New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-14
CROKER'S COSTLY FEAST.
.JE'F'FER.SONLAN SIMPLICITY
HONORED IN THE BREACH.

LACK OF FOOD AND DRINK
DULL AND DREARY
SPEECHES.
Looking at It from a numerical point OF view
Richard Croker's ten-doar feast in the Metro
politan Opera House last night was distinct
success. Looking at 1t from any other point
incidental to most dinners there is some
ground for questioning that the dinner came
up to the standard that one was led to expect
from the advance notices which for weeks have
emanated from the Democratic Club
II may be said at the very outset that not one
third of the thousand or people who gave
up $40 for the privilege OF a seat at one Of the
many rows OF tables get out over the floor OF the
Opera House last night got the value for their
money. Those who sat on the 20. f." side Of
the house. the side nearest,the kitchen probably
got a taste of every course, but the guests who
were assigned to tables on the further side ana
at the back Of the stage. did not taste one-half
Of the dishes that were set Ou. the menu for
the delectation OF the Tammany palates- 1t was
observable that while spring lamb was being
served to the tables fortunate enough to be
situated near the kitchen. the diners on the
further side OF the building were having served
to them clear green turtle soup.
THE SOUP SMOKED.
IT is conceivable however. that a smultanes
Gus serving Of over a thousand people is impos-
sible The guests who were partaking Of soup
while their fellows on the opposite side OF the
auditorium were eating spring lamb would
have raised no grumble II the soup had not been
so much smoked as to make its swallowing any
thing but JOY. and the grumbling was in no
u-ic uhan ha m which
came to the prompt side. when the guests on the
north were eating dessert. was found to be cold
and as unappetizing as the meat of an ancient
ram who had spent many seasons In grazing on
the hillside.
These were shortcomings however that were
anticipated and inevitable at dinner composed
OF so many people. They were details that
would have been accepted without a murmur
but for one circumstance. For some days II had
been announced that three thousand quart bot
ties of champagne had been laid in store-a
sufficient quantity to allow about three bottles
for each guest. The proportion actually en-
joyed was instead one bottle to three guests,
and that is taking liberal estimate OF the sup
ply. What became of the other two thousand
bottles was mystery impossible Of elucldation
so far the wine captains" were able to tell
Where's the wine?" the captains were so fire.
quently asked that they became wearied in
saying that It had been all distributed Whether
some of the more favored diners drank moro
than their share OF the stock may be a matter
OF conjecture but 1t Is certain that II " Croker
Will appoint sort of Mazet Investigation Com
mittee 10 inquire into the champagne supply OF
last night. he may succeed in unearthng the
whereabouts Of at least two thousand bottles OF
"fzz"
However, IL is no part OF description OF what
will come to be looked upon as the historic SO
dinner. to give heed to the murmurngs OF the
ingrates who gave up what TO many OF them
represented a goodly part Of their weeks salary
to dine in the same atmosphere with Tam
many's King, and then mathematical him be-
cause they didn't get the full worth OF their
money in wine and food. II may be said that
whatever was wanting In this direction was
made up for in the general surroundings OF the
dinner, in the elaborate floral decorations and in
the illuminations that flooded the place in blaze
of light. One OF the Illuminating effects was an
inscription placed at the back Of the stage, PEN
cilled in electric lights reading Jefferson 1743-
1899. Democratic Club"
AN HISTORIC PARALLEL
The Tribune few days ago likened this
glorfcation Of Richard Croker while the legis-
lative committee was on Tammanys trail to
the Biblical dinner OF Belshazzar While the
incidents of that old-t time banquet were not re-
peated last night, something happened that
seemed singularly peculiar when IL is remem-
bered how greatly Jefferson's disposition was
opposed TO such ostentatious displays as that
engineered by Richard Croker last night. The
dinner, it must be remembered, was in honor
OF Jefferson's birthday. hence the Illuminated
sign that shone from the back OF the stage.
But as a matter Of fact Richard Croker had
not been in his seat more than ten minutes
when the two final lighted letters TO the word
Democratic" and the entire word Club" went
out, leaving the electric legend to read "Jeffer-
son, 1743- 1899 Democrat" II was some time
before the significance Of the imperfection in
the illuminated lettering was noticed. and then
there scurrying to the back Of the stage
on the part of some Of the committee In search
Of the electricians of the opera house. II was
not until about an hour later. however, that a
workman with the aid Of a ladder succeeded in
restoring the pristine effect Of the electric sign.
AT THE GUESTS TABLE.
Thirty four tables we're arranged for the ac-
commodation Of the guests The table OF
honor. where the big luminaries were seated,
was placed transversely across the floor directly
under the proscenium arch. The stalls were
boarded over with flooring a level with the
stage. and this space contained sixteen long
tables running at right angles to the table Of
honor. Upon the stage We're placed a like
number of tables. According 10 the arrange
ments every owner Of ten-dollsr ticket was IN
be assigned to a reserved seat But the doors
had not been opened ten minutes before method
was thrown to the winds. and II became a sort
OF catch h-as- catch can" struggle for seats
1t availed late guest nothing II. after ind
ing his location on the printed diagram. he en-
deavored politely to oust the OCCUPANT whom he
discovered in his seat. "scme other feller's got
my seat and I'm goin' to stick TO what got.'
was about the only satisfaction the late arrival