Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 36, Number 101, 18 February 1911 — Page 2

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MM TOW 5Jr MX . .M U J. Vf The New Form of Table Decoration Which Allows the Very Rich to See Their Money Melt Before Their Eyes

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Bow a Banquet Table Looks After

TUB amount of money squan. dereJ ou expensive banquets by the very rich has long been the subject of comment. In the effort to make these affairs unique, the question of expense Is not considered, except where exprnsiveness alone Is relied upon to make the banquet novel, and then, of course, expense Is the only thins considered. Although the most expensive viands are served at these feasts, the main Item of their cost lies In the luxurious accessories the music, vocal and instrumental: the decorations, and the favors. Without referring to some of the freak dinners that have been Riven from time to time by men and women who haJ so much money that they didn't know what to do with it, and upon which small fortunes have been squandered, ultra-fashionable banquets are given every day of the week, almost, at which thousands of dollars are spent to make the occasion remembered. The latest fad and possibly the most prodigal of ail Is that of table statuary made of Ice, which enables our ostentatious spendthrifts to see their money literally melt before their eyes. These statues carved out of ice are used to adorn the table, and although they are the work of high-priced sculptors and artists, there is, of course, no way of preserving them. Just what these ice statues cost depends entirely upon the standing of the sculptor engaged to make them, but an incident which occurred recently In Berlin will give some Indication of the amount ot money that might be spent upon this simple table decoration. An American gentleman and his wife were staying at one ot the well-known hostelries of the GerI HAD i.rrn fuiiiillar with the piny x1or of ailUHt all my life. My fath. marted Ms clrcu when I was a iiaby, and I had mitl fawiluat hutiue. raves and tunnel. pUyed with the elephants and tumbled with the clown. AtUr h died I follov.nl In hi fontsteps, frcllnn It a nacrod duty to kr-p Rttllwan's Circus, the tt In the land. Jf I hwr.l of anything I w. ttrr "it hot-fooi with the price. That was how 1 came to get Ueorice Libers, the moat dirtnK and rck-nllcN lion trainer In the worll. ; He was black haired anl warth.v. with glinting ye. aenauoua lips ami .Mh chrvk bones. lie was tall and brawny and hanlme. t. If one carol far a dsh of the diabolical. I paid him a pretty price, hut he was worth 11. U was picture to sec him stand In the liens' ca j ami make those beatts Kn snart'.ngly through tlu-lr paces. They h.Ate.1 him. every Inch or him. There was not night tl-at t'.iey dl.t not long to tear him to mincemeat. One could read It In tliolr ee, in their crouching bodies. Hometlmeg It got on my. nerves so that I could not look on, and one day I t"ld hlni he had better gl.e up the lions. Ml yo.t don't, they'll kill yon, Khers." He arched his ejebrowa and laughed devilishly. -They kill me?" with a shrug and a glint of his e. "Hah! 1 could take IHem anJ strangle them like eats." AS he spoke h stretched out his hand and crooked his fingers like claws. It was uncanny to sethe man with t!ie deep lire In his eyes and his white teeth glistening through M sneering lips. "Pld you ever know what It Is to love wllh hatr!. Stitlman?" he demanded, curiously. -No? Well. Us the way I love tlKiso lions. 1 love them because t!ey hate me. They're my affinities. 1 dellgUt In Hielr hatred. 1 use my whip, athey snarl an! writhe, but they do my bidding. The sting of the whip Is Joy to my soul! Joy! Joy!" . . .' I d n't think h was aware of the disgust thst must have been expressed en my face, for 1 made some excuse and left him. I must say my sympathy was with the lions. It was not long after this thst we stop. !ed for a two weeks' stay at Klmlra. In the afternoon of the second day, as 1 was watching the performance, sn attendant came and whispered to me: -Please. Mr. Stlllman. there's a lady la the office waiting to see you." This was no surprise, for I had advertised the day previous for a lady dummy tor the chariot aee. By dumpy'we mean one that Is Just up tor ,1aT" I entered my office I saw the daintiest, sweetest, strangest little lady that my eyea had ever been blessed with. he rowe ! heard me. and stood with a tremulous, hesitating Manner that reminded me ot frightened bird. She was gowned In black, and her auburn hair shone the brighter t , ' r-st. Hf" 1ee hrot-"-

