Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-06-18

tsils-Ouo Surprise.
AS much of Wall street as has
heard the story is laughing over
some features of dinner given re-
GENTLY in II popular down town res
taurant which draws n large proper
ton of its patrons from tho brokers.
Several women friends of q regular
patron Of the restaurant had heard
OF the famous dishes to DO had
there, and at the regular patrons
invitation came down town one
night to take dinner there. 1t was
after the regular hours of business,
and the host, who is as we'll known
for his taste i'll pictures as for his
shrewdness in Wall street, had or
dored dinner which included some
of the best specimens of tho chefs
skill. In due time the guests began
to arriIc, and when they were all
gathered in the dining room except
the host thCro began to be some
questioning as to his whereabouts.
Nobody had seen him, and no word
had been received from him. The
proprietor of the restaurant was
called in, but no had seen nothing
of the man since receiving from him
earlier that day the last directions
regarding tho dinner.
"Well, Ill tell you what We'll do
until Dick comes" said ono of tho
men. You ladies probably have
never yet had the opportunity to
stand up before a regular bar and
take drink, and probably you new
or will again have as good one as
this. Now, the cafe is closed to the
public, but 1 propose that we all
step out in front and take cocktail
ut tho bar. Those ladies in favor of
the motion will say aye
There was some protest, but in
the end tho party, which numbered
eight or ten, arose and filed through
tho swinging straw doors which sep
arated tho cafe from the dining
room. The man who first made the
suggestion acted as master of cere-
monies The only other person in
the cafe was the barkeopcr.
Running parallel with the bar,
ladies, said the guide, "thore is
narrow railing about six inches
above tho floor. You all must put one
foot on that, lean one elbow on the
counter and drink your cocktail,
holding it in the other hand"
The man on the other side of the
bar appeared too busily engaged in
polishing glass to pay any atten-
ton to this unusual conversation.
Most of the women laughingly fol.
lowed the advice, and when they
were in position the spokesman call
ed out, Now, ladies, what is it?"
The order was ready after various
changes from Manhattan to Martini,
and finally the master of ceremonies
called to the barkcepor, who was
standing at little distance, still alb
sorbed in polishing glasses.
Captain, " he said, 1.-TWO Manhat-
tans, one vermuth and one Mar
TIM"
Then the barkceper turned and
faced the four women leaning on
the bar and staring expectantly into
his face. With n Cry of surprise that
came from every ono of them at the
same moment, they started back.
why, it's Dick himsclf" was the
form in which some of thom en-
pressed their establishment and the
exact words of one or two of them.
1t was the host, who had got into
the barkeeper' 5 white canvas jacket
and slipped behind the bar in tho
certainty that the party would find
its way into tho barroom sooner or
later. He wanted to mix the drinks
after the party had discovered him,
but they drew the line at that. A
substitute was found in one of the
regular barkeepers, and the host
came out, put his foot on the rail
and drank with the rest of the par
ty.-New York Sun.