The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
HINTS BY THE SOCIAL ARBITER

should not be told A person who Illus
trates every remark with a story is tire
some at best, but when he tells a story
that every one at the table has heard
again and again, he deserves TO be given
his congo.
A New York woman who occupies a
prominent social position in her home
city complained during a recent visit here
that the conversation at the large dinners
was too heavy. "One hears nothing,
she said lat big dinners but politics.
The policy OF the President is discussed
from A TO Izard-ably discussed, l dare
say-but that does not interest those TO
whom political questions are a closed
book; then there is a lot of gossip as to
the probable fate Of bills What do you
think are the navy's chances with this
Congress? asked the wife Of an ad-
miral OF a Senator who took her out to
table at one of the Cabinet dinners
WIN Caprons bin so through? Is there
any chance that Hale will get his bill
passed or did he present it TO kill the
others OFF, Now who is Capron and
who is Hale, and what on earth are the
bills about, anyway? All strangers
should have a key to the subjects that are
liable to be discussed at a Washington
dinner or the hostess should see to it
that subjects are introduced that their
Out-of-tcWn guests can understand.
asked { grim old Congressman al dinner
the other night how ne liked Alice. for
short Your daughter. maamT he
politely replied. i haven't had the pleas
ure of meeting her Failing 20 interest
him in any topic az my command, ! turn
ed i'm despair 20 my other neighbor and
demanded 20 know what he thought Of
PadereWsH accepting the dictatorship Of
the conservatory at Warsaw. and If
that meant that he would no longer ap-
pear iu public. 'Paderewsbi? paderew-
ski" he unused inquiIingly. Oh, he's the
man WiIh the bushy hair. | never saw
him. great actor I hear. You are from
New York, aren't yOu2 Well. what do
YOU think about HUghesT And so il
went All my efforts 20 interest those
with whom ] came IN contact were uu-
dvailing because I couldp't talk politics
Now in London it is quite different. one
hears great deal Of political talk. but
the most rabid politicians are interested
I'm books, music. the drama. art and il
is possible TO talk at the dinners over
there on some subject except politics"
This criticism is well deserved. The
average American. even If he occupies an
exalted position. IS apt 90 be one-sided +;
he lacks general culture. the small talk
that makes man acceptable I'm society.
Politics aTs well enough in their place.
but at dinner one wants bon mots. epi-
grams, good stories. airy persifage. to
help the digestion and speed the time
merrily. There Is 10 better conclusion
10 the subject discussed I'm this column
to-day than an extract from Baron de
M1rtemat B0isse: Never forget that az
dinner, as on an occasions OF hospitality.
il is your chief duty 10 relieve the hostess
from every annoyance or care II must
not be imagined that the dinner is sim
ply given for the purpose Of giving a
gross and purely material pleasure II
puts YOU in company with persons Of con-
slderati0u and gives YOU an opportunity
10 display your intelligence or TO cause
your good qualities 10 be appreciated"