The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-11-23

Mark Tapley, the mercurial creation
of Dickens, who was continually pining
to be placed in the midst of such
sombre surroundings where jollity would
stand out in relief, would have reveled in
little dinner given day or two ago.
The banquet was rendered by an under
taker to comedian-two men of
strangely opposite vacations. The
former i, David Schuyler, who lives at
No. 2060, North Sixth street, and is
known to be peculiarly devoted to his
trade. In fact, Mr.. Schuyler carries his
devotion to great extremity. So en-
thusiastic is he in his business, that he
has furnished his house with certain
peculiar emblems of his calling, and he
delights in offering his visitors cigars
from q trick box. which conceals grin
ming skeleton that pops up with weed
in its grasp as soon as the lid is lifted.
He has an album of obituary poetry
clipped from newspapers everywhere,
expressive of the bereavement of friends
of departed persons, in language and
metre of the most lugubrious descrip-
zion.
The actor was Samuel Hemple, whose
rotund figure is familiar one to local
theater patrons. Mr.. Schuyler and Mr..
Hemple have been friends for q great
many years, and when the actors 32d
anniv ersary of bis debut on the stage ar
rived, about two weeks ago, the under
taker was deslrous of honoring the event
by dinner to the comedian and few
mutual friends. Circumstances delayed
the affair until few days ago, when it
was given, and will long remembered by
those in attendance as o most remarkable
occasion.
The invitations we're printed upon
mourning paper, and at the first sight of
the skull and crossed bones which head
ed them one might have mistaken the
note TOR an official warming OF the Ku
klux Khan. When Mr.. Hemple arrived
he was ushered into darkened room,
where only some wax tapers were burn
ing.
A table stood in the center of the room
covered by handsome black pail that
reached TO the floor and gave it the ap-
pearance Of cstafalque. Upon this the
dinner was laid. Tue dishes we're all
arranged with fringe of black
and white tissue paper around the edg s.
The chicken, as it lay in its dish upon its
back, had white choker, a black neck
tie and white dickey at its neck, made
Of the same material. Tue salt,cellsrs
had black caps and long trailing mourn
ing bands tied around them. The most
unique arrangement upon the table was
silver toothpicS holder, small
hearse with horses attached, driver upon
the box, and doors open at the rear end,
where q miniature casket containing the
picks was drawn forth. The mashed
potatoes were dug out of mound COW
cred with roastpotato jackets, which
with sprigs of green planted here and
there, looked like shady burial lot,
with several wooden tom bstones standing
upright upon it.
The ice cream was moulded in the
shape Of o coffin and the cuts of pie
were made in a similar shape. The en-
tire dinner was made as mathematical of
the undertaker's trade as taste and in.
genuity could devise, and after the first
shudder was passed the guests enjoyed
themselves in spite Of the fnnereal sur
roundings. Mr.. Schuyler heartily en-
joyed the discontinue of his guests as
they entered the room and looked upon
the singular sight. and says the fun he
derived from the affair amply compen-
stated him for the trouble of preparing
for it, Philadelphia Times.