The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-03-08
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A DIPLOMATS DINNER.
A Plain and Cheap Banquet Where Ever
body Mas Extremely VOL pIease.l

A Plain and Cheap Banquet Where Every
body Was Extremely Wen Pleased.
Some years ago an accom- malished diplo-
mate at Washington, the representative
Of a power not of the first importance,
expressed his regret to friend that he
could not give dinners, "because," h.
said, ''my government is poor, and l
cannot afford it,. The conversation oc-
CURED at the profuse and splendid table
of Il rich and courteous host, whose fcas.s
were of great fame. and whose invita-
tions were credentials of admission d. tho
best society. A young diplomatic COM
rade who sat by heard the remark, and
smiled as he said: MY government il
poorer than yours, and | am but lately
arrived. But what is diplomacy without
dinners? 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, 10 which
l invite you both"
His manner was gay, and his invita-
ton was gay,y and gladly accepted be-
cause he was one of tho delightful men
in Washington lis iscolleague, however.
who had spoken first, shrugged his
oiiotittlcs ditl b<Aitt tiitb. ttA Hstltt bc
couldn't do it; he couldn't ask people 10
come to his house and eat n poor dinner.
..Not so fast replied his friend; Il
didn 'tsny "a POOR sinner Dtis u plain and
cheap dinner. I hope it VIII be COED
nevertheless, although there may be no
baked carp or stewed nightingales'
tongues. But come and Sec"
The young minister of the small and
poor kingdom was one of the most ac-
compiished men in Washington He was
known to have corrected a justice Of tho
supreme court in regard to decision OF
United States court in western state,
and to have made the correction in Eng
ish, which was foreign tongue to him,
but in English SO cxquisitely chosen and
urbanoly expressed that the justice was
probably unconscious of the modification
of the correction. The young minister
had no foolish, fond reserves. my gov
ernment is poor, am poor. VIC are all
poor in my country" he said, "and l
and my secretary work like day laborers
here in Washington to acquire and TO re-
port necessary information to my gov
ernment." But nobody was more sought;
there was nobody whose coming moro
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 Washington. Every, guest,
from the secretary of state and the Eng
lish envoy to all their neighbors at table,
gave every week. indeed, repasts much
more magnificent. But the simple din
ner, admirably cooked and served. with
out display of table service, without the
carp and nightingales' tongues, bat with
the enlivening and inspiring charm of
the host and the welcome variety Of
plainness, after the luxurious extrava-
gance and ostentation of the usual din
ner, was so fresh and delightful that the
satisfaction and pleasure were universal,
and the skeptical colleague who had
| thought great cost essential to success
ful dinner owned himself converted. and
the next month ventured upon similar
feast, and with the same success
George William Curtis in Harper's Maga-
zine.