Barbour County index., 1885-03-06
THE DINER-OUT.
Description OF a Class Who Live
By Their Wits.
rhoee Whose Chief Delight II II TO Live
aad Luxuriate NJ the Expense OF
Others-rhe Better aud
Poorer Kinda

- lHAeNE anu
Poorer Kinds-
!SGn Francisco Sews-Iester.
They are . class OF men, and they COM
prise large humber, who believe and act
upon the principle Of the famous Greek,
Diogeness, who, we are told, when asked
what wine he liked best, answered: '"That
which 10 drank at the expense Of Others"
Although tho character Of the old cynic
excises but little admiration In this age,
there are still many who have his taste in
wine, and find none OF 30 choice a quality
as that they drink at the table Of others.
To live by ones wits and at the expense Of
ones friends, and yet keep within the line
which separates the reputable good fellow
from the cheVeIier d'inddstrie, requires not
only that IL shall have been born in q man,
but necessitates also an education aud ex-
perience, both worldly and intellectual, far
above the average. The recognized diner
out comprises many different varieties.
There is the admitted professional, whose
coaiirlnsd habits Of illeness and impe-
cuniosity prevent his doing 30 at his own
expense, Tut who can sing a good song, tell
q good story, expatiate upon the charac-
ter OF . woman OF the demi-monde, knows
the latest scandal, and can prog
nosticato the winn'I Of the next big race
with all the confidence OF q sporting
tout" Such a man at many dinner ta-
bles Is an acquisition, particularly II Che
dinner DO large one, and where the ele-
ments OF the party are such, as Is often the
casa, that the want OF intimate mutual ac-
quaintance prevents the cordial inter
change OF wit and humor which, the menu
being assumed ~ be complete, Is indispen-
sable TO make success Of the only really
enjoyable mca! Of the day. Again, at the
family table, where the habit of daily in
tercourse gives c sameness, IL not dullness,
to tho feast, a diner-out of the class we
have referred to is even mere than an ac-
quisition-he IL regarded ns a friend. His
policy throus hout Is to make himself what
IL termed solid" with the family. Nom
knows better Low TO lay up treasure for
himself In this world than Re, and at q
family table, where he is en- bon rapport
with the members, bis constant efforts to
afford now 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 q private
table might be Objectionable, however toll
erable In q larger and more mixed gather
ing, entitlc him 10 some compensation at
the hands OF his entertainers, and il he be
accused OF proving on society and living
ut the cost OF others, we can hardly indict
him, and should not begrudge him salts
faction, even II he riots in far-fetched
dishes and drinks his wine at theexpenseof
his friondE. At tho Sunday family dinner,
where the cares of the weekday meal are
10. &c 70 intrudo themselves, such a guest
10 always .elsome, and many head Of a
family hnds IN k.s presence and untiring
efforts TO cnilven the meal q marked con-
trast 20 the Inonotony 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 a good fellows comfort,
whosc cordial good nature makes him
thoir victim. Who is there thai does not
recognize one OF this species who used to
practice largely on his friands in this cttyY
Who can forget his suave manner as
meeting you, on your way to dinner, he
asked: Have you dtned to-day, old fell
lowP To the natural reply in the mega
i wv you arc met Wllns ~ W ell, Waa on
my way TO dinner, but l hate three
restaurants You still dine at
home, / supposeS That's the only
way to live, old fellow" II the hint is
not taken, the unfortunate man is followed
mp, and then the dctcrmlned beat makes
his coup De grace: "would you mind Civ
Ing me n snack with you to-day, my dear
fellowp Your wife might like to hear me
sing, you know. You could give a fellow
glass OF 'arf and 'srf and a bite OF some
thing. suppose" There is no avoiding
this, and the undesirable guest eats your
dinner. drinks your wine, and generally
criticiScs the quality Of both behind your
back. This species is by far the most
obnoxious OF that class who drink their
wine at the expense OF others, and far
more contemplate than the class who
dino at the bar-room lunch-ta and
take their chance to wash it down from
some good-natured friends, or too credu-
lous bar-keepor. There are other classes
OF the diner-out, varying from the at
tachcs Of some of the foreign legations at
Washington aud inpecunious hangers ON
Of fashionable clubs to the broken down
habitars OF hotels and sporting houses bot
| this will auiflca for thu nreaate