The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1903-09-19
REMARKABLE BANQUETs.
Picturesque Dinners THAT Have Been
Given to Dolls, Statues, Etcs
by Eccentric People.
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by Eccentric People.
-
Clyde Fitch, the dramatist, gave an
extraordinary banquet some time ago, at
which there were dozens Of guests who
could neither unfold their %serviettes nor
appreciate the rare wines. When the
guests proper arrived, they found seat
ed at the table, which was strewed with
pale-pink rose petals, a large number
of half-human-size dolls, deliberately
dressed to represent the famous women
characters in the dramatist's plays. The
banquet must have proved rather a long
affair, as each individual guest" was
toasted separately, but the novelty and
Picturesqueness of the dinner is unques-
Nonsble.
Many eccentric people have sent their
names down to posterity merely by en-
tertaining statues and other inanimate
guests at dinner, says the Detroit Free
Press.
The most noteworthy case of this is
that of the late king OF Bavaria, who al
WAYS dined with a bust of Marie An
toinette in front of him, which was re-
garded absolutely the same as if it were
he queen herself.
The custom is believed to I'VE its
origin to a certain Henry Constantine
Jennings. This eccentric on one occa-
sion purchased a statue Of Venus, and
for the first six months after he had
obtained possession Of the same, the fair
goddess occupied a seat at the head Of
his dinner table, with two footmen in
lace liveries standing behind her, whose
duty it was to place the most costly
viands before her by way of Oblation.
Mr.. Jennings even went so far as to
have the statue removed when the other
ladies rose and adjourned to the draw
ing-room.
On one occasion a gentleman guest in
a thoughtless moment said something
| uncompIimentary about the fair god
| dess, which so vexed the host that he
never forgave him.
A short time ago a certain lady, who
| was an ardent dog-lover, gave a most
l costly dinner to a tiny King Charles
spaniel to celebrate his taking % prizes
at different shows. The dog was brought
on to the table in a most magnificent
bed lined with white satin and stuffed
E, with swansdown, while round its neck
was a gold collar set with n large dia'
mond.
The little animal was petted and
t praised and toasted in bumpers of cham
payne, and was given the epicure's por'
ton Of all the dishes served.
2 Not very long ago a company Of thu
Third African battalion, who had beer
employed in annihilating the swarms o
sparrows that we're eating up the crop
e at Ker (Tunis), were RECALLED with al
omelet containing 5 1000 eggs, that meas
: ured seven feet in circumference.
l A few weeks ago this gigantic disl
u was recalled to mind by the chief item
p on the menu of a dinner enjoyed Of
q the continent, when, to celebrate tn,
3 occasion Of one of the local school
masters hens laying her thousandtl
Il egg, the town was decorated, and
n supper was held, at which the healt.
e OF the hen was duly toasted and a q
u gantic omelet partaken Of.
a The hen was brought into the rooI
and placed IN a marvellous thrOn
L shaped like -a-huge nest, made Of tn
Il finest silk and other gorgeous mate
y rails.
y This hen banquet reminds us Of tn
ls fat goose of that celebrated lawye,
V Lord Erskine. that frequently dine
le at the same table as his lordship.
u dinner has ever been given to an ell
~ plant in America. The elephant wa
a celebrated performer, and on his al
Ce rival at a certain town the whole POI
: ulace turned out to meet him.
The same evening the elephant 81
down to dinner on a specially prepare
chair, and enjoyed a hearty dinner, an
- was duly toasted and praised. Presun
- ably the trainer or the proprietor of IL
show paid for the dinner.
Horses, as well as men, were CUES
at a dinner given by an enthusiast
equestrian named Arkwright at a fasl
ionable country house. Each hum6
guest was mounted on a horse, at Il
side Of whose back was strapped
small table, from whence he partook
the various courses. The horses din
at the same time from small trougI
GTad with nuuiDe da3uf3eE