The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1888-02-01
COMO'S WEIGHT PARTY.
Our Correspondent Firmly Refuses to Gloss Over
the Facts In the Case.

the Facts in the Case.
| Correspondence of the Pdldtkd Nelrs.
Como. January 81.
Last night the much talked of Lear
Year oyster supper was given at Mrs. j
| A. Manchester's. All were invited, and
if all did not come l have yet to learn
the names of the absentees. Every
rheumatic old bachelor and bald headed
old widower, for ten miles around was
promptly on hand, with his trousel
pockets buttoned up and an eager, hun.
CRY CLEAN in lis eye.
AS each gentleman arrived he was
weighed in the balance, and l am sorry
to have to report that most of them were
found wanting: the light weight and
| emaciated appearance of some tending
to give the impression that they had en-
| tirely abstained from food for several
days, in order that they could do ample
justice to the evenings refreshment
The parson and your correspondent
| ran far ahead of any one else. There is
| nothing like good beer for giving solidity
reverend gentleman's record by four
pounds, but then you see he does not
labor under the disadvantage of having
to take his tipple on the quiet.
1t is seldom that ''Tito" has much
weight in church affairs, but he got
there last night with both feet.
Each mans name and weight having
been written on a separate card, ali were
mixed together, and then each lady
drew for her partner for the evening,
having to pay for supper according to
the avoirdupois of her charge. And
now for once, at least, in his life, otto
felt himself little de trop. But joy!
He was drawn by lady with whom dol
lars are as plentiful as personal charms.
For the last few days there has been
a rumor In circulation that prize was
to be given to the man who got the oy-
ster but this malicious lie was nailed
when thirteen and a half gallons of
Cedar Key oysters arrived by express in
the afternoon. When traced to its source
this fabrication was found to have eman-
ated from a dessicated brain of worm
eaten wreck of a man who had not
treated girl to an oyster stew for forty
five years, and who, having sufficient
conscience left to feel that he could not
face the clear eyes of Como girls, en-
deavored to create panic under shelter
of which his absence would not be no
ticed.
Another rumor was that the drawing
was fixed" and that all the young
folks had mated off two weeks ago, but
the proceedings dispelled this Illusion for
never was bleak December linked to
more smiling May.
This is the year of the terrible sur
plus. A shadow of the incubus rested
on us last night. There were men
enough to go around, there were men
enough to go around twice, tie in big
bow and let the ends trail on the floor.
We had men to sell! They were sold
The miserable wall-thistles sat
around and smiled far-fetched CHASTITY
smiles. until some fair lady had pity,
and took them in to supper.
Every one seemed to have a good
time. There was lots of fun, the whole
scheme was novelty here and the af-
fair was a big financial success.
Your faithful and unpurchasable re-
porter, however, feels it his duty to re-
mark that if the stew had acquired Just
a little more milk it would have suited
his complexion better. and he is OBJ
hged to acknowledge that the twenty
five cent puzzle is still TO his beclouded |
brain an impe netrable shadow wrapped
mystery. TITo.