The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-04-10

gentlemen diners, and it is often as
disagreeable as it is hard. Frequently
the host has his axes to grind at these
parties; he is cultivating people for
his own social advantage, and the en-
tertainments he provides are the means
of putting money in his. pocket, and
giving him "leg up in the world in
other ways. SO he scores all round
through the assistance of his renume-
rated guest. The latter could not af-
ford to go If he were not paid to do so.
Whey then, in all these circumstances,
should he not be paid? he asks.
1t is, of course, a necessary condition
of his engagement that on both sides
the fact that he is a professional din
circuit must be kept secret from the
guests.
Now take an example by way of il
lustration.. The other day a gentleman
who is very well known in the COM
mercial world, a director of several big
companies, gave a large dinner party
at his West-End mansion. which was
attended by people of considerable So
cial distinction. Several circumstances
made the occasion a unique one, but
the list of invitations was of such a
mixed character, and some of the guests
included were so VIGOROUSLY dead
heads at a dinner table, that there was
some danger of a slow and anxious
evening. Therefore, in good time, the
host sent around a cordial invitation
to the professional diner, just as he
would have done to any other.
Perhaps" he gently put it in the
letter, you would like to know whom
we shall have, There will be Lord
and Lady Blank, Sir Thomas Aster-
isk and his wife, and the Hon. Gilbert
Comma, who is just back from the
Cape. Also there will be Senior Colon,
the Spanish explorer, and Miss Violet
Stoppe. whose new book seems to be
causing a stir. Last but not least,
old Joshua Catchem, who is rigging
the market in manner which 1 don't
like at present, and whom / want to
get round, is coming along.
All necessary information was thus
conveyed and the recipient of the let
ter knew how TO act upon it, Not
word was said in the epistle as to
the delicate arrangement between the
host and his guest, which wa under
stood, SO that the latter's s., ocepti-
bilities were not offended in any way.
But there was a p. S. to the letter
which said, Don't / owe you twenty
guineas over a certain little matter
Check inclosed. No acknowledgements
necessary" That was the fee.
The first thing that the professional
had then to do was too look at his
ulliuST reference DOCKS, WnlCn ne Keeps
carefully posted, with all necessary in
formation, and, discovering the entries
he had previously made concerning
some of the persons mentioned as in
vited, he refreshes his memory as to
their qualities circumstances. and so
forth, with their strong and weak
points in conversation. A few in
quiries were made about those of whom
he knew nothing. 1t was quite evil
dent that Catchem was the most i'm
portant man of the party, and was to
be quietly lionised so he found Out
a few good points about him and his
undertakings.
As for the rest. it was only neces-
sary to add that on the eventful night
the talk was so secretly but skillfully
managed by the remunerated guest that
the contributions all round the table
fitted together like a Chinese puzzle;
whilst somehow Catchem seemed to
be scoring on every possible occasion,
and was hugely delighted; so much so
that after his fourth glass Of cam
payne he whispered to his host that