The Washington critic., 1888-02-04
eroo rooR no rNTrrrAfN.n
wherein Good Society shows Lack OF
Morni Courage.

, "ToO roOR TO ENTEKTAIN."
wherein Good Society shows a Lack OF
Moral Courage.
Some years ago an accomplished
diplomat at Washington, the repre-
sentative Of q power not of the first
importance, expressed his regret to
friend that he could not give din
ners, "because," he said, "my gov
ernment is poor, and I cannot afford
it," The conversation occurred at
the profuse and splendid table of q
rich and courteous host, whose
feasts were Of great fame, and whose
invitations were credentials of adj
mission to the best society. A
young diplomatic comrade who sat by
heard the remark and smiled as he
said: MY government is poorer than
yours, and am but lately arrived.
But what is diplomacy without din
ners? And am going to give one. 1t
will not be like this, but the splendor
is not an essential part Of the feast.
] shall give plain and cheap dinner,
to which i invite you both"
His manner was gay, and his in
vitation was gaily and gladly ac-
cepted, because he was one of the
delightful men in Washington. His
colleague, however, who had spoken
first, shrugged his shoulders, and
said that, for his part, he couldn't
do it; he couldn't ask people to
come to his house and eat poor
dinner. "Not so fast" replied his
f,iopd. oct J;1,,t ao,, a moor d;pnor
but plain and cheap dinner. !
hope it will be good, nevertheless,
although there may be no baked
carp or stewed nightingales' tongues.
But come and see."
The young Minister of the small
and poor Kingdom was one of the
most accomplished men in Washing
ton. He was known to have cor
rected Justice of the Supreme Court
in regard to decision of United
States court in Il Western State, and
| TO have made the correction in Eng
lish, which was foreign tongue to
him, but in English so exquisitely
chosen and urbanely expressed that
the Justice was probably unconscious
of the modification of the correction.
The young Minister had no fool
ish, fond reserves. "My gov
ernment is poor, am poor, we are all
poor in my country" he said, "and l
and my secretary work like day la
borers here in Washington to acquire
and to report necessary information
to my Government" But nobody
was more sought; there was nobody
whose coming more surely brought
| pleasure to any circle than that of the
young minister.
| THE DAY OF THE DINNER
came, and palmer and pleasanter
dinner was never known in Washing.
ton. Every guest, from the Secretary
of State and the English Envoy to all
their neighbors at table, gave every
week, indeed, repasts much more
magnificent. But the simple dinner
admirably cooked and served, with
out display Of table service
without the carp and nightin
gales tongues, but with the en-
livening and inspiring charm of the
host and the welcome variety of plain
ness after the luxurious extravaganza
and ostentation of the usual dinner
was so fresh and delightful that the
satisfaction and pleasure were univer
sal, and the skeptical colleague who
had thought great cost essential to 6
successful dinner owned himself con
verted, and the next month ventureC
upon similar feast, and with the
same success.
The courage of the young Minister
is almost universally wanting in what
is called good society. If the socia
entertainment cannot be as costly a!
that of the household, which is very
much richer, it must be abandoned
But in New York, as in every great
city, the most expensive and ex
travagant feasts and balls are not the
pleasantest, and obviously if nobody
is to open his or her house who can.
not dress as richly and offer as superb
a supper as the chief Dives or Crnsus
in town, society will be reduced to the
very lowest terms.
PERTINENT QUESTION.
Besides, if rich people entertain az
they please, why do not poorer people
entertain as they please? Will yo,
refuse to ask your friends becaus,
you cannot serve ortolans upon Dres
den china and gold, or pour Schlos
Johannisberger for all the boys il
Venetian glass, as your neighbor does
To put truth in homely way, yol
are as good as he, if not as rich and why
should you permit him unconsciously
to bully you because he is richer thar
you? Mothers and fathers deplor,
the extravaganza, the late hours, o
society, the wanton dressing, the ute
vanity and vexation, of the socia
tread-mill. And 10 little courage
a little spirit little good sense, il
practice upon the part of a very fey
sensible persons, would relieve tn
pressure. II Editors Drawer, Harper
Magazine.