It Has Been Decorated with the They Melt!

man capital and during their holiday it happened to be the lady's birthday. In honor of the occasion the American requested the chef to prepare something unique in the way of dessert or as a table decoration. When the couple sat down to table they noticed that a number of dishes containing fruits and candies were embellished by what appeared to be little glass statues of different colors, and which were brilliantly illuminated by means of small electric bulbs artistically arranged near them. "Aren't those favors Just too beautiful for anything," declared the wife, delightedly. "I've never seen anything like them home." "Well, we"ll take them back with us and introduce them to the natives," replied the husband. As the meal progressed, however, it was found that the statues began to lose their original shapeliness, and closer observation revealed the fact that they were made of ice! Long before the meal was over the only remaining evidence of the statuettes were the pools of colored water Into which they had melted. In due course the American presented himself to the chef, complimented him on the artistic manner In which he bad decorated the birthday table, slipped the equivalent of a five-spot Into the worthy's itching palm, and quite unsuspectingly asked what the cost of the little dinner was going to be. When the chef replied $120 or, rather, the German equivalent of that amount our friend promptly had a fit. But fit or no fit he had to pay Just the same, and this, although be was paying only $60 a week for his room and board for himself and wife. That little dinner cost him as much, therefore, as two weeks' board.

ittl- ILadly off

and mournful, met mine pleadingly. Yet despite her seeming timidity, there was a conscious strength In the proud poise of her head. "You came' In answer to the advertisement? riease be seated," I said gently. "Thank you yes. woman? Will I do? be permanent?" she eagerness. Kor a moment I You wanted a Will the position asked with abrupt hesitated. Some way Klie seemed so childish, so gentle and refined and utterly out of place with the rather rough surroundings. "1 should want to be something more than a dummy." she broke in, observing my hesitation. "I want to be a trainer. 1 should be w illing to try the lions." "But." I cried aghast, "you know nothing haven't the lcas-t idea of of the undertaking." "But I know what J am capable of doing," she urged. "I had ever so many pet dogs and cats that 1 have trained, l'loaso give me a chance to prove what I can do." But" "I want the three lions, fete, Ian anil King, to train." "What do you know of those lions?" I aked In surprise. She smiled. "I read their history In the paper last Sunday. I know how I'ece killed hi keeper, and Dan and King could not be subdued by even the wiles of your great tamer, Mr. libers." "And you expect to train them?" I smiled. "I think I can." she maintained sturdily, with a confidence which staggered me. "It I succeed. It will be a bljr card for you." "But it's murder to think ot It." I Insisted desperately, feeling myself weak before her sweet Insistence. "If at the end of three weeks 1 make no progress." she urged. "I'll resign." To tell the truth. I had not the heart to refuse. So It was against the promptings of reason and experience that I was at last coaxed into yielding to her proposition. I watched Norma Howard's progics with agonising anxiety. There were timts when It seemed to me she took reckless chances with the beasts. Mie did not seem to make allowance for their treacherous nature, and trusted too much In their love for her. It may be that the great brutes felt her confidence. They say that some animals have a sixth sense the faculty of reading the thoughts ot a being. I came to believe this after watching the little lady work. As time passed, her patient efforts were rewarded. The three Hons did her bidding at a word, meekly as lambs. She controlled them by love rather than by fear, by a glance rather than a whip. The great beasts, fierce and unmanageable to others, loved her touch, caressed and purred over her with all the fond-

