SELECTIONS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VII, Issue 316, 1 December 1875, Page 7

SELECTIONS.

The Gathering of M Men.

Tho ninth annual " clambake" of the Fat Men's Association took place at Gregory's Point, Connecticut, on Aug, 25, and we learn from the American papers that special •conveyances of special strength had to be employed to take the guests to and from the shore where the "bake 1 " was held. Wm. Perkins, the president of the association, weighing 3731b5, <or nearly twenty-seven •Stone, though he is only twenty-six years of »ge, was brought from Waterbury in a box ■car. Mr Sherwood (3201b5) was more studious of his dignity. He came from New Malford on four seats of a passenger-car, having been skilfully got in and out of the |Car by a gang of platelayers armed with crowbars, levers, and screwjacks. Prior to dinner the bar-room of the hotel was rather crowded ■by great men, and no wonder. Therein •"Baby" Murphy, weighing 3031b5, talked -with little Fisk, of 3371b5, and with the president and a couple of others. First they 'shook hands, and then took a couplo of ■drinks '; then they shook hands again, and took another drink. Then the weighing for Hew members began, no one under 2001bs being eligible. In point of numbers, the ■" bake" was the grandest that had yet taken "place. ," The fat men," says one reporter, ■evidently at a loss for a simile, " came down to Gregory's Point like the hippopotami on t;he fold, and the sands trembled beneath their tread." Apart from visitors, there "were about a hundred members of the association present, or about twelve tons in all. Seat accommodation for the fat men was at the average rate of two ordinary seats for one ■individual. Their trencher performances tended to show that such mountains of flesh '-require substantial sustenance. The "bake" proper was composed of 100 bushels of clams •■and oysters, 1000 ears of green corn, tea barrels of sweet potatoes, 300 pounds of blu) fish, 100 pounds of eels, and 350 pounds of lobsters, baked on hot stones under seaweed In addition, there was beef, mutton, chickeni <(100 of these), and other substantial diet The lager beer consumed amounted to 300 •casks. After the feast, over a ton and a hall •of vice-presidents were elected for the ensu-i ing year. The edifying meeting was brought to a close, oddly enough, by a dance, and the) '■members were then carted away to theiij '■respective destinations.