Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-14
WIDOWER CHEERS WIDOWS
Singular Birthday Banquet Projected by a
Retired Banker.
WILL Be The ONLY MAN PRESENT
None bat Women Beren Of Husbands
Bidden 50 the Feast-Praetfcal
kindRess TO Lorn
Creatures.

Syracuse. n. Y. does not think a great
deal OF the older Wellers advice to his son
Samuel. He does not beware Of viddere"
but instead has a very high opinion OF these
lorn creatures and whenever occasion offers
seeks TO do them a good turn. His latest
device for giving them pleasure is TO invite
All who reside in the vicinity to gather on
the s2d anniversary OF his birth. which is
soon 20 arrive. and dine sumptuously at
hia expense. There are in all about l25
widows who are included in the invitation
and arrangement, for the banquet are now
in progress on an elaborate scale. Every
guest Of the evening will be a widow. the
orchestra viii be composed wholly OF
women and Mr.. Hewlett will be the only
person In bifurcated garments present.
"on my last birthday" said Mr. Hewlett,
4 gave a little party and had ten widows
az my guests. After that every time ! met
a widow / knew on the street she would
say. Why didn't you invite me? l am q
widow You see, ] didn't think anybody
would care about 1T
but we had a good time and made up
my mind that I'd have another. And ]
made up my mind, too, that nobody ] knew
would come 20 me and ask me Why didn't
invite her. So just took the streets and
went down them. and do you know there
are eighteen widows on James street, Yes,
sir. and ! haven't invited a widow that
didn't know her husband-knew them all"
Successful Business Man.
For fifty years Mr.. Hewlett was presi-
dent OF the Salt Springs National bank and
directed its Affairs with great ability. re-
signing only two years ago on account Of
his age He was formerly president Of the
Syracuse Chenango Valley railroad and
president Of the Syracuse Savings bank
His name Is connected with a score Of
enterprises. He was one Of the first salt
manufacturers of the city. He once ran
packing house in Geddes and later drove
cattle on the Wabash river. He has made
and lost millions. His health is excellent
and his eyes are bright They twinkle
when the widows party is mentioned. One
Of his friends said:
This party will lengthen his life. He
will get more enjoyment out OF IL than
the widows themselves
Mr.. Hewlett has always been ready for q
Joke. practical or otherwise. and his friends
are racking their brains 10 get some good
one on him on the day the party, which
will last from O'Clock in the afternoon
until O'Clock in the evening But he as
sures all his friends that there is no joke
concerned in his present enterprise. in
sisting that the dinner viii be carried out
strictly on the lines indicated, and that
no trouble or expense will be spared 10
make II a success
stands High I'm the Community.
Mr.. Hewlett holds a high place among
the active and successful old men OF syra-
cuse. Ever since he came from the farms
of Geddes 10 work for Horace and Hamil-
ton White, bankers. In his youth. he has
been q lively and active figure in the eity's
life. As long ago ms 1912 he had achieved
success in business and he owned packing
houses. elevators. mills and banking inter-
ests when scarcely out OF boyhood.
He was a director Of the Salt Springs
bank when II nrst opened its doors in 1852
Seven years later he was vice president and
cashier. and Immediately thereafter presi-
dent. Since that time he has been con
nected with some Of the leading enter,
prises OF the city, including Syracuse uni.
versity and the onondaga County Orphan
asylum. He retired after having beel
president OF the Salt Springs bank for owe
forty years.
In extenuation Of his exclusion OF all bu
widows from his banquet board Mr.. How
let; says:
People don't seem 70 remember tha
widows are most always left out OF societ.
altogether and / want to give them a goo
time.
Some OF the men are Jealous They ar
trying TO have fun with me. but II / liv
until February II that party win come OF
My son has got to get out and / am goin
TO do the entertaining all alone. Any ma
that comes prowling around viii get kicke
put"
Not His First Experiment.
Two years ago. TO celebrate his birthday
Mr.. Hewlett asked in ten widows whom
knew well. They had such q good tim
and told their friends so much about IL tina
he has been busy since explaining TO othe
widows Why he did not invite them FINAL
he determined to invite every widow
knew. He was surprised that the paper
should make a fuss about a man dinin
with l25 widows II he wanted to. His ide
was simply 10 amuse his friends and him
self
when I was married" remarked Nj
Hewlett. IN speaking Of his earlier Gays, .
said 10 my vile: Minerva. where are v
going TO church, She replied that 81
was = Methodist / proposed that We go
the Unitarian church. Ny wife wouldn
bear Of that and finally ! suggested as
compromise that we go TO the Presbyteriu
church. as I considered that about betwee
the Methodists and the Unitarians."
Five years ago he was al deaths dot
and n New York specialist was sent 70