Expensive Statues of Ice Before

But at the banquets of the ultraexclusive, where table statuary of Ice is now being employed, $100 a plate is by no means high, and the artists employed to make the little figures are given carte blanche to spend as much time and labor on their work as they can afford, irrespective of expense. The figures once carved are kept In a temperature below freezing point until they are actually needed for the table that they may not lose any of their delicate lines through premature melting, although once the assembled guests have set their eyes upon them no one cares how long it takes for the heat of the illuminations to destroy them utterly. In making the statues a miniature Ice pick is used and the sculp- - tors work with gloved hands that the heat of their fingers may not spoil their work. Ice of different hues is used that there may be variety in the results obtained. At banquets on a smaller scale the same effect is obtained at a much lower cost by moulding the statues in special forms. Plain water and ice cream are both used for that purpose. But between the Ice statues as carved by the sculptor and the statues produced by the mould there is. of course, all the difference existing between cut glass and the ordinary pressed variety. For humble mortals, though, who feel that they must have statues with their meats, these moulded figures will no doubt answer all purposes. Although not in the form of statues made by high-priced sculptors. Ice was used In the scheme of decoration at the famous "North Pole Dinner" given by Mr. George Kessler. the American millionaire nnd "Champagne King," at the Savoy Hotel iu London, and which, It w-as not long before she tamed me as thoroughl yas she had tamed the lions. I had lived forty years without meeting the one woman In the world until Norma crept Into my heart. And fur every year of that forty I loved with a double Intensity. I was Jealous of the lions. Jealous of every being who gazed on her. And yet s'io was as unconscious of it as a child. She seemed wrapt in some Idea, some amb'.tlon outside of our common life. Once when I reproved her for some carelessness regarding the animals, ehe smiled dreamily ur.d answered: "Thank you; I'll be careful; I don't want to die yet." ' But she did not say it as one who loved life, but rather as one- who was weary of waiting. Oncj 1 overheard Ebers say to her: "Why did yju come here? How dared you come?" His face was sneering. My heart rose In my throat and my knees trembled under me as I watched Norma breathlessly, waiting her ansver. Kor Just an Instant she trembled, and the delicate pink faded from her waxen cheks. Then ehe straightened, and the crimson Hood flew to her face as if forced there by a red-hot Iron. 'I came to remind you to keep reminding you. lest you forgot." she answered In a stifled voice. "Always and always our path runs onward together. Death only can separate us." His face was ghastly. Then a look of cunning flashed in his eyes, and he bent toward her so near that his lips touched her hair. He whispered something. She recoiled and turned away. He would have followed, but I went leisurely forward and began a conversation about the animal?. I scarcely knew what he sa'ld. for my heart was sick within me, s'.ck and hard and bitter with hatred. My idol was gauze and tinse!, and the sting of it was death. Yet despite all this my heart was hungry for her. "I'm ready for my first performance." she Informed me quietly. "I'm grlng on to-night. They are in fit condition th? beauties:" "It seems that Miss Howard has taken the palm," I gibed malicious- at Ebers. "You've tried your haad more than once on the animals she's trained." He was pale with rage, and his eyes narrowed as he gazed at her. But he gave his characteristic shrug. "Well. I should' wait until they had made their debut before being overconfident. A lion alone with his trainer and a lion before an audience Is a vastly different proposition, my little lady o the lions." "I am callel Miss Howard." she reproved with cold dignity. He reddened and glanced at me. then hastened to apologize. She merely nodded, then turned to me pleadingly. "You'll let me go on tonight?" r rr.f cond'tlor that y.- s'V'w

A Fruit Dish Adorned from the standpoint of expense and elaboration of dinner-stage setting, no doubt, holds the record to date. Mr. Kessler proved himself a master of the dinner-stage art. He did not even stop at architectural changes of the hotel's Interior, removing the roof of the Winter garden so that real stars might shine down upon the Arctic scene into which the large room was transformed. From the margins where the ceiling had been hung great icicles, and

