The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-01
HUNGRY
Was No Name
for 1t.
CITY COUNCILMEN
Had to Be Content With a
Dutch Treat"

The members of the city government,
exclusive of the presidents of both
branches, did not participate in the
complimentary banquet given to the
soldiers last evening. Not because
they We're not invited, not because they
did not attend; but because when they
presented themselves, they were told
that the seats reserved for them and
for which they had paid three large,
round sameleon apiece, had been
turned over to some soldiers who came
in at the last moment
1t was very exasperating for a time,
and then it became funny; but when
the members Of the city government
left the hall supperless, each carrying
away his ticket the pleasantest things
in the world were not said by certain
members about the management. Later
in the evening. after they had regaled
themselves on a Dutch treat, at the
Bay State House cafe, many relaxed
somewhat and were willing to forgive
and forget.
Yesterday afternoon a special mes
Senger was sent to the members of both
BRANCHES of the city government, in
Viting them to attend the banquet and
asking for reply. A goodly number
sent in the money for tickets. After
the parade OF the afternoon, the city
council members who were on the re-
viewing stand, met in the mayors Of
flee, and the majority voted to attend
the banquet and to adjourn the city
council meeting of the evening at 745
for that purpose. The members were
Informed that table would be re-
served until they arrived, supper
would be served to them and things
would go on just as if they had been
on hand when the affair opened at Z.
AS a result, the members who were
to attend the banquet came to the city
government meeting in their Sunday
best, supperlass, anticipating, as all ep-
icures do the splendid spread in store
for them, which had cost SO.
After the adjournment, the members
who had tickets arrayed themselves
into joyful company and proceeded
hurriedly to Mechanics Hall They
checked their coats and hats in the
dressing room while word was sent up
stairs that they had arrived A short
time later they waited at the foot of
the stairs, Respondent in evening dress
with hair neatly combed and white ties
in perfect order
They were already to mount the
stairs and proceed to the hall with
stately dignity, when Chairman Pink
nam came down stairs, and after shak-
lne hands all round, told the CITY Off
Gals in a. few well-chosen words that
the seats reserved had been given to
some soldiers who came in late. He
explained thai as the banquet was for
the soldiers, the committee felt that
they could not refuse them seats. and
na4 zone SO. He also stated that Mr.
I.TDooll mad refused to set more plates.
1len the mayor went to see the cater
ef, He found him, as always willing
70 40 anything in his power. Mr. Reb-
DOH SAID If the members would wait
until the necessary articles could be
secured that he would set the table
with all possible haste. Mr. Rebboli
also explained that the seats reserved
mad been taken by the committee. He
SAID he felt embarrassed, but thought
mat the mayor would see that the mat
Ter was entirely out of his hands He
further explained that he set 100 more
plates than he was guaranteed, anti
clpatlng a rush at the last moment
The mayor agreed with Mr.. Rebboli.
ana came down stairs and told the
members of the city government how
Things were. He said a place wou1d
be made for them with all possible
haste. II was also suggested that, pos
sibly, seats might be secured for them
in the galleries
This latter suggestion was not at all
pleasing to the men who had come
downtown without suppers. The more
they thought of it the less 1t struck
them, and the hungrier they got The
ldea OF waiting for a second table did
not gain favor.
Then Alderman Barrett invited the
party out to dine at his expense. This
did not seem like the right thing to do
but 1t suggested the fact to the hugry
politicians that there We're Other
places in the city where suppers could
be had.
Some one suggested that the entire
party go over to the Bay State house
cafe and eat on the Individual" plan.
every man paying for himself. Some
conservative members thought it might
hurt the feelings Of the committee if
they should go away and held off. 9th
ers were pleased with the idea, and
proceeded to put on their hats and
coats at once. They left in few min
ues, calling to theothers who still stood
about TO come on" The conservative
officials waited, wistfully watching the
stairs for some member Of the exeeu-
tive committee, the caterer, the mayor
anybody. In the meantime the pres
idents of each branch had given out
seats at the head table.
Nobody came. The members still
waited and smoked cigars, which did
not taste right on empty stomachs At
last it got tiresome, and gradually the
members left the hall, until every one
had gone.
At 8 o'clock nearly all of the members
of the city government who had ac-
cepted invitations to the banquet were
at the Bay State cafe eating good
things and enjoying themselves, and
some of them were saying things
Some of these things were about the
committee. Some members thought
that the committee hadn't shown the
city government proper consideration
in planning the banquel on the regular
night of the meeting, and lastly, wait
ing until the eleventh hour before send
ing out the invitation to them. Others
thought that the committee had been
rushed, oVerworked. and were dis
posed to take the matter as a Joke.
The party at the cafe enjoyed them
selves hugely, and when it separated
the members voted that the affair had
been a very delightful one and that
there was q silver lining to every
cloud.