The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-07

Original of David Harum" to be
"0niy Bird on the PERCH"
From the Baltimore sun

I'm the DdItlilleie sun.
New York, Jan. 25-Mr Alfred A.
Hewlett. son of the millionaire widow
err OF Syracuse, who has designed a
I feast absolutely unique in social his
tory is in this city with a big lob on
( MS hands. 1t is up to him to provide
hitting entertainment for the 100 Wild
ows of the Salt city who have been
invited TO help celebrate the eighty-sec-
ono birthday of his father. That is to
say, Mr.. Hewlett must get widowed
talent to proYide an intellectual BAN
quet at the odd reception, which is TO
take place at the retired bankers home
Feb. Il.
The edict has gone. forth that not a
man except the host shall be given
place of any sort. AS MIR Hewlett him
self put it, in his Instructions to mis-
SON. this is to be reception to wild
oWs, no spinsters or other degrees and
conditions of women, and l am to be
the only bird on the perch"
This quafntness OF expression is
characteristic of the elder Mr.. Hewlett
and not new to the public, for he is
said to have been the original of Day
! id Harum." DIR. Westcott. father of
the novelist, was a comrade and neign-
Dor of Mr. Hewlett and as boy
young Westcott drank in the stories
OF morse trades that he afterward in
corporated in his book
My fathers quaint originality" said
MI A. A. Hewlett, at the Manhattan
Hotel, where he is staying, has long
| been known in Syracuse and elsewhere
! When he determined that his birthday
anniversary should be celebrated only
! by the widows of his old associates it
| was entirely in line with his idea that
none but women-widows, if possible
( should take even the slightest part. l
am widower and member, of The
family, but even am barred from the
feast.
Before leaving Syracuse l had ar
ranged some details of the celebration
which win take place in our residence.
l engaged the leading orchestra of the
city, which is composed entirely of
women, some OF them widows
couldn't get a complete musical organ
ization Of widows. The banquet will
be served by waitresses-all widows
and the caterer for the occasion will
be a widow.
Il am here to engage the highest
class talent available for d concert,
which is to be part of the entertain
ment, and will try my best to have
the programme comprise only wild
oWs. / have conferred with a leading
manager and hope TO accomplish the
IL SIX.
Neither my father nor myself had
any idea of providing fer guests in
such great numbers, but when he
starts to do any thing he does it thor
oughly. When l left home 1873 had been
invited, but my father has found TWEEN
ty-two more, and there Will be at least
go guests.
Then he decided to bid them ALL
and to give them sl.ch a day as they
won't forget. The reception will begin
at o'clock on the afternoon of Feb
p. AS good a concert as can be pro-
vided will be given. Then a collation.
Will be served, at which the orchestra
will play continuously.
For the last two years my father
has commemorated his birthday by
entertaining widows of his old asso-
ciates. Two years ago there were
seven guests; last year there We're ten.
A man in more than half a century
in business life makes many acquain-
tances, and after the last celebration
many of their widows seemed to have
felt sighted.
'"I'l invite 'em all next year, my
father declared. And he has done it.,
just as he does everything he pronnis-
es himself or anybody else.
Average age?" echoed Mr. Hewlett.
well. that wouldn't be fair. Some of
them will be rather young, but not
more welcome than those well past
So"
The elder Mr.. HowIetts staid fixity
of purpose has become proverbal in
Syracuse. He is an extensive opera
tor in stocks, securities and CONNER
cial enterprises. a capitalist and con-
tractor in many ventures. But as a
horseman he is, perhaps, best known
locally.
Mr.. Westcott did not have to add
line or modify any of his horse
Stories" said the son of the wealthy
widower, for they are just as he heard
them from my father. And to-day he
is fully as keen at a swap. / believe
he would rather get $40 the better of
a close horse trade than TO make 81 900
in wheat deal any day of his life"
Mr.. Hewlett has a great liking for
poker and is a deyotee of the national
game. but his strong individuality and
adherence to sound principles assert
themselves even in this. Upon one oc-