The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-20
CRESCENT PARK.
Tomorrow Mr.. Borden VII Serve a Duplicate Of
lhs Famous President Arthur Clambake.

1t is a somewhat unique announce
ment that Manager Boyden of Crescent
Park makes regarding the dinner he
will serve tomorrow Some years ago,
when President Arthur visited Provi-
dence, he was entertained at the
Squantum club by Senators Anthony
and Aldrich, who had induced him TO
remain over for a day by the promise
that they -~etiia- treat him to dinner
that would be revelation indeed even
TO such bon vivant as he.
Orders We're therefore given to the
Squantum club steward to prepare a
typical Rhode Island shore dinner
such has never been served here be-
fore; and the result was a feast that
President Arthur never tired of prais-
ing for years afterward.
The steward of the Squantum club
who prepared the appetizing dinner
was none other than George Il. Boyden
who soon after opened Crescent Park
and he announces that tomorrow he
will serve, at the regular price of 80
cents an exact duplicate of the dinner
which so delighted President Arthur
and which at that time cost the
Squantum club pretty penny.
There has been a wonderful develop
ment in the shore dinner business
since those days. What then was
known as 'shore dinner" consisted
only of chowder. far inferior in quail
ity to that now served at Crescent
Park. one kind of fish brown bread
and baked clans, served on bare board
tables with neither napkins nor other
modern accompaniments. Mr.. Boyden
WAS B+t4FFeeF iiff raising tHnCfard
and developing this primitive menu
and service to the point it. has reached
today. His Squantum club chowder
made from recipe original with him.
self and which did much to create the
fame OF the club itself, was the first
Improvement. Then he added a variety
of fish and accompanied them with the
most appetiZing sauces and garnishes.
One by one the various delicacies OF the
season, fruit. plum pudding. ice cream,
French rolls and many other features
now essential to a shore dinner"
were added by him. and 60 some extent
were adopted by his competitors. Final
" came snow-white linen table-cloths
and napkins. silver knives. forks and
spoons and service such as previously
had been found only i'm the best hotels
until the fame of a Crescent Park shore
dinner has spread throughout the
country and visitors from far-distant
localities take the charming sail down
the bay TO enjoy the epicurean delights
OF the finest dinner OF it's kind TO be
had anywhere in the country. and in
deed the like OF which cannot be found
anywhere else from Maine to San
Francisco.
The 6 o'clock bakes. which or course
will be resumed at Crescent Park az
soon as the regular season opens. are
one more step In advance though Of
course they may he regarded as only
an elaboration Of the regular shore
dinner. with additional service and
some extra delicate touches. and they
canot be considered as at all replacing
the great Rhode Island institution ~
which the Crescent Park shore dinneris
the model everywhere
Tomorrow. in addition to the din
nor, Manager Boyden's patrons will en-
Joy n feature that was not included in
the original Squantum club feast. i'm
the shape of concerts nv the Banda
Napoi and the Rhode Island Ladies'
Orchestra. The former organization. al-
rn0Ugn comparatively new bidder for
popular favor has won high praise for
its pleasing concerts during the past
few SUNDAYS. its programs being we'll
made up to please the masses and yet
including selections from tho best "a
well as tho popular class OF music: and
the smoothnpss. spirit ana brightness
with which tho bands plays. ne we'll
tone. have received many condiments
The ladies' orchestra under tho direc-
tion of Miss Annie ". Spencer. has
made marked advance since last sea-