tlhe Lfioos -

Ebers to go In the cage with you. As he says, this Is their first appearance, and I shall feel easier to know that he ia there In case of trouble." "That's wise," agreed Ebers. l'"or a moment she answered nothing. She stood very still, with her hands clasped and a silent wonder all about her. Then a light flashed in her eyes. "It is all right," siie consented sweetly, "if you think best. But, she resumed, glancing at Eberw, "remember that my beauties have never been touched with a whip so be careful." She spoke with evident effort and I wondered. When Ebers turned away I gazed down Into her .pale little face. "Norma," I demanded, "what did he say to you Just before I came?" She ignored my question and asked abruptly: "You heard me warn him not to use a whip?" I nodded gloomily. "But Just the same, when he goes in the cage he will carry whip and prod. Norma. He rules by the whip." "He rules by the whip," she echoed in a hushed voice. For a long time she was silent, as if revolving some question ia her mind. She stood with her pretty head bent and her little foot nervously tapping at the sawdust. Presently she spoke: "Sometimes I believe In the transmigration of souls t,at is, my animals know so much." "What an uncanny idea," I muttered. She flashed me a quick glance. ' "Did you ever have a presentiment that something would happen which eventually did happen?" "What can happen?" I demanded tensely. "Great heavens. Norma, you give me the horrors. What can happen?" She shook her head, and her eyes were dreamy. "Only Uod knows God, who balances the scales." "Norma," I panted, "there's some mystery here you seem to know. Who is Ebers?" Her little body grew tense, and she averted her head. "Norma." I cried savagely. "I demand to know who he is. Great God, it Isn't possible that he that you I can't believe that of you!" She glanced at me with a startled, questioning look. Then a wave of red flashed In her cheeks and she tilted her head proudly, "she turned to leave me. "Listen." I entreated: "I love you. I had hoped to win your love and make you my wife. ' But I must know what he is to you. If you love me, dear, you must appreciate my anxiety agony Norma!" "Love trusts," she answered with quiet dignity. "True love trusts." "Then I will trust you; I must trust you or go mad" She shook her head slowly. "Love Is not for me. I couldn't make ro- happy, 5Iv V:e kxe le" s fall

- ' mm v V "tl " o h

by an Artistic Ice Statue Carved the whole floor, excepting a space In 1 the centre reserved for the great dinner table, was piled with realistic ice hummocks, like those so eloquently described by "old Dr. Cook." The tops of some of these hummocks were given a further polar region touch by the presence of polar bears, startliugly lifelike. The roof being off, the temperature was appropriately arctic. The great rouud table represented a waste of arctic snow with a peaked hummock in its centre, through of tragedy that I've forgotten how to laugh and love." She turned from me and went slowly across the stretch of sawdust to the canvas door beyond. Once she paused, seemed about to speak, then went on, leaving me atone, with darkness heavy ou jny soul. That night Norma made her first appearance. Ebers entered the waiting room promptly at S o'clock, after making a tour of inspection to see if the Horn were in lit condition before being wheeled into the arena. Not long after Norma entered. She was gowned in blue and silver, with a blue bow in her shining hair. Her soft, rounded anna were bare, and her shapely little body, in its closelitting dress, was palpitating with eagerness. Her beauty seemed to stand out as waxen, perfect as a Jasmine flower. It stabbed me with a hundred warring emotions. Ebers glanced at her with eyes that made my heart twist with murderous desire. Then he went out, and for a moment we were alone. Norma glanced at me swiftly with a faint" smile, half mocking, half sad and accusing. "Won't you wish me good luck?" she asked gently. Then, after a pause, as I answered her nothing I could not for the ache in my throat "You know 1 appreciate your kindness, Mr. SUIIman, and I want to make the name of your circus famous more famous than it Is. I'll do my best for you." "Not for me," I answered coldly; "you are mistaken." The wods were driven out by the warring demons within me. They fell snarp and cruelly distinct through the, waiting room. Her face whitened and her lips quivered. She made as If to speak, then checked herself and looked down at her blue-slippered foot, like a child who tries to control its tears. . It was cowardly of me to leave her no loophole of escape, since I liad condemned her unheard. But. seemingly, she understood, and felt the barrier 1 had raised between us. She glanced again in my direction, as Ebers re-entered and informed her that the cage had been wheeled Into the arena and their turn had come. I followed them out and watched her as she walked proudly to the great cage, a slender, glittering figure in her dainty gown. She opened the door and steppe! quickly in. followed by Ebers. They made a pretty picture. Norma sto-id in the centre of the floor with the tawny beasts at her feet. Ebers, in his picturesque suit of red and white, with a whip and prod in either hand, stood Kiard In one corner. There was a wild burst of applaus. then a breathless hush as she bowed" gracefully and turned her attention to the animals. 'Greeting!" she said. Sn her clear, swept voice. -Greeting, Pete, Dan. King!" on by one the lions went and held up a paw to shake hands, bowed sedately, and turned away. In dumb obedience to her command, without " mistake or coercion, they performed the tricks which she had taught them. Despite my anger and resentment, she compelled mv admiration. Her beauty' and arra.ee, the manner In which she performed the most daring feats with those treacherous beasts held me nio- ? cri-.-s witi arrazement.

