The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-01-16
INCIDENTS At WASHINGTON
: FORMAL FUNCTIONS.
Lady Diner Showed lneomprehensibi
Ignorance Of Her country's His.
tory - Another orIevously
Offended Her Hostess.

courts Of Europe went to Washington
last winter to spend the season. He
had been there only few days when
he received an invitation from the
president and Mrs. Roosevelt to . large
dinner.
On his arrival at the White House
the usual small white envelope, which
contained the name Of the guest whom
he was to take out to dinner was
handed to- him. It was a name with
which he was not familiar and con-
veyed nothing to him, so after greet
ing the president and Mrs. Roosevelt
he asked to be presented to his dinner
partner, handsome and we'll dressed
woman. By the time that was accom-
plished dinner was announced and he
promptly offered her his arm and they
walked out to the state dining room.
On the way there she informed him
that she was simply starving, and he
told her that she could find no better
place to lose her appetite than at the
dinner table. When they were seated
she devoted her entire attention to
oysters and only answered his remarks
by nodding her head. This went on
until the fish course was reached when
she stopped eating long enough to-
ask:
Have you ever dfned at the White
House hefore?"
He answered i'm the affirmative and
again his hungry neighbor' reiapsed
into silence and the enjoyment of her
dinner. In desperation he turned to
the woman ON his left, and for some
time carried on desultory converse
tfon with her. He. was suddenly
startled by his right hand neighbor
tapping him on the shoulder and ask.
Ing him In peremptory tone:
who were the guests present when.
you first. dined at the White House?"
He told her frankly that he. could
not remember, as it was; long ago, but
that did not satisfy her curiosity, SO
after sampling the salad she returned
to the charge, and inquired who was
president OF the United States; at that
time.
Franklin PIERCE" was, the quiet re-
ply.
She stopped eating and; stared at
him.
''You seem to: think you can get q.
rise out of me-" she declared; angrily.
But let me tell you,, Inn not such a.
fool as look. know perfectly we'll
there never was a. president by that
name" And she Indignantly turned
her back on him for the, rest of the
evening.
The. wife Of q prominent senator,
representing an eastern, state, had;
been much annoyed by the persistent
efforts OF woman, whose, husband!
was also in political life. to. force an
acquaintance upon her: Having re.
fused many Invitations from this,
source, she finally felt Obliged to, re.
turn the obligation, and, therefore, in.
vited the woman to- a formal luncheon.
Her entertainments; were noted for
their quiet elegance; and, being a.
woman who was fassidious in her
tastes. she hated pretense and osten.
tatfon Of amy description. It was a.
AoAASAASSU VI IL, eaA4u C4AkS' G4OlO dppOlAL
rnents were. handsome. The guest in
questions began ant the first course to-
point cut and admire everything upon
the table, from the flowers to the wine
glasses, until her fulsome praise at
tracted the attention Of the other
guests
AS the luncheon proceeded it was
plainly to be seen that the hostess was
much annoyed, aAd those who knew
er we'll expected some untoward hap
| eniag. But the remark which proved
he last straw to the hostess endur.
nee was made when the Venetian
lass finger bowls were put on the
able.
Eow exauisftely beautifully" ex.
claimed the guest. '.They are abso-
utely perfect. have never used such
bowls BEFORE"
Indeed" said the hostess. in the
lear, tncisiye tones her friends knew
meant disaster; then pray take one
ONE with you, as you will never have
mother opportunity to use it here