungry
farmer accepted in good part, ashs didn't
take any very great interest in adhifals
But the side Of the table was liyeliest,
after all. In the middle sat fneImon-
key-lady, whom afterward learned vi
called "Mrs. Lorne," and the monkey
gallants on each side took turns in con
versing with her. Sometimes, indeed,
they both addressed her at once, and
then the fashionable Mrs. Lorno would
utter fearful screech and give them q
piece of her mind, to the great terror of
the farmer and the amazement Of the
admiral. She was q lovely creature in
their eyes, you may be sure, for She wore
a rcd velvet dress and white hat with a
bright pink feather, and her coguettish
way of tossing her head was quite ire
sistable. Wine was freely taken BY all
the guests, but learned later that it was
only raspberry juice and water. It., was
funny enough to see them take up their
glasses in one hand, bow to each other,
toss off the contents, and then pound the
table for fresh supply.
/ could no. see what they had to eat,
but it evidently was something good, for
they smacked their lips over it, and grab
bed bits from each Others plates sooften
that their master frequently as4bliged
to expostulate with them. 4
Alb, the master! forgot to spgak Of
him. He was their servant justs then,
and stood at a respectful distance Behind
the table, bottle in hand, ready to fill their
glasses whenever called upon. or
gently to remind the guests that to lick
ones plate is not looked upon as good
table manners. Meantime the. pretty
waitress skipped about, bringing this
thing and that, as the master ordered,
and often sinking into chair near by
for rest and solemn meditation. The
dear thing.was essily clustered, 's4nd the
manners ofthe admiral some Zines so con-
fused her that she seemed almost ready
to faint. At one time, when the master
put a pair of lighted candles in her hands
bidding her hold them very carefully,
she sprang up and ran from the $stage
with them, holding them both upside
down, still blazing and SCATTERING. Now
and then the temptations to gotFa bit
from the table grew SO strong that she
would watch her chance to taksa sly
grab when the guests were clustering to-
gether. Whenever she succeededtin this,
the hundreds of spectators would applaud
heartily. We children thought Eit was
rather improper tor grown peoplast en-
courage theft in that way, But we
couldn't help feeling sympathy for the
pretty waitress. notwithstanding our
good morals.-St. Nicholas. s .#sE