The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-24

pan full of cold. greasy water had been
placed in the sink and around it stood four
women. each of them ready to grab the
first knife, fork, plate or glass that came
out of it halfway clean. and 10 rush back
with it TO some impatient guest who had
been told that a fun set OF dishes and cut
lery would soon be forthcoming.
In the supper room the guests who had
come early were enjoying themselves. in
spite of the coffee. The big dishes OF
chicken. cold ham. fried oysters and other
good things looked as If they would never
be exhausted. All of the seats at the
various tables We're occupied. In the big
double doorway between the front hall and
the supper room stood the late corners.
waiting for the chance to get something to
eat and gazing at the fortunate ones at the
well-stocked tables with hungry eyes When
a guest would rise from the table. after
having finished his supper. a half-starved
new guest would take the vacated chair al
most before its former occupant was out OF
it. And this leads up TO the one great q1es-
ton concerning church suppers: Which
would you rather be-the guest who ar
rives first and is compelled to eat while
many greedy, envious eyes are turned upon
him like a searchlight, or the one who
comes in late and is obliged to watch the
supper fast disappearing before he can get
an opportunity to assist in the vanishing
act?
OF course. the Funny Man was present
upon the memorable evening under present
consideration. Each church has it's Funny
Man. When the Funny Man hove in sight
he was greeted Oh all sides by cries OF
ha fG aff Of
our table-we want TO laugh" And the
Funny Man. being a true humorist of the
first rank, grasped this opportunity to
score his first hit OF the evening by saying
that he would sit at each table in turn
and make everybody laugh while he ate up
everything in sight. which wasn't so much
of joke as everybody supposed, for IL
anybody got left on good things TO eat that
night it wasn't the mirth provoker.
The Funny Man. beaming with good
humor and hastily recalling all of the good
jokes he had sprung at previous suppers.
secured the first chair that was available
and prepared to crack a rich Jest as a
starter. Several pretty mattresses deserted
their tables and hurried TO his side for
it was an honor to wait upon this dis
tinguished parsonage. He selected the
pTetlleSL one ana SAID In a louQ voice.
Now, tell me the truth-have you any
oyster soup?' The pretty waitress said
Yes. that there was plenty of oyster
soup.
Feeling the funny point coming, and
knowing i'm advance just how funny IL was
going TO be. he became convulsed with
laughter. lie shook and shook and grew
red I'm the face. and coughed. and then
finally managed to splutter: ''Well. now.
just you bring me a bowl of oyster soup
and-and-be-be sure-be sure there's an
oyster in it At this point he went into
fits OF laughter that almost suffOcatod him,
and everybody joined in right heartily.
When the young lady had brought the
soup and set il down In front OF him. every
waited breathlessly TO see what he
would DO OF course. everybody knew Just
what he would do. except the youngsters
present. who could not remember having
seen him do il before during the last seven
years. lie took up fork aad picked about
with It in the soup. pretending to search
each nook and corner in the bowl Then at
last, with a joyous yell. he held aloft on
the end Of his fork a small oyster.