Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-06-14
DINNER PARTY.

already dark No one was stirring on the street.
TO the right and to the left there opened q
handkerchief and wiped away the perspiration
from his forehead. He put his hand upon the
bell knob and stopped to think.
The facade OF this mansion was great CAKE
OF chocolate set On end. Its hat monotony was
broken by portico at the top or loufCeen Steps,
which broadening DESCENDED 70 Inc sac St YAK
The cornice OF the portlco was supported Dy
two cylindrical columns OF brown stone, with
were yelled with curtains OF brown linen, OF
exactly the shade Of the stone front. The only
bright spot which relieved the SOmOre exterior
was Immediately over the door, wnere flood
of light poured through plate Of clear glass
that bore, In large gilt figures, the numoer 49,
Above, all was dark, gloomy, forbid1ing. The
eye ran up from tier to tier of windows till it
reached the cornice of the roof, and lost Itself
among the stars n the SKY.
CasSerly shuddered. The great 13, number
OF i'll omen, glared at him with intense hostility.
The entire FACADE Of the house frowned down
upon him, as II it lacked not the will or power,
but only the energy to descend and crush and
bury him.
A policeman slowly passing ca st at him look
OF Surly inquiry. CaSSerly did not stir. The
policeman passed on, tossing his cub and catch
Ing It when it reached the end OF the leithern
te' her that attached it to his wrist.
For ten or fifteen minutes CaS5erly Stoou On
the stoop, leaning against one of the drown
stone pillars OF the portico, reyle wing Inc clr-
cnmSl anceS Of his career OF impoSJure. lie 1e:t
that part of the blame belonged 10 nlm5eh,
part to his environment, part to the cursed Law
OF Heredity. He remembered MS IaIaer, Gle
auctiOneer gibIy rartllng OF his professional
stock OF ralsehoods. He remembered his mother,
the bluestocking, pretentiOusly discussing mat
tiers which she did not understand. lie saw
himself, a boy at school copying COMPOSITIONS
out OF books and passing them OF as his own.
He saw himself man. led from deceit ID fraud
by weak hunger for adulaton, bul11ng up an
uudeserved reputation for learning, reckl1S5ly
appropriating the thoughts OF other men, Writ
ing scientific articles for the local periodicals,
lecturing before the lyceu1ns in his native state,
OvershadOWing with his plagariSn5 and impu-
dent pretensions the merit OF honest scholars,
seeking always to satisfy his vanity with h0m-
age to which he had no claim. He saw him self
In New York at last. continuing on larger
scale the system OF imposture which had sue
ceeded so well in the provinces. Days spent In
the libraries, pillaging the thoughts OF the de ad
and absent: nights at his desk, arranging the
his stolen essay on the Extinct PachydermS;
the excited controversy started by his stolen
paper on the Triangular Theory Of Light; the
social position which he was gaining by virtue
OF his supposed requirements; the news paper
notices which BATTERED his vanity while they
excoriated his conscience; the complications of
deeper and deeper-all these things came up 10
cOnfr MT and terrify him as he stood at tue
door of the house TO which he had been invited
to meet at dinner four OF the most eminent
specialists OF the agei
Slight noise across the street recalled his
vagrant senses. The policeman stood there
and sick at heart CaSserly rang the door belt
and was admitted.
Mrs. Walter Hewey arose to meet her guest,
politely conceaIing her annoyance at his tardi-
ness. Everybody had long been there. The four
eminent scientists had yawHed in each others
society, while the hoste5 and her husband We're
undergoing an agony OF suspense lest the young
man should fail her. He was the grand pat, the
principal dish which She expected to serve up
y her entertainment. His entrance SET affairs
IN prOper train.
