TOAST TO THE DEAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20252, 11 May 1929, Page 3 (Supplement)

TOAST TO THE DEAD.

STRANGE BIRTHDAY DINNER. Although Mr. Harry Edmund Warner, of Bloomsbury, London, died last December, a dinner party to celebrate his birthday was held at a Soho restaurant at the end of March. In his will Mr. Warner left £3OO .upon trust for a dinner to be partaken of yearly on March 28 by eight of his friends. The dinner, according to the will, should have been held that night, but, owing to Easter falling so early, the friends agreed to bring it forward and hold it a night earlier. It was a very solemn feast, the only toast being to the memory of Mr. Warner. The eight friends were all members of the Royal Burnham Yacht Club, of which Mr. Warrior was on the committee. Seven were present. One was unfortunately on the sick list and unable to attend. The shadow of the loss of their mutual friend whoso charming thought had provided them with this evening's entertainment, did not darken the enjoyment, for the diners had decided that he would not have had them sad. The seven men related all the humorous incidents they remembered about their friend, repeated old jokes, and recalled the happy days they had spent together. They, sat until past midnight, and then when thfi new day had begun and the calendar date had become " 28" they stood in silence and drank a final toast to the memory of their friend.