New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-16
THE REDUCED DINNER PARTY
BY JAMES PAWN.


that the weather is not as it used to De- ana phItc
uIarly that the winters are not the winters that
they remember in theiI ehildhood. Inc Iac so oe,
inc that Mt that period OF life the making OF snow
man was an event of Importance and STICKS IN the
memory whereas at present, though tney may
have the q nes have given
thn nractice or living in Pail Mall, they hnd the
police object to it), and hence they fancy that "
ioes not occur Another thing which they regard
ms an unparalleled phenomenon is fog. Last
Christmas Day, for example, which in truth was in
London much more like Christmas Eve, and
late one, these good folks wore exclaming every cry
where: Did you ever see such weather. The
observation was so tar pertinent that there was
nothing else to see, but as serious assertion I'M
LOGICAL science the remark of no great value.
have myself senior rather felt-much thlcker
fOgs l remember November one, twenty years
ago in which as the night drew on you could not
see your hand even If it had white kidglove on;
an addition to the familiar phrase that occurs to
because was na t m ySqnS bem never
NV wife and mad Just set up housekeepinR ana
were giving as i'll luck would have it, little dinner
on that evening. 1t was party, including our Two
selves of fOurteen-quite social event with us
and my wife that is, my first wife. poor dear) was
rather nervous about it. Man-selish man-knows
nothing OF such anx'eties ne goes 70 aS
drops in at his club in the afternoon; and comes
home Just in time to dress as though nothing par
tioular was about to happen. But woman-lovely
but solicltous woman-has to look after things.
At 10 o'clock started for the City, having done
all that could reasonably be expected OF me IN look
ing ont the wine: Pommerey Brut for Uncle Nils
ton, who could only drink champagne as dry as
himself and even then it disagreed with him;
more generous sort for Tiffn, the Indian Colonel.
LIQUOR freely and looked all the better for it. Ap-
pearances, however, are illusory, and report may
be correct that assigns the Widow CIcquot's vim
society to the Elysian Fields. There was Also II
remember Alright, some green Curacao for young
Hectic Of the Guards, who could drink little else.
poor follow. even then. and had tendency to
confne his eating to picked walnuts
u At 1918 q telegram arrived from my uncle
.The state Of the weather and my own inespent
bronchitis will make my appearance at your dinner
table tonight, dear Helen, OF course ont OF the
question The blow was severe one, for the
party had been asked to meet the OLD gentleman,
and it would now be necessary TO give another
Worst Of all. in my wifes eyes, tor the poor dear
was superstitious, was that his detection made us
thirteen. The situation was embarrassing Tor one
could scarcely ask any one but an old friend at so
short notice People have nGtaSn di Ii IN 10
vacancy at the last moment. In Paris one could
have engaged o Qnatorsieme-a gentleman who
makes it his business TO supply sucn
day it was hard to say where we werel IN Lond9n.
A man with grOwn-up family has only to add
son of his own to the dnnertabe, but our offspring
at that time was limited in extent and tender in
years; we had but one child, aged two' and that
NV Wife however Though she had informed me
that she was quite 'prostrated' by the previous
cares of hospitality. was equal to the emergency
Sho suddenly remembered the existence OF Mr.
Percy LttOp, which 1t was her ordinary practice TO
ignore He was q young gentleman OF no partic-
uiar position in the world, and was understood 10
gain precarlous existence by periodical nte Sar
part sho only thought him flippant, He was a
diuer-out-that is to say, he was glad to do so
when he was askcdEand nad iepu.aEn ror ale of
every he met at table. and also the stories ne
told them. 80 as to guard himself against repeti-
won't to write down the heads of the anecdotes
themselves. for he once left o list OF them under
one Of cur dining-room chairs Az sn ct pincn as
body; it would never do to have an empty seat,
like Banguc's and no one to take down old Lady
Wallop: and it was almost certain that this gen;
tiemnn would be disengaged: He'll Jump at it,
was in fact my wifes reflection. So she sat down
and dispatched an invitation TO him on rosecolored
note pepper and in q style to match.
Ny dear Mr.. LittOn.-I know you are over
wheimed with invitations, and that there is only
the faiutcst chance OF your being disengaged tins
evening. But o telegram has just arrived stating
that one OF our expected guests is ill don't say.
could you fill his place-1or, you could fill any
place to Of T onS you PHI little
Dartyf The long existing friendship between my
husband and yourself is my only excuse for send
ing you so short an invitation. Pray say "yes" by
And she signed herself his very faithfully with
the very underlined.
As nv wife expected, mir. Litton had great plea
sure in extricating our dinner party from the ca.
families incidental to the number thirteen; ard
once more she had mind at ease knew better
Of the difficulties met with on the way but they
had been very severe, The fog in the City was
like wool. and not white wool either; came with
an scuuantance on foot as far as CbaTing Cross,
with our arms tightly interlaced. and one OF US
looking one way and one the other ike modern
Janus. whenever we came 20 crossing; snge e
rum or rather walked over flor everything went at
q foots pacel from one side or another. Our part;
tA4sn lVBa frniI
between two friends who never expect to see each
other again and indeed who didn't see eoch other
even then. He plunged into the 'sightless road
for the railway station, and Immediately arterward
A spectral van passed-as 1t seemed to me over him.
heard no shrek, but then the fog mufhed every
sound.9
halt O mile away. but progression was mere
matter OF feeling and when You stood still you
were bumped AGAINST by every passer,by. Inc Only
we'll under your arm, and when it came against
anything soft, such as the eve of human being to
before be recovered himself it was ten to one that
another passenger had taken your place and Ie-
ceiyed the Oburgations of the victim. The plan,
sSs reni,y rubbed los though it had been ca by
tho axle OF passing omnibus bound for Pccadily.
into which got Though very fastidious at that
date was not. from the circumstances OF the case
under the least apprehension of being seen in that
humble vehicle. Whether any one else was in 1t or
could not say Ct staring s o4 ass pr ns
heavy bodies thrown upon my lap and legs should
conclude 1t had good many passengers. IN riGca-
s b. tie offer Of shilling which he put in his
mouth) and who hpnorably saw me home.
Az / stvod on the doorstep and fels for the
dina On such night as this, he must have a bare
lardsf ct home But stole upstairs to nv dress
ing.room without . word, and hoped for the best;
Z e q u Sss Sn
Il u must hsppen-aud taking the average OF