The Detroit times., 1910-05-20
New Workers Celebrate
As Comet Crosses Sun

NEW YORK. May 19.-It was
along toward noon today when the
last member of the Excuse Club,
an unincorporated organization, men,
bership unlimited, hung his shoes on
the chandelier, draped his trousers in
careful folds on the steam radiator
and climbed somewhat unsteadily into
the hay, remarking that HALEY il
the good fellow"
While southern Negroes, In dread
Of the tail OF the comet were joining
the church, the Excuse Club" was
also enrolling many ambitious mem.
bers along the JOY White Way. get
ting them coming and going. Those
who feared the end OF the world
braoed their waning courage with a
few drinks. Those who were glad the
world didn't come 10 an end cele-
brated likewise. And those who had
the hardihood TO pass up both excuses
simply couldnt resist a chance TO
sneeze to bar-boy that he wanted a
"syzygy" cocktail. There were GER
tainly some tall downings in New
York in the wee sma' hours Of today,
while the earth was supposed to he
plunging recklessly through the tail
OF Mr. Halley's comet. New Years
eve was outdone in the revelry of the
cometites.
Some OF our leading souses celebrat-
ed joyously, some tearfully: IL was
simply the way syzygy cocktail or a
cyanogen highball affected the par.
ticular lnebriate.
New Workers. had been told they
couldn't see the comet; not even get
glimpse OF its gaseous tail. But a
little thing like that couldn't prevent
them from having party. They had
several parties. Every hotel roof was
packed with parties. Every fat build
ing roof was crowded with young
spooning couples.
II was funny the number OF people
who gathered in enclosed lobster
palaces TO "see the comet" Men in
evening dress and the women in gowns
as filmy as the comets tail were all
members OF the Excuse Club Even
Brooklyn, which usually retires at s
o'clock. Joined with the outfit.
The Manhattan hotel had a fifteen
foot telescope for the benefit OF its
guests and tables loaded with eats
and drink. The Waldorf-Astoria. too,
had telescope and lot of amateur
astronomers-who didn't see the
comet. The Plaza roof was loaded
with diners. All the hotels served
coffee and tea-and other things-to
keep their guests from becoming
chilled.
A special comet dinner was served
In the rooms OF the Italian National
club. There were dishes "A la comet"
and other things, and then the
guests climbed to the roof to see what
they could. They had an excellent
view OF the sky. The comet was visi-
bic In Japan only.
The Hotel Savoy roof held many
comet parties. while in one OF the
dining rooms of the Gotham, Capt.
Gilbert Cotton, u. s. A., retired, en-.
tertained 120 guests at a comet din.
ner
The Hotel Buckingham roof was
crowded with guests who had an un-
impaired view OF the sky, but not Of
the comet Uncle Joe Cannon knew
he couldn't see the comet, but he led
so OF the delegates TO the National
Association of Manufacturers from
the banquet table to the roof of the
Waldorf. II Is reported Uncle Joe ex-
pressed regrets that he had not few
Of the insurgent leaders there to
throw of.
Riverside Drive was alive with star
gazers all night, and the Keep off
the grass" signs were totally disre-
garded.
Edward Walsh, a coachman, and
William Meehan, contractor. placed
six beer bottles end to end and wrap
ped them in black pasteboard, mount
ing the whole thing on a tripod, which
resembled a telescope. They set up
their "phony" at Third-ave., and Fifty
first'st., and alternately gazed at the
comet" They were SO stingy, that
the impatient crowd gathered about
them and took the telescope from
them. When the crowd discovered the
hoax the jokers had to fee for their
lives. A waggish marine in the
Brooklyn navy yard turned a search.
light skyward and the glare was TAX.
en- by thousands as the tail of the
comet. All In all II was some party"
The Excuse clubs secretary is work.
Ing overtime enrolling new members.
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