by an Eminent Sculptor.

which emerged the "Great Nail,' as the Eskimo people call the pole. To the pole was attached a gigantic menu card. The dinner guests were In conventional costume, with the addition of necessary wraps, but the waiters were all attired as Eskimos. The dishes they servet bore appropriate names, such as "Caviar des Siblriens," ' truffles du Peary," "North role glace," "Bombe des Esquimaux," and so on. Without considering the enormous ly Ma

Wave after wave of applause rolled around the auditorium, children screamed delightedly, women waited, pale and expectant, while men smiled with the consciousness of superiority ot nerves. Then suddenly all was hushed in a pause of horror. Seeming tor the first time the animals discovered Ebers. Whether It was the memory of some wrong he had dono them months before, or because they resented the presence of a man with whip and prod, will never be known. But In a second they were on him. I caught a glimpse of his ghastly face and staring eyes as Dan, with one stroke of his huge paw, crushed him down. In an Instant the Intense excitement of the spectators gave way to panic. The sea of pallid faces heaved and rolled like a great wave. The uproar was deafening. Women shrieked and fainted and men swore. Above the tumult came the agonized cry of Ebers then silence. Norma stood with clasped hands, hef face full of wonder. Persons shouted warnings to hor. and tho keepers waved frantically as thej rushed forward. As for me, I was helu hand and foot with agonizing terror. Slowly she lifted her head and gazed about her. Her glance drifted indifferently over the multitude, from lelt to rij,-!it. Then something in my gaze must" liavi drawn hets. Her glance met mine an.i lingered there an instant. She smiled sadly, waved her hand In token of good-by and faced the blood-mad brutes. o The animals paused in their furious pacins hack and forth as she stepped far'her In their midst. There was astonishment and itullen resentment In their glaring eyes. The taste of blood had brought bick the freedom of the jungle. Slfwly, slowly, with one accord, they crpc nearer the blue-gowned figure so quietly it seemed almost breathlessly, in their tagerness for their prey. Their eyes flashed as they paused aga'n and crouched lowen The girl stood motinonless. A soft light glorified her fate, as If even then the mystery of the new life enfolded and left its Impress on her soul. She folded her arms across her breast and waited. And then, in a flash, all the resentment and anger fell from me. I desired nothing so much in my life as that she should live I who had sent her to her death. The audience rose as If Impelled by one supreme desire. Now was her time to speak ! Now The end was near; a moment more! How I prayed that she would speak. I tried to tear my gaze from the crouching brutes. Oh, God! would, she never speak? Would she make no move to save her Idfe? Then some way I found my voice. I felt my chest heave with the great cry which rent the harrowing silence. "For God's sake speak to them!" A light flashed across her face as she heard my call. There was a little flutter of blue, her bright head bobbed above the tawny beasts, a white hand was upraised. Her clear voice rang out in its welcoming: "Pete. Dan, King, my beauties, greeting!" A moment, breathless. Intense then jrreat sigh broke whlsperingly around the arena. The lions paused, rose majestically, and gazed on her with eyes of affection. Wild cheers and deafening applause thundered through the tent as her little band fluttered from one tawny head to another. By this time I was at the door of the cage and had flung It open. Norma held me back as I was about to rush in. She kept pushing me gently down the short steps of the cage, until the door shut behind her. The esse rj wheeled quickly from

