Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-27
NOVELTY OF THE CENTURY
Unique Entertainment by Patent Law Glass
ofColumbian University.
Dinner Given in Honor of Prof.
Church Under Letters Patent
Duly Issued.

A patented dinner is the latest novelty
of the century Such an affair was the
function rendered Prof. Melville Church
last night at the Wellington by the patent
law class of ~ of Columbian University.
Prof. Church is one of the instructors at
the university and is highly esteemed by
all the students. The menu cards were
photographic reproductions of the letters
patent granted the promoters of the din
ner signed by Webster Davis, assistant
secretary of the interior, and counterslSneu
by c. H. Duell, commissioner of patents.
The patent papers read as follows:
United States of America. No. 1,Ooo,Wo
To all whom these presents shall come:
Whereas the patent law class of the
Columbian University of 1899, assignors to
Melville Church, have presented to the
commissioner of patents a petition praying
for the grant of letters patent for an al
legged new and useful Improvement in din
ners, a description of which invention is
contained in the specification, of which
copy is hereunto annexed and made part
hereof. and have complied with all the
various requirements of law in such cases
made and provided, and,
Whereas upon due examination made
the said claimants are adjudged to be justly
entitled to patent under the law,
Now, therefore, these letters patent are
the term of one day, to wit. the twenty
sixth day of May, one thousand eight hun
dred and ninety-nine, the exclusive right TO
enjoy and digest the said invention through
out the United States and the territories
thereof.
The "Invention" Explained.
Following this was the testamentary sig
natures of the officials above referred TO.
The specification was in proper form, and
United States patent office. The patent
law class of the Columbian University Of
1899 of Washington D. c., assignor to Mel
vile Church of the same place. Dinner.
Specification forming part of letters patent
No. 100000 dated May % 1899. Appli-
cation fled May is, 1899. Serial number
1,5G0.CoO. No model.
To all whom it may concern:
BE it known that We, the patent law
class of the Columbian University, citizens
of the United States, residing at Washing
ton, IN the District of Columbia, have III
vented certain new and useful improve
ments in dinners, OF which the following is
q specifications:
Our invention is particularly designed as
testimonial TO our honored professor. and
to give expression to our esteem and friend
ship for him. 1t is Furthermore designed
to show to him our appreciation of his
painstaking, earnest efforts in expounding
to us the many details of that branch OF
legal science to which We have devoted our
selves; and it is finally designed to promote
the feelings of good fellowship and sym
patty which bind together those who strive
to a common end
The menu, made up of many deIicacies
formed the ingredients of the invention"
me specification closed as follows:
The ingredients are to be taken sepa-
rately. iii reasonable proportions, seasoned
with wit and good humor and accompanied
by speech and song. 1t viii be found that
"heh USED as described our invention Will
surpaSS IN efficiency all previous attempts
at producing similar function Having
mus particularly described and ascnrtaincd
the nature Of our invention, what we claim
ds ne" ana desire to secure by letters pat
eht Is the combination of the ingredients
set forth with a class of budding LAWYERS
anu thelr esteemed Instructor substan-
TALLY as described. (S.gned) The Patent
LAW lass OF the Columbian University of
lsJ2 Witnesses, John Doe Richard Roe /"
Responses to Toasts.
Inc dinner was an enjoyable affair
throughout. Mr. Nathan Heard acted as
POSTMASTER, introducing the following sub
Jects and speakers: The professor" H. l..
Duncan; The moot court" J.. C. Smith:
Authorities" L. T. CREST; Fees" w. C.
Lawson; Those who are missing that
should be here Il. VI. Doyle; Pipe
Dreams w. j. Becker: The profession"
fFoi- Melville church; remarks, A. b. Sic
bold; Glass OF 90" W. f. Schoenborn.
The dinner was in charge of Il committee
composed of Messrs. w j. Becker. l.. r.
CREST and A. b SeiboId
Those present Were J. f. Bartlett. W. J.
B@cker B. NJ. Doyle, H. L. Duncan, T. H.
Eakle, +. c. Goodwin. l.. T. CREST Nathan
Heard, {. G. Harris, w. NJ. Hatch, r. A.
Johnson, W, c. Lawson, d, p. Moore r c.
Powell, c. w. Parker, S. B. Prentiss. W. II.
Reid w S Ruckman. J. a. Saul, A. b.
Seibold, L. c. Smith, w. E. Schoenborn.