At the announcement OF the butler, the host
eSs took the arm OF Professor Calder. Her nus
band and Mrs. Professor Hemmingshaw led che
way into the dining room. CaSSeriy came next
escorting Mrs. DIR. Thwiny, dainty blonde With
spectacles. Her plump white hand rested
prOuGly on CaSSerly arm. Professor Flamway,
bachelor, and the greatest entomoloyiSt OF the
western hemisphere, gave his arm awkwardly
to Mrs. Calder, and Professor Hemming5haH
and DR.. Thwing followed with Miss Rtdeout and
Miss Croker, two maldenS OF robust intellect
and many summers. Mrs. Walter Hewey and
Professor Calder made the rear.
slight miShap occurred at the outset. Pro-
lessor Flamway, who found his card without
difficulty when he had anticipated mucn can
barrassment In the search, was so charmed with
his success that he seated himself before the
others. BluShing to the roots OF his gray hair
he jumped up from his chair, and, In doing 3d.
nearly overturned Miss Rideout, who was d.
rectly behind him. Recoiling from the encouu-
ter, ne planted his elbow squarely In the midst
OF the wine glasses set at his place. There was
sharp crackle OF crystal and an Involuntary
exclamation from Miss Rideout.
Il
accidental, - Stammered Professor FIamwayai-
dressing himself to the butler, who had promptly
come 10 the rescue and VINO received the apollo
The celebrated entomologlst m bodily applied
himself TO his oysters. Miss Croker, VINO
prided herself On her wit, spoke in a low tone 10
Miss Rideout, who laughed. Professor Fam way
took 1t for granted that the ladies were deriding
his embarrassment, and he blushed redder than
before.
Miss Croker was remarking," said Miss
Wit q Cyla of fta-o
..that we are rapidly adding to the list of Ex-
ttnct PachydermS."
:. But my dear" said Mrs. Hewey, "are you
quite sure that the oyster is pachyderIn? My
impr ession is that It's polyp.'
perhaps 1t is paehyderm atous polyp," sug-
gested Miss RideOut.
him. He imagined that DR.. ThwingS face wore
a cynical smile. SO he nervousy remarked:
''Let US not look too closely into the pedigree
OF such capital oysters as these. am disposed
to accept them on their merits"
As the dinner went on the servants passing
nOiseleSsly behind the savants, exchanging
the heat ofthe gas jets ard under the subtle in
duence OF the wine, and. Prof. Flam way gradu-
ally recovering his Seif-reSpect Dy means of
steadier and more animated. Casserly did his
utmost to keep it from drifting toward the
topics which he dreaded. In this effort he was
indirectly assisted by the four eminent special
lists. They showed no easerness to approach
the fields In which they were SO thoroughly at
home. CasseFly was grateful 70 taem fsr this
forbearance, and tacitly gave them credit for
modesty and good taste.
But Mrs. Walter Hewey did not intend that
her dinner should lose the eclat Of profoundly
scientific discourse. At the first opportunity
over an entree of Tis de reau chamapgaolts,
she leaned forward, and, raising her voice 20
reach the ears OF Prof. Calder, who sat half the
length OF the table away, she remarked:
And the great work, Professor? Does 1t a1-
yancee"
SLOWLY. madam said he, casting a quick
lock at Casserly. ut Is the LABOR OF a life
time"
You must know, Mr. CasSerIy," said the
hostess, that the Professor is elgagei on al
exhaustive treatise on Chinese literature OF tle
sixth century before Christ"
- 'And IL viii be delightful" cried Mss Ride
OUT. 81 am longing for It's appe irance"
Professor Calder bowed In ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Casserly put On an expression or polite intere55
81 am sure, Mr.. CaSSerly," continued Mrs.
Hewey, that you can appreciate the value OF
his laborS.r
Casserly bluShed. He was rather nervous
Dut felt called upon TO say something. sit Is a
subject lie yentured, lin which / have taken
some interest,""
The eminent sInologist eyed him askance.
81 have thought CaSSerly desperately con-
tinued, seeing that he was expected TO m Ike
further remark On Chinese literature OF the
sixth century before Christ, ''that version OF
the philosophical poems OF the great Kwany-
III, preserving the original metres, would
He StdmmpFpU and STDDnpj ha that