New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-13
ALL READY FOR THE FEAST
SIGNIFICANT SPEECH EXPECTED FROM
AUGUSTUS VAN WICK.
1T Is SAID THAT AT THE CROKER FEAST HE WILL
OUTLINE THE PLATFORM AS DESIRED
BY EASTERN DEMOCRATS. AND TRY
TO PAVE THE WAY FOR HIS NOM

NATIONWIDE BILL OF FARE.
Everything is in readiness for the dinner OF
the Democratic Club at the Metropolitan Opera
House tonight in honor of the birthday or
Thomas Jefferson. The flower and chivalry'
of Tammany will be represented. and those
Democrats in the State who bow the knee TO
Croker will have seats in high places. Speeches
will be made by Mr.. Cookers recent candidate
for Governor Augustus Van Wyck; John b.
Stanchfed. Perry Belmont, Robert b. Roose-
Welt, Frederick c. Schraub, John w. Keller and
others Around the speech of ex-Justice Van
Wyck centres the most interest. prominent
politician said last night:
Many people who are supposed to understand
the inside Of Democratic politics believe that in
his speech tonight Mr.. Van Wyck will try to
prepare his way as candidate for the Demo-
cratic nomination for President. 1t is known
that he will outline the kind of platform that
the Eastern Democrats think should be adopted
by the next Democratic National Convention.
The expectation of his friends is that the speech
will crystalline the opposition to Mr. Bryan
Brooklyn Democrats holding office under the
Tammany administration are burning with
desire to get Boss" Hugh Mclaughlin to go
to the dinner TO- night. and the report was free
ly circulated last night that he would be there
A Tribune reporter found Mr. Mclaughlin
deeply engrossed in game Of dominoes at the
Volunteer Firemen's headquarters in the old
City Hall, and asked him whether he was going.
Il decline to answer the ground that
might commit myself" said the old chieftain. as
he tried to match the double six to five at
the end Of the spotted worries closest to him.
"All your intimate friends say you are going"
ventured the reporter.
well. haven't said so. and that's all I've got
to say tonight" and then the round Of domi-
broke up with Mr. Mclaughlin holding
the double six and another high one.
There was great activity at the Metropolitan
Opera House all day yesterday. in preparation
for the big feast tonight. Bright and early
yesterday morning the cooks grocers. wine men
ard others who are to furnish and prepare the
supplies for the dinner were on the ground.
The cooking was begun at an early hour. and all
day the ,odor Of 1t hung over the big building
Instead Of a chorus going through rehearsal on
the great stage a OF white-capped cooks
fitted around in white jumpers brandishing
carving knives, and suggesting the streotyped
phrase in so many operas about repairing ito
yonder inn In the course of the day these
lusty workmen succeeded in getting in shape
cold dishes.
The cooking and preparations for the kitchen
end OF the dinner were restricted to the stage
but down in the big auditorium there was the
sound Of hammerng and saving of wood, with
the noise and bang of carpenter work Under a
temporary floor of polished pine the plush-cov-
cred opera chairs have disappeared, and on this
floor the workingmen spent the day arranging
wi to Not IN
a thousand diners who are to pay tribute TO the
simplicity of the late Thomas jefferson. 1t GER
tanly appeared to those who looked at it In an
unbiased way odd exempliication of JEFF
fersonian simplicity.
No one about the opera house seemed to take
seriously the threat of the unknown person who
sent misspeed letter 10 say that Mr. Croker
and his friends would be blown up in the course
of their orgy" The police will be unusually
vigilant and 1t is not believed that any one will
interfere with the dinner.
The bill Of fare was announced last night 1t
is as follows:
oysters
Soup
Sauerne.
Clear Green Turtle Fresh Mushrooms
Brook Trout Cucumbers.
Spring Lamb Bermuda Potatoes.
Caret.
Breads
New Green Peas
Democratic Club Punch.
Champagne
Stuffed Philadelphia SQUAD
American Salad
Tutti Fruit fancy
Mineral Waters
Assorted Cakes. Strawberry Tar,lets.
Fruit.
Coffee.
pliee
oysters 60 gallons green turtle soup 100 pounds
fresh mushrooms, $50 pounds brook trout, "a
spring lambs, 81 dozen sweetbreads. ~ dozen
SQUADS 400 head lettuce. 400 tomat toes. 800
Holsters, 100 forms of Ice cream, 100 Demo-
cratic Club punches In the form OF Tammany
tiger 40 pounds cake. Loo picked Bermuda
potatoes and II dozen bushels each OF potatoes
carrots and turnips. There Will be 1900 quarts
of champagne and $500 quarts OF other wines
In the kitchen there Will be forty cooks, under
the supervision OF two chefs.
Three immense chandeliers have been added
to the lighting arrangements, and at the rear
Of the guest table the words Jefferson" Demo-
cratic Club" will fash in electric light.
The opera house was dark last night, and the
big dress rehearsal OF walters, wine-openers.
chief cooks and bottle-washers did not take
place. 1t had been planned to have such re-
hearsal last night. at which the help would "go
through their various evolutions In pantomime
serving imaginary guests with imaginary viands
In order TO make sure that all would go smooth
ly tonight. But IL was remembered at the last
moment that the men who are to serve the feast
belong to the union and II they had worked last
night they would. OF course. have demanded ex-
ira compensation. SO the plan for a big rehearsal
was abandoned. Mr.. Ross. the steward OF the
Democratic Club was seen just as he was leav-
ing the opera house. about O'Clock la [ even
ing Rehearsal" he said Nonsense Don't
you think We can do thing like this without
rehearsal? II all fooshness to talk about
bringing a lot Of workingmen here tonight for
nothing" Mr.. Ross added that the help will re-
port at the opera house this afternoon, and at
4 80 the walters will be walked to and from
their stations TO the tables etc. He said that
would be all the rehearsal necessary.
ONE DOLLAR TO LARGE CONSUMERS.
A report yesterday that the New-Amsterdam Gas
counanv had made a general Reduction In the