Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-06-11
A FUNERAL FEAST.
Grim Banquet to which an Undertaken Invited
 an Actor
 


 Mark Tapley, that mercureal creation If Dickens who was continually pining tO be placed in the midst of such som brc surroundings where Iollity would stand out Tn relief, would have reveled ID little dinner gwen a day or two ago. The banquet was rendered by an under taker to comedian-two men Of strangely opposite vacations. The for mer IS David Schuyler, who lives at No. 2O60 North street aud IS known to be peculiarly devoted to his trade. In fact, | Nr. Schuyler carries devotion to a great extremity. So enthusiastic Is he in his business that be has furnished his house with certain peculiar emblems of his calling, and he delights in offering his visitors cigars from trick box which cOnceals a grinning skeleton that pops up with a weed in its grasp as soon as the lid is lifted. He has an album of obituary poetry clipped from news papers everywhere, expressive Of the be reavement of friends of departed Der sons, in language and meter of the most luguOriou. description.
 THE DISMAL BASQUETING HALL.
 The actor was Samuel Temple, whose rotund figure IS a familiar one to local theatre patrons. Mir. Schuyler and MT Temple have been friends for great many years, and when the actors thirty second anniversary of his debut on the stage arrived, about two weeks ago, the undertaken was anxious of honorlng the event by dinner to the comedian and a few mutual friends. Circumstances de- layed the affair until I W days ago, when 1t was given and will long be re- membered by those in attendance as q most remarkab @ occasion.
 The invitations were printed upon mourning paper. at the first sight ot the skull and crossed d-oones which head ed them one might have mistaken the note for an official warning of the Ku- klux Klan. When Mir. Temple arrived he was ushered into a darkened room, where only some wax tapers were burn ing.
 A GRAVEYARD FEAST.
 A table stood in the center of the room covered by handsome black pail that reached to the floor and gave 1t the ap- pearance of a catafalque. Upon this the dinner was laid. The dishes were allsppro- priately arranged with fringes of black and white tissue paper around them The chicken, ss 1t lay in its dish upon its back, had a white choker, a black necktie and a white dickey at its neck, made of the same material. The salt cellars had black caps and long, trailing mourning bands tied around them. The most unique arrangement upon tue table was a silver toothpich holder-a small hearse with horses attached, driver upon the box and doors to open at the rear end, where R miniature casket containing the picks was drawn forth. The mashed potatoes were dug out of a mound covered with roast potato jackets, which, with sprigs of green planted here and there, looked like a shady burial lot, with several wooden tOmbstones standing upright uponit.
 CoFFISs OF ICE CREAM.
 The ice cream was moulded into the shape of a coffin, and the cuts of pie were made in a similar shape. The en- tire dinDer was made as emblematlcal of the undertaker's trade as taste and ingenuity could devlse, and, after the first shudder was passed, the guests enjoyed themselves in spite of the funeral surroundings. Mir. Schuyler heartily enjoyed the discomfture of lIs guests as they entered the room and lool ed upon the singular sight, and say the fun he derived from the affair amply compensated him for the trouble of PreI airing 1t.