Newport weekly independent., 1903-03-06
REMARKABLE INVITATIONS.
Some That Are Much Sought by Col
 lectors of Curios.

From the collectors point of view and there are collectors of invita- tions as well as of most things under the sun, according to London Tit Bits, as is proved by the fact that M. . Pierre Delcourt has, as gift, recent ly added to the archives of the Seine his collections of about 5000 invita- tions 10 public ceremonies and fetes that have taken place in Paris during the last 30 years-undoubtedly the most sought for invitation during the past year was that bidding the recip- tent to be present at the coronation of their majesties last August.
 Carefully folded in tissue paper, packed between boards of card, and forwarded by registered post, the in- yitations that left the earl-marshals office measured about ten inches by eight inches, and in addition to the inscription conveying the invitation, a beautifully designed and heraldic border, printed in deep sepia brown, rendered the card most artistic me- mento of remarkable occasion.
 In Berlin, early in April last, To- cal publican issued an invitation to his customers that in all probability was not entirely disinterested-to celebrate on April 2S, at 10:40 a. m., the passing of the thousand millionth second since the beginning of the Christian era, an invitation that years hence will doubtless be regard ed with as much curiosity as certain rump-steak dinner held almost 60 years ago is to-day.
 When five or six years ago the eteeple-jack who wreathed the Nell son column with laurel scaled the summit of the monument that dom- mates Trafalgar square he found at the foot of the naval hero the bleached and dried skeleton of a fowl, to account for whose presence baffled for time all attempts on the part of the ingenious to supply req sonable explanation.
 When the incident was likely to be relegated to the list of une1plainable mysteries an explanation was forth coming in the shape of an invitation card, evidently issued by the builders before the statue was placed in posi- xion that ran: Admit MT. - to the trump steak dinner on the top of the Nelson monument, Monday, Oc- tober 16, 1S43, at 3:30 p. m." That the provender was not confined to the juicy beefsteak the remains of the gallinaceous bird prove beyond a doubt.
 A few weeks ago the well-known Country club, of Baltimore, issued invitations for tramp ball" that read: "You are requested to wear tramp costume, as none but tramps will be allowed on the dancing floor"
 An invitation was issued, by the medical department of the Baltimore Women's college in November, 1900, to a number of young women stu dents from all parts of the world. Pictured on the invitation cards were various forms of germ and plant life, while the floral decorations repre- sented the circulation of the blood, carnations indicating pure and vio- lets impure blood, the whole concoc- tion being decidedly ''shoppy."
 At the dinner itself the candelabra consisted of chemical fasks. spoons gave place to glass stirring rods, and lancets are reported to have been sub- stituted for knives. Notwithstand- ing the fact that a gaunt skeleton decked with wreath of flowers sat at the head of the table, and on the menu the confectionery was classi- fled as carbohydrates, while the ice cream was served in the form of dogs and cats used as subjects m scientific pursuits, the banquet is said to have been a huge success and the guests unusually light-hearted.