The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-11-19
THE DINER-OUT.
Description Of a Class Who Live
By Their Wits.
Those Whose Chief Delight It Is to Live
and Luxurlate at the Expense OF
Others-The Better and
Poorer Kinds.

Those Whose Chief Delight It Is to Live
and Luxuriate at the Expense OF
Others-The Better and
Poorer Kinds.
[San Francisco News Letter.
They are class OF men, and they COM
prise large number, who believe and act
upon the principle of tho famous Greek,
Diogenese, who, we are told, when asked
what wine he liked best, answered.: ."That
which is drank at the expense of Others"
Although the character of the old cynic
excites but little admiration In this age,
there are still many who have his taste In
wine, and find none of SO choice a quality
as that they drink at the table of others.
To live by ones wits and at the expense OK
ones friends, and yet keep within the line
which separates the reputable good fellow
from the chevalier d'industrie, requires not
only that it shall have been born in n man,
but necessitates also an education and ex-
perience, both worldly and intellectual, far
above the average. The recognized diner
out comprises many different varieties.
There is the admitted professional, whose
Lntu uuDllo VI iulShtoo anu
cuniosity prevent his doing so at his own
expense, but who can sing good song, tell
q good story, expatate upon the charac-
ter of a woman of the demi-monde, knows
the latest scandal, and can prog
nostcate the winnr Of the next big race
with all the confidence Of a sporting
stout" Such man at many dinner ta-
bles is an acquisition, particularly If the
dinner be large one, and where the ele-
ments Of the'party are such, as is often the
case, that the want Of intimate mutual ac-
quaintance prevents the cordial inter-
change of wit and humor which, the menu
being assumed to be complete, is indispen-
sable to make success Of the only really
enjoyable meal Of the day. Again, at the
family table, where the habit of daily in
tercourse gives a sameness, IL not dullness,
to the feast, a diner-out of the class we
have referred to is even more than an ac-
quisition-he is regarded as friend. His
policy throughout is to make himself what
is termed "sold" with the family. No man
knows better how to lay up treasure for
himself in this world than he, and at a
family table, where he Is en- bon rapport
with the members, his constant efforts to
afford new entertainment, his ingenuity In
solving the obscurest Of social conundrums,
his extraordinary faculty Of always being
foremost in obtaining authentic accounts
of social, financial or political incidents,
and the skill with which he steers
clear of all matter which at a private
table might be Objectionable, however toll
cradle in larger and more mixed gather
ing, entitle him to some compensation at
the hands of his entertainers, and II he be
accused Of preying on society and living
at the cost of others, we can hardly indict
him, and should not begrudge him satis-
faction, even II he riots in far-fetched
dishes and drinks his wine at theexpenseof
his friends. At the Sunday family dinner,
where the cares of the weekday meal are
not apt to intrude themselves, such guest
is always welcome, and many a head Of a
family finds in his presence and untiring
efforts to enliven the meal IA marked con-
trast to the monotony Of the dinner through
the week.
This much for the better class OF diners
out; but there is another class who may
be ranked among the pests of society and
the bane of many good fellows comfort,
whose cordial good nature makes him
their victim. Who is there that does not
recognize one Of this species who used to
practice largely on his friends in this ctyg
Who can forget his suave manner as
meeting you, OH your why TO dinner, he
asked "Have you dined to-day, old fel-
low" To the natural reply in the mega
tive, you are met with: "Well, ] was on
my way TO dinner, but hate these
restaurants. You still dine at
home, suppose! That's the only
way to live, old fellow" II the hint is
not taken, the unfortunate man Is followed
up, and then the determined beat makes
his coup de grdcc: "Would you mind Civ
ing me u snack with you to-day, my dear
fellow Your wife might like to hear me
sing, you know. Yol could give fellow
n glass of 'arf and arr and bite OF some-
thing, suppose" There IL no avoiding
this, and the undesirable guest eats your
dinner, drinks your wine, and generally
criticises the quality OF both behind yolr
back. This species is by far the most
obnoxious Of that class who drink their
wine at tho expense of others, and far
more contemptiblc than the class who
dine at the bar.room lunch-table and
take their chance to wash II down from
some good-nntured friends, or too credu-
lous bar-keeper. There are other classes
Of tho diner-out, varying from the at
taches Of some Of the foreign legations at
Washington and impecunious hangers-on
Of fashionable clubs TO the broken-down
habitues of hotels and sporting houses; but
this will suffice for the present.
BATHING.
nj Haw