The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-21
4 POSTPONED DINNER
And . Trip Across the street as an Inter-
Jude In an Embarrassin Evening.

ID0e IN IN bIUsuAbTSSeli8 ESessAo'
The s.ruggler on the outskirts OF society
certainly has his troubles How he is able
to meet them depends, Of course, on the
amount Of his experience and largely on
his personal characteristics. There Is no
better example Of the composure with
which these men can sometimes confront
extremely embarrassing situations than
the artist who recently gave dinner at
Fifth avenue restaurant.
He had invited twelve persons to dinner
TO he served in a private room. Most OF
them stood high in the get that he 40 assidu-
orsly cultivated, without having so far
gained any material profit from their friend
ship. The men and women he had invited
arrived and waited. They waited very
much longer than necessary and nobody
seemed to know just what had happened.
The SNUG face Of the host showed no ap-
prehension and his guests felt treasured
in spite of the delay.
well have the cocktails, anyhow he
said waiter. bring up the cocktails right
away"
The waiter retired. Then there was
another appalling delay of fifteen minutes.
and the guests began to feel certain that
SOuletHluS Ilusl pC "iohS' A'S'Sh''y :"
head waiter appeared.
1--we been wanting to SEQ you for ha II
an hour said the host. with a fine show
Of indignation What in the world does
it mean that we are compelled to wait for
dinner so long?"
I'm very sorry" the waiter answered,
that Mr.. X Ina 8 asked me to tell you
that it will be impossible to serve another
dinner for you until your present account
has been settled
Most of the men and momen in the room
heard this. The silence that folio wed It
was awful. The embarrassment every
body felt so acutely was more for the host
than for themselves. But he was the one
person in the room who seemed not in the
least fustcred
Indeed" he said. with as much scorn
as though he would under no circumstances
consent to eat in such place My bill
must be settled, Ell? I had no idea that
I ever had an unpaid account here. But
tell Mr.. V not to be disturbed. will
send him a check 80 soon as ! get home
The feelings Of his guests had undergone
an entire change since he began to speak.
He was so indignant, and with such evident
Justice, that they sympathized more than
ever with him. The women, who had been
flurried at the outset. were not quite
This is such ridiculous affair" ne said
with smile at all Of his guests, that am
at a less to account fer it, Only l hope
it will not be allowed to spoil our evening.
There are other restaurants in New York
and the best Of them Is just across the
street beg Of you all to accompany me
there that We may enjoy ourselves, II it is
a little late
He is a magnetic fellow and there was an
evident dispt sition among his friends to
feel sorry for him. So there was niurmur
of assent, the one or two hes'tating women
followed the drift of feeling, and all de-
cidcd that they would have the dinner
after all.
aI'll 90 ahead of you" the host said, and
expect you all across the street within ten
minutes
That seemed bad sign. Nobody knew
why he should I've TO ahxious to get across
to the restaurant first. But the whole
their wraps and started to the other res
taurant. Luckily the weather was clear.
The women had sent their carriages away.
The spirits of the party were splendid now.
Not all of them had been well acquainted
at the outset. But by the time the second
restaurant was reached, they all felt like
old friends.
The host was awaiting them when they
arrived 1t was after eight by this time and
not even cocktail had ho lped to sustain the
party But they found them on the table
and the dinner that followed was exclusively
chosen. The wines were rare and lavish.
Only one more an xious moment came
during the evening. The check was handed
to the host. Try al they might, 1t was i'm
possible for the others not to look CON-
scious. But it was signed. IS was laid on
the plate for the waiter and the party left