The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-03-22
MERCHANTS AT DINNER.
The Board of Trade and Merchants
Exchange at the Falmouth.
The Commercial Event of the Winter
of 1862.

this city was returning home to Portland on
the late Boston train, and in the car with
him rode young banker, an officer of the
Board of Trade and Merchants Exchange.
The topic was started: 'What can be done
to create a strong interest on the part of our
business men in these two organizations, so
that the good they have done Portland in the
past may be multiplied in the future?" The
fact that Boston, through its various dinner
clubs, which meet at the famous hotels in
that city monthly, had succeeded, through
good fellowship, in accomplishing much for
that city, led them to believe that the same
plan might be pursued here to advantage.
The Paint and Oil Club was cited as an in
stance of what good had already come out Of
q small association formed with the same
object.
The conversation on the cars bore fruit
A few weeks ago, at meeting of the Board
of Trade and Merchants Exchange
managers. committee consisting oil
President j. E. Blabon, Messrs. W. u.
Davis, j. S. Winslow and T.. c.
Woodbury. were appointed to arrange 1or
a dinner for the two organizations ana 70
invite the cooperation of the Palnt ana vi
Club, whose members belong to one or the
other of the associations. The commlttee
thought if there should be fifty favorable
responses they should be satisfied, II seven
tv-6ve they should be well pleased, and if
NV chance the number should reach one hun
dred they should feel the affair was a great
success. The arrangements for the dinner
were made with Mr.. John X. Martin, the
proprietor of the Falmouth Hotel, whose
large resources and roomy apartments
afforded the assurance that the affair would
be in excellent hands. As a result of their
arrangements when the party sat down to
dinner on Saturday night, at o'clock, plates
had been laid for 100 guests, and not only
were all of them taken, but small tables had
to be placed in the corners, accommodating
some ten more people.
BY o'clock Saturday subscribers to the
dinner began to arrive at the hotel. 1t was
disagreeable afternoon, with sleet and
snow, and the large billiard halls and coy
parlors with their bright sea coal fires were
far more tempting than the storm and wind
without. Large suites Of rooms on the par
lor floor had been set aside by Mr.. Martin
for reception and cloak rooms, card and con-
versation rooms while the three long, ele
CANT drawing rooms numbered 1, 2 and 8,
reaching from the front of the house to the
grand dining hall, were set apart for the
banquet. For two hours social intercourse
was INDUCED in, with whist, progressive
euchre and billiards; many new acquaint-
ances were formed and old ones strengthened.
A number who procured tickets were unable,
for various reasons, to attend, among them
General Manager Tucker of the Maine Cen
trail, who had hoped to be present. General
Manager Furber Of the Boston and Maine
was in attendance, and was cordially
greeted.
When the doors were thrown open for
dinner the tables presented sight long to
be remembered. Standing at the side of the
presiding officer and glancing the length of
the rooms vision was opened of exceeding
loneliness. The large floral designs that oc-
cupied every few feet, the sinuous windings
of the dark green vines over the snowy
damask, the triumphs of the confectioner's
art in spun sugar, the dainty little bout0n-
nieres surmounting each oddly folded nap
| kin, and last but not least, the fine appear
ance and intellectual characteristics of the
gentlemen assembled, would have been re-
marked upon anywhere. The service of the
| house, enlarged for the occasion, was prompt
| and efficient under the quick eye and careful
| guidance of Mr.. Heating, whose long ex-
perience stood him in excellent stead The
| following was the menu:
Blue Points on Half Shell.
Mullagatawny Soup.
Celery.
Boiled Salmon Trout-(Sauce de H9mard9
POInmRS P1rlSlennRg
Roast Turkey-Cranberry Sauce.
String Beans Asparagus.
Riz de Veau Pique aux Petits Pois.
Fiett de Beuf aux Champignons.
Poulette la Florentine.
Oyster Patties a la Bechamel.
Roman Punch
Grouse-(Sauce de Pain.
POmmeS Saratoga
Mallard Duck-Gelee de Corinthe.
Lettuce
Chicken Salad. Lobster Salad
English Plum Pudding-Rum Sauce.
Assorted Cake.
Neapoltan Ice Cream.
Cafe Noir
Mr.. J. E. Blabon, president of the Board
of Trade, occupied the head of the table, at
the Middle street end of the ladies' parlor.
At his immediate right sat His Honor, Mayor
Chapman and at his left, Hon. William W.
Thomas, ST. Next to Mayor Chapman sat
General Manager j. 7. Furber of the Boston
| & Maine, President Geo. p Wescott of the
| Portland & Rochester, Hon. Samuel j. An
| derson, Collector Of the Port, and next to
Mr.. Thomas, Woodbury. S. Dana, Esq, ex-
President of the Board of Trade, ]. W. Per-
kins of J. W. Perkins & Co., and so on on
both sides of the table without any pre-ar-
| rangement of seats. At the lower end sat
j. S. Winslow of j. S. Winslow & Co., with
Hon. w. w. Thomas. Jr., at his right and
| J. E. Dewitt, President of the Union Mutual
Life Insurance Company of Maine, on his
| left.
Among those seated at the tables were