The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-05-02
THE LAST MANS CLUB.
Banquet of fourteen Gentlemen
who Await One AnOther's Death /.

The Last Mans Club OF Philadelphia
ha their second annual dinner o day or
two ago. Covers were laid for the
seve lteen gentlemen whn compose the
Ass ciati0n, OF whom the following
we present: DR.. A S. Roberts, Alfred
Blddle, 5 Frank Sharpless, c. r. Lewis,
Henry Lewis, Samuel Lewis, Eiwaid
Roberts. third, D.. J. B Kinney, Aubrey
Jones, W. Henry Patterson, Charles H.
Townsend, John Hockey, jun, Philip
p. Peace and Moncnre Robinson, jun..
President of the Club, who did the hon-
ors. The ahsentees were Dr.. Thos Bid
die, S. L Morrison and Meredith Bal
lew. The lst,er were prevent d bv una
voiahle circumstances from attending.
but in accor iauce with the rules of the
Club vian is and liquors we're placid in
the order Of courses to each unoccupied
seat, tie same as though tue owners
we're present.
The bar qlst, says the Philadelphia
Press, was served in the bridal chamber
OF the Bellevue, and the walls OF the
luxurious apartment were richly adorned
with bric-a.hrae, and !estooned with
ereaths and trailing vines. OF smilax.
stulied with blossoms. The table was
arranged with marvellous grace. The
center.plece was high plateau o!
Jacqueminot roses, over five hundred in
number A deep border of lilies sur
rounded theroses, tte base being minia
tnre lake OF mirrors reaeciipg che whole.
Wreaths of verdsnt vines inclnstered
the plates and vine glasses. The menu
was engraved on tinted goose-eggs, the
dishes on one side and the wines on the
reverse. with name of guest.
The punch was served in real turkey
egg-shells Standing on end in nests o.
sugar. Egg-rlant was served under the
disguise OF dabergnits fdrcies, and the
delet table woodcock mas queraded as
BeeGssincs on crssson. The first toast
was drank from massive three handled
lovino-cap of hammered silver, engrav
ed with the names OF the seventeen "las
men," and filled tn the hrim with cham
pagne-styfrai quarts. Another LITTLE
feature OF the dinner was the wish bonel
attached With rit.hon to the name.card'
Of each pla,e. Altogether the banque
was one of the finest ever served in til,
citr.
The eccentric Association, The mem
hfrs OF which sal down to the dinner
was founded on Eister Mundav, 1881
aud is intended To last until six'een o
the seventeen members are dead. Th
seventeenth nan, that IS the last maj
living, will then give final dinner
covers to he laid for every one of tn
dead members. and the mehr 10 he serv
ed 10 them the same as il they wer
alive and PRESENT. The lonely final ma
will silently toast each individual mem
oIy and toddle bis unsteady legs home
ward, cluiching To his breast the silve
loving cup. which will have become hi
undivided property. and the LIST Man
Club will have l-assed into oblivion.
Similar Clubs to the Philadelphia AS
sociatlon exist all ever Europe In Pal
is, prior to the Franco.Piusso war, L
Cercle des Moris consisted of fort
members, hut on the conclusion OF peac
only nine vete,ans assembled at the ar
nual dinner. The Vice. President OF th
Cercle is q skeleton, clothed in sable a
tire and crowned with vine leaves :
Shortly after the formation ot the Clu
the live Vice President died, but on h
death bed he wrote letter 10 his con
rades, begging them. 10 allow his bone
10 I've present al the feGsts His reque
Was eranud, snd the ehastly skeletc
ALWAYS faces the President at table. a.
other story is told OF American origi
A jo,ial red faced man is in the habit
entering hotels in different parts of Il
country and ordering dinner for sew
persons. To The establishment of Il
waters the ioti-'aced man is the on
one whn arrives to cat the repast. bnt
insisis on food and drink heing serv'
to the other six places. During dinn
he Keeps up.a lively conversation wi
his Imaginary guests, and finally expiai
20 the lan'llord, as he paws the bill, tn
be had heen having commemorate
dinner with bis wife and Eve childre
Who were all dead.