The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-05-24
A DIPLOMATS p,NnEa.
rlnin and Cheap banquet Where Evory-
hnLv M as EHtrcinrlN WclI Pleased.

htsN w IN hhiEtintiN won iit1Ncu.
Some years ago an accomplished diplo.
mate at Washington, the representative
e a power not Of the first importance.
expressed his regret t0 n friend that hr
could not give dinners, "bccause," h,
said, "my government is poor, and
cannot afford it, The conversation oc-
CURED at the proiuse AMI splendid table
of a rich and courteous host. whose fcasts
were of great fame, and whose invita-
tions were credentials of admission to the
hest society. \ young diplomatic COM
rad' who sat by heard the remark. and
smiled rs he said: "Aly government ia
poorer than yours, and | am but lately
arrived. But what is diplomacy without
dinners? and am going to give one. It
will not be like this, but the splendor is
not an essential part of the feast shall
give plain and cheap dinner, to which
invite you both.'
His manner was gay, and his invita-
tion was giyly and gladly accepted be
cause he was ono 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; ho couldn't ask people 10
come 90 his house and cat q poor dinner
"NOt so fast replied his friend: Il
didn't say poor dinner. but plain and
cheap dinner. | hope it will be good
nevertheless although there may be no
baked carp or stewed nightingales'
tongues. Bat come and see. -
Tho young minister Of the small and
poor kingdom was one of tho most ac-
complished men in Washington lie was
known TO have corrected justice Of the
supreme court in regard to n decision Of
4 United States court in a western state.
and TO have made the correction in Eng
llsh, which was foreign tongue to him.
hut in English so eyquisitely chosen ond
urhancly expressed that the justice was
probably unconscious Of the modification
of tho correction. The young minister
had no foolish, fond reserves. "My gov
ernmcnt is poor, | am poor we are all
poor III my country" he said. "and
and my secretary work like day laborers
here in Washington to acquire and to re-
port necessary information TO my gov
orumcnt.' But nobody was more sought;
there was nobody whose coming more
surely brought pleasure 70 any circle
than that OF the young minister.
The day Of the dinner came, and u
palmer and plcasanter dinner was never
known in Washington. Every guest,
from the secretary OF state and The Eng
lish envoy 10 all their ncighbors nt table,
gave every week, indeed, repasts much
more magnificent. But the simple din
ner, admirably cooked and served. with
cut display Of table service, without the
,rp ar0 nisi,ile-yics' tongues, but with
Inc cnlivening and inspiring charm Of
the host and the welcome variety Of
plainncs, after the luxurious extrava-
gancc and ostentation of the usual din.
ncr, was so fresh and delightful that the
'atisfaction and pleasure wero universal,
and the skcptical colleague who had
thought great cost essential TO a success
ful dinner owned himself converted, and
the next month vcn'urcd upon u similar
feast, and with the same succcss.-
George William Curtis in Earper's Maga-
zine.