expense of the dinner stage-setting, the din tier cost Mr. Kessler about $300 per plate for more than a hun dred guests. But the gifts of Jewelry for each guest amounted to a great deal more than tbe food, drink and service The men received pearl and diamond cuff links costing- about SSOO each, and each lady was mads liappy with diamond earnings worts $1,000. Iu one respect but for sweet charity's sake Mr. Kessler was guilty of an anachronism. The Ice hummocks bad sprouted Christmas trees upon whose branches were bung 400 gifts brought from Paris for inmates ot the Loudon Home for Crippled Children. Not to be outdone by her husband with his "North Pole Dluner," Mrs. George Kessler chartered a New York rathskeller and gave an "Abattoir Dinner." The famous Chicago Stock Yards hardly could have furnished a scene more realistic when Mrs. Kessler had turned that rathskeller into tbe semblance of the refrigerating room ot u modern slaughter bouse. The floor was covered with sawdust, while white-frosted oilcloth walls gave the impression of an enamel-lined room. Dozeus ot hidden electric fans made the place as cold as an Icebox. Frosted white pipes rau around the room to create the illusion of great artificial cold. Even the electric light bulbs wers frosted, nnd every pane of glass that was visible seemed coated with congealed water. In the centre of the room were three chopping blocks with uuormous ox beads on them, while against the walls hung whole halves and quarters of beef and mutton the real thing. The tables simulated cakes of Ice, and on each pigs' beads and raw-pork chops served as pepper and salt receptacles. The waiters were all dressed In tbe white duck caps, trousers, Jackets and aprons of butchers. The menu was strictly an "abattoir" menuonly beef, mutton nud pork being 6erved. Of the former nearly a thousand pounds, mostly In the form of steaks, were served, for the guests were not only distinguished iu the society and art worlds, but were numerous. It will be a long time before Mrs. Kessler's "Abattoir Din. nor" will be forgotten or surpassed for originality.

the arena, and the. animals tranferred to another apartment before, we recovered' Ebers's mangled body. Norma stood to one side with fac , ... averted. She looked very childish rnd forlorn in her gay little gown with the stains of blood on her blue slippers. After the attendant had lifted Ebers'a body, covered it with a blanket, and cat rlert It away, I went to her. "I want to ask forgiveness. Norma. -I entreated In a choked voice. - - She fell to sobbing then,- ehlldllshly, heart-brokenly, with her little hands spread wide over her face. ' I took the drooping little figure in my , arms, pressed her head against my breast, and let Iter cry it out. Presently her soft hand fluttered against my cheek. "I should be angry with you for think . Ing what you did," she cried, with a plaintive little wail. "I should but some way, I suppose. I'm to blame, too I : well, why don't you ask me who Ebers was. She must have felt me wince, for she hastened to add: "He he married my sister, and he treated her the way he treated his animals! He broke her heart! Inch by Inch, devilishly. In cold blood, he murdered her!" . , She paused and then resumed In a choked voice: "She was the whlteat, truest, sweetest little soul that ever lived my aister' Her words scorched me like flaming -steel. All my cruel and guilty sunsplcions stood out with equal 4lstlnctness. and. beside them, she rose fair and staunch and pure. . . . Silenced by my own un worthiness, I could only bend my head and kiss her " hand.

What's the Use?

By XENNETT HARRIS. WHERE is the sense in telling what you knowT Why should X flatter what la evident. Painting the lily when lt'a white at snow 7 I trust that I am too Intelligent. T WATCHED your color, aa it came and went. And thought the sunset had no finer glow. Still I spoke cot of cream and peaches blent. x Where is the sense in telUng- what you know? yOUR Utile teeth flashed In a pearly row. But no describing phrase did i invent. Your eyes were very bright, but, even so, Why should I flatter what is evident! YOtTR hair is in tbe style that's preva x lent. And yet it makes a. very pretty show. To rave of It would be, to some extent. Painting the lily when it's watts 4 enow. yjOV moved as willows mors bea 1 breezes blow. Or like the grasses to the zephyrs feentf But praises came in no ecstatic flow I trust that I am too Intelligent. ' tjUT In the short tints that with yon X spent. I felt my boredom slowly, surely arrow. I bad to listen. That was different. Beauty you have. Ia what you titter though. Where la the sense?