Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-18
AFTER DINNER TAKERS.
The Importance of Table Diplomacy In
the Affairs Of thc Country.

The Importance of Table Diplomacy In,
the Affairs of the Couatry.
PUBLIC MEN NOTED As PosT-PRANDIAL SPEECH
MAKERs-cHAUNcEY M. pEpEw AND GENERAL
HORACE PORTER, THE LEADING ORATORS OF THE
TABLE-ARMY OFFICERS WHO GROW ELOQUENT
AFTER GOOD DINNER-BLANE AND cONK-
LING AS coNvERslTIoNALIsrs.
'Tt can no longer be denied" said promi-
nent official the other day. as he leaned back in
his Office chair to talk with STAR reporter.
that table diplomacy is a growing factor in the
administration of public affairs in this country
81 mean" he continued THAT the drift of con-
versation Of men of note while seated around
the festive board bears al potent influence in
determining some knotty question or in shaping
course to be pursued In an important matter.
In this respect we are following the example OF
the European powers, among whom a state din
ner is looked upon as much more important
matter than simple dinner party, viewed in
the light of It's results You know that Presi-
dent Arthur has paid more attention to the
White House dinners than any of his predeces-
sors. and he has so improved their character and
style that his successors cannot afford to allow
them to degenerate into mediocre affairs. They
are too impor tant to be triled with. can readily
understand this table diplomacy. The busy
day has drawn to close, perplexing cares have
been LAID aside: and the way to mans heart
being through his stomach, those seated at the
table are naturally in an agreeable frame of
mind. Important matters are apt to be dis
cussed socially, and the expression of an opinion
from strong mind in the guse of
pleasantly, may be all powerful in
settling knotty question. An argument made
socially is much more apt to be presented and
received nitstrue light than if crowded in among
lnnumerabie button-h0lng subjects of busy
day. Good takers have generally seen good
deal OF the world, and from their social inter-
course have learned the value Of saying the
right thing at the right time. After-dnner
talking or speech making has grown to be such
an art that he who can get up when called upon
and make happy little speech is really as in
fuental as he who can crate by the hour from
platform or upon the floor of some legislative
chamber. There are two kinds of after dinner
experimenting. One. which is always appre-
ciated, but which is rather of light character.
Is the relating in happy manner an anecdote
which forclbly Illustrates the ideas of the
speaker, or which is just suited to the OCCASION
the other consists in treating of the subject at
hand in an easy but mastery manner, intro
duc1ng incidents or "reminiscences which are of
particular interest to those present. Humor
and wit play strong part in it, and are always
effective"
who is the best after dinner talker you ever
heard ?"asked The STAR reporter, who was an in
terested listener.
well, don't believe that Chauncey NJ. De-
pew. OF New York. has a superior or even an
equal in that line. Then / guess Gen. Horace
Porter the vice president of the Pullman car
company. who used to be In the army, comes
next. The styles of the two men are so differ
ent that the, ought hardly be compared De-
pew has an inexhaustibe fund Of humor When
he rises to reply to toast. OF to some remarks
which have just been made. his brilliant eyes
speak almost as eoquently as his voice. He
takes his audience by storm, and they are COM
petey overwhelmed with pyrOtechnic display
of wit, repartee. rhetoric and happy compari-
sons. He never hesitates. and does not grad
ually entice his hearers to the climax, but one
brilliant remark follows another in such quick
succession, and so exquisitely phrased. as to
completely captivate Them so that when he
concludes. everybody wishes he had but just
commenced. Porter Is but little less effective
He is tall and slender and when he rises his ex-
preston is always solemn. giving him very
ministerial appearance. He is very witty but
he never cracks smile. while those about him
are conVulsed at his witticisms. His method is
to work gradually up to the point. differing in
this respect from Depew. These two gentlemen
are brought out on every festival occasion of
note in New York. aud indeed in other cities,
and they never fail to make their mark
Who is the best talker among the army
officers ?" asked The STAR man.
va. L guess OcHe1di SHERMAN Is, without
doubt. He has wonderful faculty for remenl-
bering things, and his "reminiscences always tell,
and they are brought out when particularly
agreeable to those present His great fault,
though. is that he is too rambling. and he often
talks good deal without saying much of any
thing"
Does General Sheridan excel in an after
dinner speech 2"
Not bit. He is too matter-of-fact He Is
all business. When he does rise to make few
81 iny -rta &c, A.
not directly by his side do not hear him. / have
heard him, though make some first-class
speeches from stage at army reunions and the
like"
Ben. Butterworth is great card at dinner
party" continued the official; The is q host in
himself. He is full of wit. but it is of the anec-
dotal kind, and he is always ready with good
story which just suits the occasion. | know
there are lots of good after-dinner takers in
Congress. Meginns. Curtin. Bragg and Reed
have heard make very happy speeches, and l
have no doubt there are many Others equally
good Medical Director Browne. of the navy
Is an excellent talker. ne is bright quick and
never fails to charm his hearers Then there is
Col l. f. Barr of the War department He can
make very telling speech after dinner and
always has good story at hand. which he re-
lates well. 81 suppose. though. that the great
est conyersationalistS in the country are Blaine
and COnking. | never heard either of them
make an after dinner speech but | have no
uouDI tHal pOtl are poOu at lt COnkllnT. they
say white socially conyersing is perfectly charm
ing Although he is cold and vain he can win
staunch friend 10y five minutes conversation
with him. Blaines wonderful memory always
comes TO his aid. No matter what or who is
being talked about. he invariably recalls some in
cident or the name of some person connected
with the subject in such way as to make a very
pleasing impression. | have no doubt that he
has won many friend because he remembered
him. or his father, or his grandfather Take
my own case. for instance. About twenty years
ago saw considerable of Blaine for three sue
cessive days. Without having laid eyes on
him since | went to a reception short
time ago at his house. The room was
crowded. Suddenly the door opened and
Blaine. with his beard and hair grown white,
entered. He caught my eye and soon stretched
his hand over some ones shoulder to shake
mine. / said, why. Mr. Blaine, you have no
idea who ami OF course have he replied
He then mentioned my name and its initials A
short time afterwards | was at a dinner at
which he was an hOnOred guest The CONVEX
sation dritted to colonial times and turning to
me he said rather abruptly: AREN'T you the
great great grandson of Governor - Il
am. replied very much amazed, for the gov
ernor's name was not mine and | couldn't tell
how he had hit upon the relationship. learned
afterwards that my boy, who bears that family
name, was at his house that day with the Blaine
children. At dinner he remembered my sons
name as being similar to, that of the governor
from that state he immediately Jumped at the
connection and figured out the generation and
struck it exactly. Such thing as that would
make a man feel pleasant. but just imagine the
effect similar remark would make upon a man
who is not accustomed to the ways of the