The Topeka state journal., 1898-10-17
Pockets $4,000 of an English
mans Money.
Dimes % People at a Table
Made of Cross Section
)F CALIFORNIA TREE.
Britisher Bet That HeCOuId Not
Do 1t.
The Block Was 81 Feet in Cir
cumference.

London, Oct. 17-WilIiam Waldorf
Astor has won a wager of $4,000 by
giving long expected dinner to 27 per-
sons, seated around a table made from
a single cross section of a great Califor-
MIA redwood tree.
Nearly two years ago Mr.. Astor had
a discussion with General Owen Will.
hams about the size of California trees
the Englishman not believing that they
grew to such enormous size as Mr. AS
tor asserted. The result was a wager
by the American millionaire that he
would give dinner to % persons, who
would dine comfortably around the
trunk of a California tree
At great expense Mr.. Astor had a
section OF a gigantic tree sent to him
from California. 1t measured 81 feet in
circumference When the tree arrived
in England it was taken to Cliveden, the
beautiful country place of Mr.. Astor on
the Thames, near Henley. There it was
partially buried in a part of the park
known as the Half Moon. What the
object was in burying it is not known
but 1t was left for months partially IN
der ground.
Four weeks ago the section of the
tree was turned over to a firm at Ayles-
bury, who smoOthed off the surface and
polished it highly. AS it was impossible
to get the table into the house. a large
marquee tent was erected over it in a
little glade of the Half Moon wood. The
ground was strewn with fresh ferns to
make a natural carpet, and there the
dinner was given.
No cloth was spread over the polish
ed surface, but it was prettily decorated
with wild flowers by young Miss Astor,
while beautiful candelabra cast soft
light over the costly silver plate and
china. Chinese lanterns were hung
from the great doorway of Cliveden to
the marquee and the glade was gayly
Illuminated.
Most of the guests had been at Give
den for a week, while others came from
TapIoW Court, where Lady Louisa
Grenfel was having a house party. Tea
was served in the great hall of Cliveden
during the afternoon, and soon after
O'Clock the march to the large dining
table in the glade began. AS the guests
entered the marquee there were many
exclamations of wonder and delight.
Mr.. Astor presided. with his &c guests
seated in a circle around the tree. They
were bit crowded, but facetious guests
remarked that Mr.. Astor had invited
the thinnest people he knew.
The guests were General Owen Will
liams of Tranby Croft notoriety who
made the bet; Lady Louisa Grenfen.
Captain Grenfell, the Marquis of Ham
iltOn, the Duchess of Abercorn Lord
George Hamilton, the Hon. W. F. H.
Smith, Mrs. Smith, Lady Randolph
Wykeham Martin, Mrs. Wykeham Mar
tin, Miss Martin, A. H. Grenfen, Miss
Williams, Mrs. Reuben Sasson, Sir
Waking Wynn, the Hon. W. LyttIetOn,
Vicar of Tanlow, Lord Athulmney, Cap
tain LambtOn, Lord Castletown, Ham
nton Stubber and Miss Chrisholm.
The menu was handpainted, repre-
senting a redwood tree, with the course
on the trunk. The dinner was served
from a small kitchen erected in the
wood nearby.
General Williams paid the bet and af-
ter dinner the guests went back to the
great Cliveden house for the evening,
as the weather was somewhat chilly.