Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-06-28
Famnns Dinners Recalled.

4
la the traditions of gay life in New
York there is no incident more piclW-
esoue nor better remembered than that
of 'cThA Girl in the Pie" A banquet
was in progress in James Breese's studio
The studio was synonym OF luxury.
The entertainments given there were
Lucullan in character, and truthful
description of them wonld read like
chapter from "Quo Vadis. In this
instance the host had surpassed all his
former munifcent hospitality.
The '1ittle spread" SIS Mr., BreeSe
chose to designate it, cost $3.50 plate.
Artists, architects and men about town,
with several women OF the fashionable
stratum of the underworld, we're his
guests There had oeen much drinking
|, and little eating, tOasts brilliant but re-
curing expurgation for family use, and
the hour was rearing dawn. The guests
were trying politely to rePress signs OF
WEAKNESS, when the host served bis
piece de resistance.
Four negroes entered, carrying huge
pie. around which were grouped wax
candles of every shade. The negroes re-
tired. The banquelers looked on in
amazed silence. Beneath the crust, In
in the middle of the table, there was
faint stir, as if from some living thing
At a sign from Mr.. Breese the orchestra,
concealed hy palms, swung into the
strains of the old nursery dingle:
-Four and twenty plack-birds baked into
pie"
Simultaneously the stir beneath the
crust increased. 1t was burst by move
ment from beneath, and there rose q
slim figure, half child, half woman, who
turned pretty inlantie face upon the
diners. and stood poised, in her black
wrappings, as a bird about to fly,
while "A golden canaries, that had
been imprisoned in cages with her, re-
leased by her hand, few about in every
direction.
One of the men sitting at the end OF
the table rose and pressed his way to the
middle. He langhingly lifted the girl
from the table to the floor. He was stan
ford White.
The girl WAS Susie johnson, a child
model. She then was years old lm-
mediately after the dinner she disap.
peared. Her mother sought the aid OF
the police and the press TO find 'he girl,
but they were unsuccessful.
For three years she remained in bid
ing. When she WAS found she toll q
revolving story OF mistreatment sud
desertion by the man whom Nemesis
overlook in the midst OF lights and
music and laughter on Monday night.
81 was lifted from the pie to a seat at
the table and found myself the queen OF
the revel, she said. at was dazzling
for a little while bnt in the end it proved
a sad qucendom.
"Mr. White was kind for short
time, but he went to Europe, and when
he returned and tried TO see him he
was never in. lie had instructed his
clerks to get rid of me with as little
trouble as possible. ! never saw him
again.
By strange coincidence Susie John
son married, and when her husband
learned of the "girl in the pie" dinner
he brooded over the episode in his wife
| life until he almost became insane. II
ended, not in Harry Thaw's way, but
by his desertiOn of her.
Stanford White was known as the
originator OF at least Cne of the most
daring dinners ever carried through IL
Philadelphia about six months ago in
resort ON Girard avenue, which ha;
since been closed. lie stated that h;
had introduced to Philadelphia The
latest novelty in the English fast set
| the "slrip.jack dinner" AS nearly
as could be made out by Whites ramb'
| ling description The dinner was attended
by about II girls and five or six men
Before the dinner games calling for tor
feis we're play d, and each forfe
called for the removal Of some small
articles of clothing, so that by the tim'
| the dinner began the girls toilette
were in q disturbed condition. Then a
the dinner the further Requirement
was made for the removal OF one artlcl
OF attire for each course served with
prize of large value offered for the on
whose clothing longest survived tn
stripping test.