Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-06-18
THEIR FIRST AND LAST DINNER
A Remarkable and Erue Tale of the
Experience of Twelve Friends.
The Sunday Star.

Twelve friends, much about the
same age, and fixed, by their pursuits,
their family connections, and other
local interests, as permanent inhabi
tants Of the metropolis, agreed one
day when they were drinking their
wine at the Star and Garter st Rich.
mond, to institute an annual dinner
among themselves, under the follow
ing regulations: That they shall dine
alternately In each others houses on
the first and last day of the year; that
the first bottle of wine uncorked at
the first dinner should be recorked and
put away, to be draLk by him who
shall be the last of their number
that they should never admit new
member; that when one died eleven
should meet, and SO on; and that
when only one remained, he should,
on those two days, dine by himself
and st the usual hours at his solitary
table; but the first time he SO dined
alone, lest is should be only one, he
should then uncork the first bottle,
and in the first glass drink to the
memory of all who are gone.
There was something original and
whimsical IN the ideas, and il was
eagerly embraced. They were all in
the prime of life, closely attached by
reciprocal friendship, fond of social
enjoyments. and looked forward to
their future meetings with unalloyed
anticipations of pleasure. The only
thought, indeed, that could have
darkened those anticipations, was one
not likely to intrude itself at this mo-
ment, that of the hapless wight who
was destined to uncork the first bottle
at his lonely repast.
| 1t was high summer when this frolic
compact was entered into; and as their
pleasure yacht skinned along the
| dark bosom of the Thames, on their
return to, LoGdon, they talked of
nothing but their first and last feasts
Of ensuing years. Their imaginations
ran out with thousand gay predic-
! lions of festive merriment. They
wantoned In conjectures of what
changes time would create.
''As for you, George" exclaimed
one Of the twelve, addressing his
Erother-in law. II expect I shall see
you as dry, withered and shrunken as
an old eel skin, your mere outside of
a mani" aud he accompanied the
words with hearty slap on the
shoulder.
George Fortescue was leaAing cares
lessly over the side Of the yacht,
laughing the loudest of any at the
conversation which had been carried
on. The sudden manual saIutation
of his brother-in~law threw him off
his balance, and in q moment he was
overheard. They heard the heavy
splash Of his fall. before they could
| be said to have seen him fail. The
yacht was proceeding swiftly along;
but it was instantly stopped.
The utmost CONSERVATION now pre-
vailed It was nearly dark, but For
| tescue was known TO be an excellent
swimmer, and startling as the acci
dent was they felt certain he would
regain the vessel. They could not
see him They listened. They heard
the sound of his hands and feet. An
answer was returned, but in FAINT,
gurgling voice, and the EXPLANATIONS
'Oh God" struck upon their ears. In
an instant, two or three who were
expert swimmers, plunged into the
river, and swan toward the spot
whence the exclamation had pro-
ceeded. One Of them was within
arms length Of Fortescue; he saw
him; before he could be reached, he
went down, and his distracted friend
bcheld the eddylng circles Of the
wave just over the spot where he
sank. He dived after him, and
touched the bottom but the tide
must have drifted the body onward,
for it could not be found.
They proceeded to one Of the near>
est stations where drags were kept,
and having procured the necessary
apparatus, they proceeded to the fatal
spot. After the lapse Of about an
hour, they succeeded in raising the
llfeless body of their lost friend. All
the usual remedies were employed for
restoring suspended animation but In
vain; they now pursued the remainder
of their course to London in mournful
silence, with the corpse of him who
had commenced the day of pleasure
with them in the fullness of health, of
spirits and life! And in their severe
grief they could not but reflect how
soon one Of the joyous twelve had
SIlDDSd OUT Oh tHO 1lEblO lSStlVc clFCiO.
The months rolled on, and Deem
Der came with all It's cheering round
of kindly greetings and merry hospi-
talities; and with it came softened
recollection Of the fate of poor For
tescue; eleven Of the twelve assembled
on the last day Of the year. and it was
impossible not to feel their loss as they
sat down to dinner. The very irregu-
larity of the table, five on one side and
six on the other, forced the sad event
upon their memory
A decorous sigh Or two, becoming
| ejaculation, and an instructive o5ser-
walton upon the uncertainty OF life,
made up the sum of tender posthum>
Gus offering to the name of George
T ortescue," as tkey proceeded to dis
charge the more important duties for
which they had come. By the time the