The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-25
washington POST.


and here that great concomitant OF
good dinners, good company is to bt
found There is an army of hosts, grave
gay, dignified, and insouciant; yet not
one in twenty is able to make his guest
feel entirely at home and free, to act
naturally. Official dinners are usual
ly a bore. The average Congressman
goes to them as he goes to a meeting II
his committee. 1t is a duty that he
thinks he owes to himself, if not to
the host. The atmosphere at the table
is heavy, and the association at times
sitting. Etiquette is a martinez, and he
il under it's rigid supervision. He feels
more or less stlted, and fancies himself
not quiet en- regle. Chester A. Arthur
is said to have been the only President
since the days Of Andrew Jackson who
could make mis- guests act naturally AMI
feel as though their legs were under
their own home TILES There was no
nervousness among his guests, and hours
were as minutes in his company
An incident OF one OF the Arthur din
ners, however is still detailed to new
Congressman with great gHsto. The vie
tim was a Democratic member from
New England. In early life he had
trodden the finty paths OF poverty; later
on he emerged upon the UacadamiZed
road TO prosperity; and had finally land
Ell upon the tasSaiated pavement OF
wealth With wealth came political pre-
ferment. He bought fine house in
the aristocratic section of the city. fur
nished il right ROYALTY. and launched
himself upon the sea OF society. Delight
was buried in surprise when he and his
wife received an invitation to White
House dinner. His wife was filled with
feer and trepidation-not on her own
account. but on account OF her husband.
We was old-faghioned in his manners,
drank coffee from his saucer. tucked
his napkin undeh his chin. ate sugar
on his lettuce, and Sprinkled salt with
his knife and fork. His wife was ever
irving 70 inoculate him with refinement.
The dinner At the Executive Mansion
put her TO her trumps. She threw his
butterfly tie into the waste basket and
arrayed him in the extreme Of fashion.
He felt as uncomfortable as a man in
armor. Then came long lecture on
table etiqnette Among either orders
che charged him particularly not to tuck
his napkin under his chin. "The custom
is obsolete and not in good form" she
sell place vonr narkin on your knees
and use II freely Above AZ things don't
substitute your handler hief for it,
AT 0NG OF ARTHUR'S DINNERS
The eyentiul day arrived, and the cou-
pie wcle seated Wis Il Sls AT the I'resl-
dents taDie. 1t was an august com
pany. The diplomatic corps was wei
repress w4th its stars and orders,
and there were Cabinet officers and Sea-
ators galore. The wife kept her eye up
on her husband. lie placed his napkin
mong BIS cshmdlyrp vbgkqj xzfhtfM
upon his knees, and tried to await com
ing events with calm res gnat ton. The
oysters and chablis were served, and the
napkin used with nervous nonchalence
Then came a French waiter with the
soup. He placed Drumming plate Of
the steaming mixture before the Con-
gresham. ne rim of the plate oyerrdn
the euge of the table. He took a spoon
full Of the soup cautiously and carefully,
remembering the injunction Of his better
ball to absorb it like Christian and
not like pig A moment afterward
he had use for his napkin. 1t had fall
len from his knees to the flood. With
dripping mustache he showed back his
chair and made a lunge for il. 1t was
an impulsiye lunge-one made without
discretion The result was disastrous.
His forehead struck the rim of his soup
plate, and its contents deiuged his head
and the nape OF his neck With a smoth-
cred curse, he swabbed his head with his
handkerchief, bestowing mournfully
reproacnful look upon his wife. Nor
was his temper in the least improved
when few moments afterward he stain
ed. his shirt front with a drop Of Cha
teau ,Margeaux.
This Congressman served several terms
and achieved a national reputation. He
gave the most delightful reputa tion
gave the most delightful dinners of the
season, where the wit of the guests was
always on par with the quality of the
wine. Ill-health withdrew him from the
political arena, and he died soon after
ward to the regret of a host Of friends.
Delightful hosts of the past were
Ashbel L. Fitch and Roswell L. Flower,
OF New York. Fitch always gave mis-
dinners at John Chamberln's. He was
au fait in the selection and seating of
his guests, and tine reign of merriment
was full, free, and glorious. AT one
tine he gave dinner to Thomas +. Gill
roy, then Mayor of New York, who was
on a visit to Washington. The guests
were the Tammany members of Con-
gress, sandwiched with Gen.. Maish, Of
Pennsylvania, and Elliott f. Shepard, Of
New York, and b. vbgkqj xzfihn1s1s1s
New York. In the height of the enjoy
ment the company was surprised 10
hear a song from the General, couched
in the purest Pennsylvania Dutch. Sur
prise, however, gave way TO astonish-
nlent when Mr.. Shepherd broke into
the OR familiar strain of
II went up the river to catch some shad,
And the first bite had was my old dad.'
Gov. Flowers dinner were always
recherche, and free from ennui. The
old routine was observed. After cigars
were lighted the cloth was removed, and
in his turn. Some escaped by telling
stories, and others dadoed the evening $
amusement with songs. A more genial
host never sat at a table. He gave
John c.. Sheehan II dinner when he Wis
tied Washington on his bridal tour years
/ ago. 1t was a marvel of elegance and
good-fellowsh;p. Not long afterwards
Richard Croker WAS similarly honored
while on the way from Florida to New
York. His intimate friends were invit-
ed, and everything was justified and
homelke. The great Tammany chief
tain was in fine feather and proved
extremely entertaining and interesting.
One gentleman Of the parry, however,
lacked the Zest that usually character
lied him. lie was a New York Repre-