Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-01-10
IN SOCIAL CIRCLES
INCIDENTS AT WASHINGTON
FORMAL FUNCTIONS.
Lady Diner Showed IncomprehensibIs
ignorance Of Her country's His
tory - Another Grievously
Offended Her Hostess.


A book might easily be written and
called Dinner Guests Have Met"
and it would prove interesting reading.
for certainly some Neutrality-suspicious.
have queer experiences in the course
OF busy social season.
A distinguished American who had
represented this country In several
courts of Europe went to Washington
last winter to spend the season. He
had been there only a 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. II was 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, a handsome and well 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
ahe stopped eating long enough to
ask:
Have you ever dined at the White
House before?'
He answered In the affirmative and
again his hungry neighbor relapsed
into silence and the enjoyment of her
dinner. In desperation he turned TO
the woman on his left, and for some
time carried on a desultory conversa-
ton 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 a
rise out OF me" she declared, angrily.
But. let me tell you, I'm not such a
fool as l look. | know perfectly well
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 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 formal luncheon.
Her entertainments were noted for
their quiet elegance, and, being q
woman who was fastidious in her
tastes. she hated pretense and osten-
tation of any description. 1t was a
luncheon Of 1S, and the table appoint.
ments were handsome The guest in
question began at the first course to
point out 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 1t was
plainly to be seen that the hostess was
much annoyed, and those who knew
her well expected some untoward hap
| pening. But the remark which proved
the last straw to the hostess endur
J ance was made when the Venetian
glass finger bowls were put on the
! table.
How exquisitely beautiful" ex
| claimed the guest They are ALSO
lutely perfect. / have never used such
bowls before"
Indeed" said the hostess, in the
clear, incisive tones her friends knew
meant disaster; then pray take one
home with you, as you will never have
another opportunity to use 1t here"