Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-04-26

ago was one where in the middle OF
the table was a miniature tropical
forest, with birds of every tint of
brilliant plumage fitting from branch
to branch and filing the room with
their singing. Another striking effect
followed supper to a notable Wis
itor from abroad. The guests were
led to a room which had been ar
ranged to represent pastoral scene,
with brewing turf and foliage, and
running about among the trees were
several little lambs. Over head was
suspended huge ball which sudden
| ly burst and showered American
beauty roses on those beneath 1t.
| For theatrical effect in transforms
| ton and color design the college
girls dinner at the Aston a short
time ago was noteworthy. The big
banquet all was fashioned to repre-
sent Japanese garden. The tables
were in three long rows, and at each
table four guests sat In the shade of
a brilliantly colored Japanese UNI
brella. around the edge of which were
hung tiny lanterns. When dinner
had been served there came the
startling transformation. At signal,
every umbrella, as II by magic, rose
to the ceiling and remained there.
forming wonderfully pretty canopy.
Then, before the guests had ceased
gazing upwards and wondering how
/ it was DONE" the tables had been
cleared away and In place of the din
ing room they found thmselves in
beautifully appointed reception room.
The whole secret of the magic ceiling
was in three electric cables which
were completely hidden from view by
the daintily colored wide-spreading
umbrellas suspended from them.
| The vast amount OF study required
for the production of such displays,
the hours and hours Of labor neces-
sary to bring them to fulfilment, are
but part of the banquet managers
work. The banquet itself is a gigan-
tic undertaking, for under his super
vision comes the selection of dishes,
their cooking, the silver glass and
china, the mode of service and the
hundred and one other details A
great dining palace like that in the
Astor seats from fifteen hundred to
two thousand persons. all of whom
must be served simultaneously and
each OF whom must be served as II
he alone were to be considered. This
gives some idea, perhaps, of the ban
quet managers task.
The office of this modern magician
suggests, with its rolltop desk, its
J typewriter and its telephone, the
/. office of any manager of large enter.
prises, Here he meets the people
who, playing the part of hosts, have
charge of dinner arrangements and
goes over the details of the entertain
ment with them. He suggests, con
J suits, advises and decides on each
} item, not only of the menu. but OF
decorations and of service. Frequent
) ~, and particularly in the case o.
clubs and societies, he is offered 8
fixed figure and must lay out {
I scheme to come within its limits.
= When the commercial arrangement
: so to speak. have been made he sit
{ down TO map out his campaign. 4
I typewriter plan is sent to the stew
l. ard showing just what his department
may be required to do. an
. other TO the decorator, an
V other TO the electrician, one to tn
e head waiter, one to the chef. one t
the wine keeper. and one to the "cor
n' fectioner of souvenirs" These ar
y the banquet managers trusted liet
'e tenants, without whom his successe
would be little more than frantic Ell
lie deavors.
ir OF all the army of people EN-
n ployed for one OF these grand occs
he ssons. perhaps the head walters dut
IS is the most strenuous and exactins
y for the success of the banquet d,
Ponds very largely on the manner an
n. method of its service, Under h
r. command are a hundred men traine
" with military precision, each I
lie know his exact place and duty and
ie attend to that alone. The good an