The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-26
The Courage Of rinln Entertaining.

GcoTp wllliim Curtis IN Haucr cor February.
Some years nro an accomplished diplo-
mate at Washington, the representative OF
u power not Of the llni Importance, cx-
pressed his regret TO friond that he could
not give dinners, because" he said, ''my
government is poor, and I canno, Afford
IT," The conversation occurred at the
proluse and splendid table Of rich and
courteous host, whose icais were Of great
fame, aud WHOSE invitations were Gre
dentials 81 admission to the best society.
A young diplomatic comradc who ait by
heard the remark and smiled M no said:
"MygOycrnmcnt Is poorer than younr, and
| am but lately arrived. but what ~ d.
plomncy without dinnnnR and ! am going
10 give one. II win not lie like this, but
the splcndor Is not an essential part ri tho
feast. shall give plain and cheap din
ner, 10 which Tinvite you both"
Ills mauncf was gay, and his invitation
Was gayly and gladly accepted, because he
was one III the delightful men In Washing
ton. Ills colleague, however, who had
spoken inst, shrugged his shoulders, aud
said that for his pnri he couldn't do u; he
could not ask people 10 come 10 llis house
n,,,l eal n POOR dinner. "Nol ~ fast, re-
piled his friend; IF di,ln't cay poor din
ncr, hut plain and cheap dinner. ! hope
Il will he good, nevertheless, although
there nmy be no baked carp or s,ewed
nightingales' tongues. Hut leone and sce. I"
The Young minister of the small aud
poor Kingdom was ono OF the most accom-
plis,ed men in Washington. lie was
known tO have corrcclod a justice Of tho
supreme court Ia regard 10 decision of q
United states court IN western State,
and 10 have made the correction In En-
glish, which was foreign tongue 10 him,
bui in English NO exquiSiiely chosen aud
urbancly expressed that the justice was
probably unconscious ol the modification
81 the correction. The young minister Ind
no foolish, fond reserves. My govern
mcnt h poor. | am poor, VIC are all poor
in my country" he said, land and my
secretary work like day labocm here in
Washington 10 acquire aud report ncccs-
sary information 10 my government" but
nobody wis more sought; thcrc was no.
body whose coming nom surely brought
pleasure 10 any circle than that oil the
young minister.
The day of the dinner came, and a
palmer and pleasanior dinner wis never
/ known in Washington. Every guest, rom
the Secretary of State and the English En-.
yoy 10 all their ncighbou at table, gave
every week, indeed, rpasls much morc
magnificent. But the simple dinner, nd
mirably cooked aud served, without dis.
play u table service, without The carp and
nightingales' tongues but with the emily.
ening and inspiring charm "a tho host and
the welcome variety 81 plainDess after the
/ Luxurious extravaganza and Ostentnlion u
the usual dinner, WIS 10 fresh and delight
fol that the satisfaction and pleasure wcr,
universal, and the skcpilcal colleague VIII,
had thought great cost essential 10 n sue
cesdui dinner owned himself converted
aud the next month ycnturcd upon a sim
liar feast. and with the sumo success.
The courage Of the young minister " NJ
most universally wanting In what Il called
GOOD society. II the social entertainment
cannot be- M costly as that 81 tho house
hold which Is very much richer, II mus
be abandoned. But In New York, ~ u
every great city, the most expensive ant
estaypgant feasls and lSSlls are not th'
plcasantcst, and Obviously II nobody Ia u
open his or her house who cannot drtss N
richly and oifer On superb n supper ~ Tia
chicf Dives OF CrUsus In town society vii
be reduced 10 the very lowest terms. Th'
Easy Chair would respectfully ecommen,
10 debulantcs and 20 their parents n care
ful rOune Of reading In Thackemy's Ilool
,oi snobs. and also nm instructive paper b,
lhc sane social philosopher upon A Ilttl
dinner az TimminS. In his Early an
Late Papers also there arc most anusin
aud valuable beatiscs upon dinners i
Paris.
II the pupils 10 whom these essays ar
recommended can eommsnd the time
and would extend their study int othe
works Of the same suthor. uicir sense {
humor and IL the htncy al thinKzyvoul
be- 10 M re-cniorccd thst tlwy would nc
shrink from sskins ,heir yc~ns tsicnds