The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-03-07
a HANkRupr,s CLEVER SCHEME.
Startling Developments That Enlivened
n Dinner to His Creditors.

Dinner to His Creditors.
This story is going the rounds ut
V1enna: Among the prominent citizens
OF the capital of the Austrian empire is
a gentleman called Fritz. He is tho pro-
prietor of large factory and is, more
over, we'll known as jovial, whole
soulcd fellow, who delights to give large
dinner parties.
Not long since he sent out invitations
to all his business friends to partake of
his hospitality at dinner party.
AT first, as is frequently the case at a
dinner party at which there arc gentle
men only, the proceedings wero some
what tedious. BY degrees, however, tho
guests became more lively under the
stimulating influences of the wines.
Their tongues became ioosened by the
frequent lubrications, and there was
flow of geniality and wit such as is
found only on press excursions.
Good humor prevailed to an almost
alarming extent Everybody present
was in hilarious mood. Just at this
crisis Fritz stood up and intimated that
he would like to mako few remarks.
"Bravo!" said fat man with q red
face, pounding on the table with the
handle of his knife.
Now we will hear something fun
n.y." remarked another guest getting
his mouth ready to laugh.
speech, speechH' exclaimed several
OF the guests who had contemplated the
wine when it was red.
There was solemnity about the host
that almost convulsed tho merry gentle
men present. Gentlemen, see around
me all my creditors, and 1 have some
important information to impart to
you And he paused. The fat man, to
whom Fritz was owing 90, 900 marks,
turned trifie pale and seemed to be I'M
able to close his mouth, in which he
had deposited morsel of pate do foie
gras. Several other creditors looked at
each other.
Gentlemen, continued tho orator,
you will regret to hear that ana
bankrupt"
Roars of laughter. THAT is good.
Over the Hills to the Poorhouse, 4"
sang another.
The orator did not join in the laugh
ter. with increased solemnity he said
wish, gentlemen, for your sakes
and for my sake that 1 were jesting,
but l am not. OF late 1 have expert
enced severe losses. 1t is impossible for
me to meet my obligations. If, however,
you gentlemen are willing to give me
six months time, l can pay off every
thing and thus save my honor-and my
life, for''-and here Fritz drew a re-
volver-"1 propose to blow out my
brains i'll your presence, and he placed
tho deadly weapon to his temple
Tho Mortified guests sprang to their
feet. A few of the moro courageous en-
deavored to wrcst tho revolver from the
desperate man, but they did not sue
coed. Fritz declared that he would not
give up the revolver until certain doc
ument giving him an extension of six
months was signed, and he suddenly
drew the document from his breast
pocket.
AS we have already intimated, all
tho creditors, owing to the wine, wero
III a most genial mood, and in a few
minutes tho document was signed by all
the creditors of Herr Fritz.
Then the merriment was renewed in
earnest, although there was a hollow
ring in the laugh of the fat man that
told of an aching heart. Fritz put up
his revolver, which, so it has been init
mated, was not even loaded.