St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-11-21
BRAKES GAME DINNER.
The Proprietor of the Grand Pacific,
Chicago, Gives His Thirty-First
Annual Game Dinner,
1t Which Are Present Many Leading
Citizens of Illinois and Some of
Other States,
Together With a Large Number OF
Society Ladies OF the Garden City
and Elsewhere.
Mention of Some of the Prominent
Guests--What the Tables Con-
tanned in Eatables.
Special to the Globe

Special to the Globe.
CHICAGO, Noy. 20.-Almost as much an
institutional part of Chicago as the stock
yards, the system of parks ETC., is the an
nual game dinner given each November by
John &. Drake, of the Grand Pacific.
Thirty-one years ago Mr.. Drake gave the
first game dinner at the old fremont house
He modestly diSclaims the honor of origin
ating the idea of such entertainment, and
laugh ingly declares that the Indians, which
were hereabouts at that time, were respOnS-
ible for it, as they then provided such a
tempting variety of game for so little money
that he was for this reason tempted into
entertaining his friends with this sort OF
hospitality. Mr. Drake further states that for
a fact man could gain fine reputation for
hospitality in Chicago in 1855 with very
modest outlay, providing he spread his ban
ouet of the easily procured game which in
great variety glutted the market OF the then
little city. However, this Outgrowth OF the
wilderness and the prairie (Which were
then the environments OF Chicago
and are now a part Of the city
proper has proven continually in
creasing elephant on Mr.. brakes
hands and isn't now at all the affair started
cut with. The first game dinner given in
cluded, all told. something less than fifty
guests: the game dinner given last night
numbered between five and six hundred
guests. The game, which was so mex
pensive and plentiful in 1855, is now both
scarce and high, and although at from the
10th to goth OF November one kind of game
&c inc linz
in, which enables Mr.. Drake to offer his
guests greater variety of game than is
served at any one time elsewhere in
America. and perhaps it would not be too
much to say any where else in the world,
it Row takes months to arrange for the
providing of game for this grand entertain
mcnt and the source of the supply of some
of it is even as remote as the Pacific coast;
n fact, great deal Of it comes from the
vicinity of the Rocky mountains. A fine
buffalo calf was fattened up in Dakota for
this
THIRTY-FIRST GAME DINNER.
given last night which was most success
full and brilliant affair. Coming as it does,
early in November, the game dinner sets
the ball in motion. so to put it, and is the
grand initiative of the seasons gayetes. A
full dress affair, handsome new dinner
dresses are displayed in their first fresh
ness, and "claw-hammer getaways" and
Prince AlbertS' have not the tell-tale lat
eral wrinkles which have fXed themselves
at the waist later, when they have ac
quired that Dut-on-often look which is all
too apparent as the season advances. The
dressing at this thirty first game dinner was
particularly elaborate and handsome.
There was much larger proportion of both
full and demi-trains than there has been for
several years, and the number of decollete
costumes gave the assembly quite a full
dress English look. The guests began to
arrive at about $50 o'clock and were re-
ceived informally by Mr.. Drake in the
grand parlor. They gathered in little
friendly groups and the hum of gay chat
and merry laughter ioated through the
great double salon and broad halls. At
6:15 o'clock John Hands orchestra, sta
toned in the broad approach leading down
to the grand dining hall. struck up a
bright, inspiring march, and the brilliant
concourse of ladies and gentlemen swept
along down the wide dancing hall and into
the dining room. The card of each guest
bore a number corresponding to number
over the table to which he was
assigned, so that but few moments were
consumed in seating the large assembly.
The groupings at the different tables were
admirably arranged for the promotion of
sociability. and Mr.. brakes personal atten-
ton to each group and hOspitable inquiry
as to their being acceptably served, made
the occasion one of thorough enjoyment to
each individual guest. Among those pres
ent last night were three gentlemen, be-
sides Mr.. Drake himself, who attended the
first game dinner at the old fremont and.
with one or two exceptions, have attended
every one of the long series. They were
Hon. John Wentworth, Philip Watson and
Col. J. J. S. Wilson. One John Gabriel.
who was head waiter upon the occasion of
the first game dinner, and has been in Mr.
brakes employ from that time until the
present. assisted in serving the dinner last
night.