Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-04

day making arrangements for his task, which
is simply herculean one. He may have to
serve supper for 5000 people, and perhaps for
1900 people. The difficulties Of his under
taking are self evident. Mr.. Boldt has made
name and fame as the proprietor Of the hotel
Bellevue, in Philadelphia, where, for the past
six years, the dinners of the Clover club have
been held. He is to Philadelphia what Del
monico is to New York, and the inaugural COM
mittee feel that the feast end of the great quad
rennial ball could not have been placed in bet
ter hands.
Some of the most unique and brilliant din
ners ever given in this or any other country
have been given at the quiet and petite hotel
Bellevue. Boldt is an artist as well as an cpl
cure, and he has developed some exquisite
artistic and material effects.
Perhaps the costliest dinner ever served"
he said to me, twas the one given to Franklin
y. Gowan in February. 1882. by the railroad
presidents of New York and Philadelphia. Mr..
GOwan was then the president of the Reading
railroad. MIR. W. II. Vanderbilt was one of the
thirty guests, remember. The name of MIR.
Gowan formed of jacqueminot rosebuds ap-
peared on the wall of the room in letters 10
inches high. Reed birds were served which had
been kept In ice for ten months, and the Roman
punch was brought to the table in the tenders
OF miniature railway trains. one of which was
placed before each guest. The tiny trains were
set upon steel rails, and the engine and cars
bore the initials of the Reading railroad. The
dinner cost $50 a cover.
In that same year Mr.. Clarence Lewis gave
a dinner in honor of Miss Agnes Roberts, the
niece of the president of the Pennsylvania
railroad. A dozen of the seasons debutantes
were present, and / was hidden to produce
some quietly startling effects. This is what 1
did: The dinner was served in a corner of the
large ballroom. The table was surrounded by
Japanese screens feet high. The center
ornament of the table was an enormous ball OF
viOlets. The moment the Sevres coffee-cups
were placed on the table a spring was touched
The ball OF vlolets fell apart. exposing a great
bunch of La France roses-a ball favor to the
guest of honor. In another moment the screens
were whisked away; a score of cages containing
chirping canary birds were seen hanging from
the ceiling; music came from a hidden
orchestra, and the ballroom was at the disposal
of the dancers. All of this was brought about
IN an instant. The effect was charming and
the guests were delighted. What had been a
coy dining-room a moment before was
changed into a large ballroom without the
slightest confusion or noise. The accomplish
ment of this was bit theatric, perhaps, but it
was very effective.
In October, 1884. Mr.. Clarence II. Moore
gave a dinner of fifteen covers to Mrs Richard
son. of London, formerly of Philadelphia The
table was strewn with autumn leaves and chest
nut burrs. A different set of deliberately de-
corated plates was furnished for each course,
and each plate was an art study. The favors
luz ldtllcS were sOllu caro- CtSes Win
the monogram of the recipient engraved ON
one side and the menu and date OH the other.
Jeweled scarf pins were given TO the men. The
dinner cost cover 800 for each person."
Mr.. Rodman Wanamaker, in October 1888.
gave an ante-wedding dinner to eighteen men,
The table set in grape arbor in the mid
die OF the largest room in the hotel. Two
hundred and fifty pounds of grapes were
pended from natural vines. The apartment
was illuminated by hundreds of tiny fairy
iar l,..l,k,
Large trees were placed against the wall of
the room as though growing there. Graveled
serpentlne walks. strewed with leaves. led
from the central arbOr throughout the room.
Miniature summer houses abounded. and in
another arbOr the orchestra was concealed.
The result was perfect. All the effect of a din
ner IN private vineyard was produced"
MIR. Boldt has given several Greek dinners
The prandial customs of the ancients are fol-
lowed as closely as comfort and convenience
will permit. The room is hung with garlands
and over the table wreaths and garIands are
carelessly thrown. Rugs are hung on the walls.
Silver tankards take the place of glasses. The
men must wear a laurel wreath and a muslin
robe. boar's head adorns the center of the
table. Roast kid, served whole, is one of the
features. and dates and powdered nuts form
the dessert The menu is printed in Greek as
well as English
Silk and plush table decoration was first in
troduced IN this country by Mr.. BOldt. In re-
ferring to dressing table he said:
II look upon the table as Worth looks upon
his subject. / throw a lot of silk or other ma
terial on it. adjust crease il until am salts
fed / pin a bit of ribbon at one point
silken bow at another; throw a flower here,
leaf there until an artistic and happy result
is attained. / sit up nights striving for new
ideas"
Mr.. Bolts collection of china is a very rare
and valuable one. The most notable portion
of it is the Grown Head" set of dinner plates
1t was painted on his order by Dessard at the
Royal Sevres factory, Paris. Each of the
eighteen plates contains perfect portrait of
king. queen, prince or princess, and the cost
OF each plate was the modest sum of SS7. They
have been used on but four occasions. The
first was the Moore dinner; second. the Wanna
maker entertainment; third a luncheon given
to Mrs. W. W. Aston. and fourth, for the lunch
con given by Mr.. Geo. w. Childs to Mrs.
Cleveland while she in Philadelphia at
tending the constitutional centennial celebra-
ton. They are works of art and the envy of
every lover of ceramics.
The southern members of Congress are nota-
bly, poor. All of them, to be sure, are not
guilty of that greatest of faults Gas it is re-
garded In Washington, but it is the rule
rather than the exception. A story is told of
Nch-hnONu from a southern state
which is based on this peculiarly. The Sena-
tor was poor--so poor that he found great diff
Guilty in getting through his canvass. In his
extremity he did not hesitate to borrow a few
hundred dollars here and there. probably con-
soling his conscience with the thought that he
was going TO Congress not so much for his own
good as for the good of the state and her peo-
pie. One OF the constituents Of whom he solic-
tied and obtained a small loan was a farmer
not overburdened with this worlds goods him
self. OF him the Senator obtained $500 He
did not think of repsying il and the lender did
not think of asking for il.
One day. a year or more after election the
farmers wife found that the store of money
was running low. The crops had been bad and
the expenses OF the family heavy She sug-
gested TO hex husband that he apply to SEN
ator - for the little loan made at the time
OF the election The farmer wrote but he re-
ceived no reply. He wrote again and received
short note telling him that the Senator was
90 engrossed with public duties that he could
0ot attend to the matter immediately At
length. becoming little aggravated and being
moved to action by the urging of his wife. he
determined to come TO Washington He came.
and shortly after his coming he called upon
the Senator. He was received In the most effu-
siye manner. The Senator was delighted To
see bis old friend. Other Senators were passing
through the corridors of the capitol at the time
they met. The Senator stopped them. ''You
must know my old friend" he said to them and
introduced them To him Ona after apothar