The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1879-10-08
LENcoLN,s INN DINNERS.

VI these dinners volume might be writ
ten nay, two-one of complaints aud one
of praises. At Lincoln's Inn, the huge hall
is traversed at the north end64sg table at
which dine the Benchers in august state.
separated from the vulgar crowd of bar
listers and students by an array of side.
boards. Then, aiso running from east TO
west are two tables dedicated to the an
i IPent'cii or barristers aforesaid ,and lastly
running from north to south, are severaI
tables for students. Dinner is at $40 OH
week days and at on Sundays; and Mt IL
minutes before dinner time tile hail beoil,s
to nil. As the student or barrister enters
by the south door, he is received in the
lobby by a servant, who relieves him of his
suck and coat, and by another, WHO robes
HIM III gown, the property of the lam
/ I''-ti'~,- Ia.~ll i f'r0uaUIy Hnds friend or
two, with whom he arrmges to "Inake
a mess that is to say, to dine or
as others phrase it, ''to make tabl. >" and
with them he stands talking with his h;t
on, until, as the clock strikes the head but
ler solemnly marches to the west end OF The
long sideboards iuid by three blows of IL
hammer, exhortS to comparative silcliuc
Making a table" consists in four men
agreeing to dine together and taking pos
session of two places on each side of one OF
the long boards; the four sets OF knives
and forks thus forming square. At the
students tables he who sits at the north
west corner is Captain of the mess. aud in
linn is the right of deciding what wine
shall be drunk by himself and his fri,;nda
unless some one chooses TO asl, for port. IN
which case port must be brought. Other.
wise, on ordinary occasions the choice lies l,s-
tween two bottles of ria ogdtnaire- and very
ordtnaire it is-or one bottle of good cl;trrt
or one bottle of sherry between the foar.
beer I'D fbuunt being forthcoming ls .weli
Dinner is seldom quite punctual; but il.
due course the head butler goes again p,
the sideboard, and with great emp .xs,7Hc"f
announces: '..BeneLers. gentlemen. -
whereupon every one in the hall + specifully
rises. The dons enter, III Indian fle. mn
less guests are present, by the north door
bowing as they come; and then MI r.lflaiu
standing for a minute until the head b,ti !
once more raises his voice aid cris :: Isl
lence, gentlemen, if you pleast" This is
the signal for the Chapiuiu TO ask = bles.,
ing. Forthwith every knife and Fork h,.
gins operations, unless. # course. th,r,. h,
soup. in which case the nnan sitting ON tn.
left of the Captain Of the mess irHpS liul-
self first, and then passes the lndle TO .l,
right. The same plan is pursued with !isI
But for the Capiuin himself is res, rv,d IN,
privilege of first cutting the joint whic;
follows and of then passing it or mlway,
to the right. A butler has lIr.s.wlIil,
placed the wine on the table. and he vii,
I sits on the Captains right is the first .tt
taste it, as also lie is the first TO partuke ol
the dish generally a fruit-tart which sue.
ceeds the joint. The method im.which tile
wine should be passed is somewhat com.
plex, and there are, we imagine, but few
students who Clearly Und, rstand how il
should be done One rule. however. it is
advisable to remember. As a man hands
the decanter to his neighbor for the first
time, 9 he begs to be allowed the honor Of
taking wine with him " and the omission
of this custom is the infallible sign a. a
Freshman But all the Inns-a and Lia-
coins Inn especially-are nests of vemern-
bic customs, the propriety and antiquity
of which may not be disputed: and though
fines for non observance of them ARE nc
longer the fashion. they still exist. and vii
doubtless continue to flourish Chgmhe, ).
.J0u. nal.