The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1888-09-12
NO II.
/. a plPLoMAT,s DINNER.
a Plain and cheaY, Banquet where Ever
body was fsxtremesy Well Pleased.

a Plain and cl,eaEi banquet Where Every
body Was Extremesy Well Pleased.
Some years ago an accomplished diplo-
mate at Washington, the representative
tf a power not of the first importanceS
expressed his regret to friend that he
could not give dinners Hsbecallse," he
said, ssmy government IS poor, and ]
cannot afford it. The conversation oc-
CURED at the prcfnse and splendid table
Of a rich and courteous host, whose feasts
were of great fame, and wlitSe invita-
tions were credentials of admission tothe
best society, A young diplomatic come
rade who sat by heard the remark, and
smiled rs he said ..dy government Is
poorer than Yours, and anu but lately
arrived But what is diplomacy without
dinner? and ] ann going 20 give one. II
viii not be like this, but the splendor IS
not an essential part of the feast. shall
give 4 plain and clieap dinner. to which
1 invite You ISotli.''e
His esnner was gay, and lis IA .iSs,
ton zsns gayly and gladly accepted be-
cause he was one Of the delightful nlrn
in Washington. His colleague, however.
who had spoken, first, shrugged HIS
shoulders, and said that. foI his ilart. Ls
coulln't do it; he couldn't ask people 20
como to his house and eat poor dinner.
Not SO fast replied his friend: II
iidn say \ poor dinner. but J, plain and
cheap diner. I lsopc It VII be Eo,si.
nevertheless, although there may be TO
baked carp or stewed niglltingales'
tongues. But come and see. I"
The Young minister of the small and
poor kingdom MES one of the most &C
coniplished men in Washington He was
known. to have corrected a justice of the
supreme court in regard TO decision of
4 United States court in a western state,
and to have made the correction in Eng
isll, which was j, foreign tongue to him.
but in English So. cSqiiisitely chosen and
urhaneIy expressed that the justice was
probably unconscious of the modification
of the correction. The young minister
had TO foolish. fond reserves. My gov
ermnent is poor. am poor. VIC arc all
poor in my country he said, land I
and my secretary work like day laborers
here IN Washington TO acquire and to re-
port necessary Information TO my gov
ernmcnt. Eut 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 a
palmer and pleasanter dinner was never
known in Washington. Every guest.
from the secretary Of state and the Eng
lish envoy to all their neislllors ct tal;,,
gave every week. indeed, rep;;sts much
moro magnificent. But the simple din
neI. Gtimir1lhly cooked and serycd. with.
out display of table service, without tho
carp and nightingalcs' tongues. but with
the cnlivening and inspiring charm of.
the host and the welcome variety of
plainness, after the, luxurious extrava-.
gance and ostcntation of tln rsual din,
ncr. was so fresh and delightful that the
satisfactiol AMI pleasure were universal,
and the skcptical colleague who had
though, great cost essential to a SUCCESS
full dinner owned himself converted, and.
the next month ventured upon a similar.
feast, and with the same Success
George William Curtis in Harper's Elaga-
Zipe