The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-05
to q well conducted club, especially
one that appeals to SO many club inter-
ests as an athletic association. The Bos-
ton Athletic club accomplished its work
FEASTED IN SILENCE.
A CHINESE BANQUET RUINED BY A
:. MONGOL.AN WARD M'ALLlSTER.

San Franeiseo's Celestial Four Hundred
Plangcd Into Gloom and Anger by the
wanton Dupiicity Of It's Insinuatiny So
ciaI Dictator.
The Four Hundred and more Of China
town-thAt Is to say, the 400 and more
shicken butchers, pawnbrokers and sausage
manufacturers. were in wild futter of
social excitement. The melting cause OF
the frrore was the dinner given by the Mer-
chants Exchange of Chinatown to the
minister plenipotentiary from Peking.
Yang Yu. and the score of pig tailed diplo-
mats In his train. On the previous evening
his excellency had been dined in the true
oriental style by the Chinese Six Companies
and Attorney Riordan, and last night it
came to the turn of the unclassifed men of
trade Ia the Mongolian colony to stuff the
representative Of the Celestial empire with
all the delicacies known to their cuisine.
The restaurant is situated on Dupont
street, near Commercial, in a three story
structure, with balconies in the oriental
style and profusion Of tinsel. red paint,
Chinese lanterns and music that would set
the teeth Of AN alligator on edge. To this
repository of Mcngolan delicacics oil the
American hacks piloted by acute Jehus
who figured with grim satisfaction On the
glorious opportunity to afflict the heathen
and in some degree even up matters by
charging them six prices for the unaccus-
toned luxury of a ride in a four wheeled
chariot. ~t
The hour Of the dinner was o'clock TO
the minute. In Peking this is the fashion
able time for taking the evening meal, for
tho law Of Confucius has so set 1t for all
time In China.
Precisely at o'clock the hacks began to
roll up TO the Dupont street restaurant,
and the anxious but delighted pork
butchers, cigar suffers and fish pcddlers be-
gan to roll out and elbow each other up
stairs in the trial of the plenipotentiary.
from whom they were separated by %
diplomats in costumes that looked like the
hand painted nightshirts conferred on pop
ular bridegrooms by admiring female rela-
tives. The merchants were also attired in
long flowing garments of the robe de mutt
pattern.
The guests were soon seated without any
ceremony, but with much sorrow, for
cold blooded social plot developed itself the
moment that the banquet hall was reached.
1t was expected, Of course, that tho plen-
ipotentiary would take seat somewhere
in the main banquet hall, where the ora
tors of Spofford alley, which is noted for its
eloquent speakers would have "a free whack
at him. One fat pork butcher had a roll of
Chinese Autographed eloquencc In his pock-
ct, and several Jackson street and Cum
Cook alley fnanciers were about as well
becled. II promised TO be great night for
the Chinese language, and in expectation
OF prolonged flow of cloquence brass
band and an extra stock Of rice brandy had
been provided The unexpected, however,
happened. as always does occur on momen-
tous occasions.
The Ward McAllister OF Chinatown Is n
sleek pawnbroker who does business back
Of the jackson Street theater. His dictum
Is supreme court law on all social questions
within radius OF six Locks OF his store,
and he naturally fell into the position of
chief director of the nights festivitius lie
had been much sought after for several
days by aspiring merchants who desired 20
sit as close as possible to tho plenipotenti-
airy, and every wire was pulled TO further
such ambition. Merchants who can draw
their checks for four figures approached
him under the delicate pretensc Of being
hard pressed and soaked their silver
watches He has done roaring trade for
several days. but his prosperity is et an end
|" " suspected that be tacitly allowed st