New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-16
THE GAY " WORLD.D

There is a paper published in this city which
is 10Y to any well-rcgullted mind. There Ii
always to be found i'll its columns so serene
and unconscious an exhibition of unruiled
complacrncy, such a handy and limited stock
of transformation, that you are suro there IL
never the slightest room for doubt or hesita-
ton IA what it does itself the favor to con
slider irs mental processes. In social matters,
especially, it delivers its little judgments and
dicta with a tranquil and chirruping grace
that goes far to convince it's readers that in
following its preccpts lies the peaceful transla-
ton to the heaven of nobbncss, while the
slightest transgression will land them in the
sOughS of taboo.
This halcyon conceit, this delicious uncon-
sciousness of the inaptitude of its artlcss pratt
tie. seems to be a transmiSsible quality, and
not like free tickets on "a railway train, " for
d" fcited if transferred" On the contrary, the
soul OF the central Office is most brilliantly
illustrated in some of its correspondents, who
have gone so far from Park-rOw as to have
forgotten the letter of their instructions which
killcth and have retained only the spirit which
giveth life. 1t is the profound conviction
OF this class of journals that diplomacy
is principally matter of haberdashery and
gastr0nOmy, and our especial favoIite has evil
IDENTITY sent one of its most trusted cOllabOra-
teurs to Washington to pluck the heart ont OF
the diplomatic mysteries that make that city
so interesting by cautious approaches through
the kitchen and laundry. The first results Of
his intrepid labOrs are now before us. IL VIII
be seen that he does not as yet presume to
deduce any profound international significance
of portent from the discoveries he has made
about the influential kitchen range of distin
guishcd parsonage; but, like difident young
Augur of old, has'contented himself with tear
ing out in bulk the entrals of divination-the
indispensable means of casting the political
horosc0pe-and has thrown them smoking and
hot upon the editorial table of the High Priest,
who, robed in his sacrifcal choIer and coat,
which copy respectively the swan in whiteness
and the swallow in tail, may now be supposed
to be engaged in the thrilling rite of reading
the riddle of the future in the curling vapor.
The special ENJOYS report begins with the
ambiguous statement that two or three dim
"ners a day are eaten in Washington Does
this mean that our Civil Service is so enorm-
ously overpaid that all the jewellers in the
Federal City are driven to these frightful out
RACES upon their gastric apparatus for the
purpose of keeping their expenses up to their
income Or does it signify that dinners are
SO rare among the worlds people that two or
three day in town of q hundred thousand
inhabitants seem like the climax of luxury 7
Either way, it is case for Mr.. Bergh. But
the cOnsiderate creature spares us the descrip-
ton of all of them, with the exception of one,
which took place at a certain Legation, to
which he gives a well-lnOwn name. We take
the liberty of disbclieving this, as the
style and pomp of this prandial festiyity has
| long been unknown to civilized nations. 1t is
our belief that the parsonage indicated is tho
ambassador of the King of Thule who is
described to us as true unto his grave" and
we are glad to know he likes it SO well.
DINNERS a la Russo" says the bold discov-
ercr, care worldwide in their reputation, but
show they are managed and in what they
differ from other State dinners il not gener-
ally made public" Undeterred by any con-
sideratiOns of prudence, he proceeds to tear
the vail from this hitherto impenetrable mys-
terry, and to show in what particulars these
deeply significant Thulian sympOsia differ
from the ordinary repasts of society.
| He now enters into series of the most ex-
traordinary disclosures. He informs us, in a
manner that would carry conviction with it,
were it not for the inherent improbability of
the facts reported, that at these portentous
festivals "the dinner lis served in courses -
fruit and flowers ornament the table, and
miracle of organization y "are ready when the
guests appear" "Seats are assigned leach
guest by the host, who has prearranged (what
a head y the order in which places shall be
taken. The host escorts the lady of greatest
rank (this is comprehensive, but see what
becomes of madameD the lady of the house