National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-06-03
A FUNERAL FEAST,
Tho Grim banquet TO which nn Under.
taker Invited mn Actor.

Mark Tapley, that mercurial creation Of Dick
ems who was continually pining to be placed in
the midst Of such sombro surroundings where
iollity would stand out in relief would have
reveled in little dinner given q day or two ago.
The banquet was rendered by an undertaken 70
comcdlan-two men Of strangely opposite voca-
tons Tho former Is David Schuyler who lives
at No, 2OC0 North Sixth street, aud is know to be
peculiarly devoted to his trade. In foc', Mfr.
Schuyler carries his devotion to great extremity.
So enthusiastic Is he in his business that he has
furnished his house with certain peculiar en-.
hcms % his calling, aud he DELIGHTS IN Offering
his visitors cigars from II trick .boN which con.
ccnsR grnning skeleton that pops up with weed
~ its grasp rs soon as the lid is fitted. lie has
album Of obituary poetry clipped from newspapers
everywhere, expressive Of Ia bereavement OF
friends Of departed persons, In Language and
meter OF the most lugubriOus description.
THE ACTOR WAS SAMUEL HENrLE,
whose rotund figure is familiar one TO local
theatcr patrons. Mr.. Schuyler md MIR. Hempe
have been friends for n great many years, aud
when the actors thirty. second anniversary OF his
debut on the stage arrived about two weeks ngo
the under aker was DESTROYS Of honorlng the event
by dinner to the comedian and few mutual
friends. Circumstances delayed the affair until n
few days ago, when II was given, aud will be long
remembered by those IN attendance as a most re.
markable occasion. The invitations were printed
skull and cioSs.boncs which headed them one
might have mistaken the note for an official warn:
lug ofthe ku- kluN KAN. When Mr.. llcmplenrrived
he was ushcred into durkencd rtom, wi ere only
some wax tapers were burning
TABLE STOOD IN THE CENTER
Of the room, covered hya handsome black pail
that reached to the floor and gave IL the appear
ancc Of CatRfalquc. Upon this the dinner was
laid. The dishes were all appropriately arranged
with lringes Of black md white tissue PAPER
around them. The chicken, MS II lay in its dish
upon It's back, had white choEer, black neck
tie, and white dickcy ut 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 the
table was n silver toOthpick. holder Il small
HEADsE WITH HORSES ATTACHED,
driver upon the box and doors to open at the rear
end, where miniature cHsket containing the picks
was drawn forth. The mashed potatoes were dug
out Of mound covered with roast potato jackets,
which, with spngs Of green planted hero and
there, looked like shady burial lot, with several
wooden tumbsuncs standing upright upon it..
The ice cream was nodded In the shape Of cot
fin, and the cuts OF pie were made In similar
shape The entire dinner was made rs emblc-
maticnl of the uudettaker's trade US taste and iu-
gcnuty could devise, and after the frsl shuddcr
was past, tho guests enjoyed themselves IN spite
Of the funereal surroundings. MIR. schuyler heartily
enjoyed the discontinue Of his guests MS they en-
tered the room aud looked upon the singular
sight and says the fun he derived from the affair
amply compensated him for the trouble of pre-
pairing for it--JIiId, Times