Connecticut western news., 1884-06-18
PRINCELY ECCENTRIClTIES
THE WAY THE GUESTS WERE RE-
 CEIVED. How n Noted New Yorker Dispensed His
 Hospitality.

From the New York Times.l
 MT. Henry Havemeyer, whose sanity is to be inquired into by commission, has long been known to a wide circle of friends and acquaintances as jolly good fellow and princely host, and to this circle the announcement of his unfor- tunate mental condition, if it does not come wholly as 8 surprise, will at least be received with unfeigned regret. Mir. Havemeyer entertained freely at his house in New York city, but it is chiefly on his entertainments at his country seat that his fame for hospitality rests.
 His country seat is on an islet known as Havemeyer's Island, in the Great South Bay, on the Atlantic shore of Long Island. Upon this property, which MT. Havemeyer obtained by pur- chase number of years ago, he set up model country establishment and insh- tuted a princely and i'll many respects unique system of entertainment. Com munication with New York is had chiefly by way of Babylon and the Long Island Railroad, and for the conveyance of his guests between the island and Babylon MT. Havemeyer provided himself with fine steam launch. He frequently en- tertained parties of ladies and gentlemen, but "stag parties" were his particular delight. When stag party approached the island in the steam launch its mem- bers were astonished, not to say startled, by .salvo of artillery from a masked battery near the landing. The surprise of the guests was increased on landing to find corps of tormenters attired as United States Custom House officers, rushing for their baggage, and insisting on the formality of rigid examination of portmanteaux and bandboxes. Be- ing finally, and after all the delay ordi- narily experienced by New Workers re- turned from European trip, acquitted of attempted smuggling, the guests pro- ceeded to Mir. Havemeyer's residence, and were struck speeches. at the sight of uniformed and armed sentries pacing before the entrance.
 If the arrival did not take place near the dinner hour, the party was beguiled, as it elected, during the intervening time, with a sailing or fishing excursion, or some other outdoor amusement. It was at the dinner hour, however, that the farcial climax was reached. The guests were ushered into the dining hall with great formality by MT. Havemeyer himself. When all were seated the host placed himself at the head of the table and tapped a silver bell. Instantly doors flew open on different sides of the room, and in filed what seemed 10 be an inn posing visitation of military command CTS, but really walters bedecked in the grudy uniforms of Austrian and Prusian Generals, French Marshals, aud officers of other effete European monarchies. The semblance was complete down to the smallest particulars. The mimic officers were helmeted and plumed, spurred, besworded, and epauleted. But to heighten the caricature each gen. eralissimo bore aloft upon his gloved and uplifted hands dish of sumptuous and savory viands.
 But there the farce ended. There was no caricature about the cuisine. Those who have had the good fortune to sit at MT. Havemeyer's hospitable board would have to go far to find more sumptuous table. The peculiar features with which he encompassed his hospitality were re- garded at the time as the enactment of clever satire on foreign pomposity and certain existing domestic customs.