News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1901-08-28
Her Improving Dinner.

ldI6SL lucas, DTlSuL anu dSpllluS' JAIN
well, Jack is New Jersey born and
bred"
"This town" said Mrs. Jack, one
evening, as they sat by the fire, needs
improving. l am shocked when dine
out, to hear nothing but nonsense
talked. There are some clever people
here. l have met them, but when they
dine out they leave their cleverness at
home with their everyday Clothes"
Isn't that what some one was say
ing about some Christian Science be-
lief? That you must change your
clothes when you come in, so as to
leave the germs in your everyday
clohes."
Mrs. Jack is tinged with a little
Christian Science, so she answered,
shortly. "You never get things
straight, dear, the germs are germs
of thought, and"
well, never mind the germs, go Oh
about improving dinner"
81 think" she went on, that we
should give some dinners, four any
way, and if we make the first one a
thorough success, we can be sure of
the others. We must invite both
young and elderly people, a few bright
and a few ordinary ones, because there
are not enough bright ones to go very
far. Then We'll have the conversation
up to a certain standard and keep it
there"
On the night of the first dinner par
ty everything was in proper array.
Not a speck of dust to gladden. the
eyes of the guests was visible. The
wines were gaining the right tempera-
ture and Mrs. Jack, in a Bostonesque
dinner gown, was ready for her guests.
81 tell you, Mary" said poor Jack,
"that | can never talk at a dinner. l
don't know what to say. Who do
take out? Old Mrs. Bangs? l never
spoke to her. l never knew what to
say to anyone"
"Never mind, Jack dear. | know
that you are positively no good at a
dinner party. Now listen, | have writ
ten out a list of interesting subjects
and pinned it on the table cloth.
See?" And she led him up to the
table. "Now don't fail me whenever
it seems dull or people are not talking.
look at this list and talk of some Of
the things. Even if you don't know
them, appeal to me and I'll help you
out. There is
Just then the door bell rang and
Mrs. Jack hurried away to greet the
first guest.
After they were seated at dinner
Npc Too1y oClo1 tho o11act of honor If
he had seen the recent views on the
nebular hypothesis. The answer to
her question and the interest in the
subject was so slight that she looked
at Jack, and he came valiantly to the
rescue. ut does not seem to me.
Mary" he called out, that the meat
has been unusually tough lately"
What do you mean, Jack?" This
was with a true Boston information.
Jack looked perplexed, but Mrs.
Bangs vas quite animated and she and
the elderly man next her had a dis
cussion as to butchers and meat that
was eager enough to let Mrs. Jack get
her bearings again.
The next subject she introduced was
"The recent affair in South Africa. -
The interest in any thing but Dom
Paul's excessive plainness was not
marked, and after a few desultory
views had been expressed the CONVEX
sation died out.
do or die" thought Jack, and look
ed at his list. Speak about James
aprons" came next. 81 don't know
what to say about James aprons, but
things seem pretty dull, so I'll dash
ahead as | was told to-"
" 81 say, Mary, what is the matter
with James aprons? Aren't they all
right? They look like the proper
thing"
Visions of the husband of her youth
at Morris Plains asylum danced before,
Mrs. Jacks eyes. Aprons! What was
the matter with him?
When she had recovered a little she
heard the most elderly man saying tS
Mrs. Bangs: Now can you imagine
me in a check apron with a leather
belt? always wore them when | was
a boy" The elderly woman described
black silk and other aprons of theiI
youth and the younger ones laughed
merrily. Mrs. Jack rather cleverlS
steered the conversation around to hel
point again and asked generally, witt
a NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS." air! "WhC
has read the History of papacy in the
XIX century," After expressing ad.
miration for the work of Prof. Nip
pold, there was another silence, brok
en- by one of the young men wht
said: What a thin old gentleman
the pope Isl"
Good-hearted old Jack rushed to tn,
rescue and broke the deadly sjlenc,
with: Have any of you had trouble
with getting good butter latelyt"
The food gates of conversation wer
opened and young and old sailed GU
on the stream. Boarding school. col
lege club, summer hotel and "gil
edge" butter was discussed and talker
of, and amid peals of laughter the din
ner ended.
The men smoked, going as the
pleased conversatlonally, and tn
ladies in the drawing room carried o.
the conversation on the lines lai
down by their host at dinner.