The Washington herald., 1909-08-08

week was an uncommonly successful
specimen Of it's class. Perhaps It took
the enthusiasm Of youth 10 enjoy II, says
the New York Sun.
The dinner had a certain originality
in the dishes. but it was chiefly the man
ner IN which q was served that made is
different from the average entertainment.
No knives, forks, or spoons were used.
Instead OF the usual row OF forks and
knives al the side Of every plate, these
useful objects lay IN the center of the
table. They were in sight. but unlucNily
for those who had TO taste for expert
ments. they were covered with a large
fish globe.
About the globe were danodns, and an
electric bulb inside lit the polished silver.
which shone through the smilax twined
across the glass. It was interesting TO
observe the faces OF the guests as the
realization OF what they were 70 ex-
pect gradually came to them. First they
glanced down with surprise az the vacant
space beside every plate, then they spied
the globe and saw inside the articles
that they had been taught 70 regard as
Indispensable
With the hors d'OeUvres there was no
difficulty. The little cavier sandwiches
and the halves Of hard-boiled eggs
stuffed with sardines and the yoIk made
into a paste were very easy to negotiate.
Aren't we going TO have any at alp"
asked one OF the young girls OF the
youthful hostess who sat at the head OF
the table. not looking a bit more like a
matron than any OF the guests. although
she had eighteen months Of married life
20 ner credit
Do us the Children.
There VIII not be q spoon knife, or
fork on this table from this course to the
coffee. and we must all DO as we were
taught TO do as children and not ask for
anything we do not see on the table"
was the reply.
That quieted the guests. and they all
promised 10 keep their eyes of the sill
verware under the globe.
It's put there" the host said, merely
/ as an evidence Of good faith. 7 want
/ people 10 know that when Mabel does
/ these freak things it's not altogether
/ because she has 70. ] haven't pawned
+ her wedding presents or sold them or
otherwise made away with them We
/ could all keep our hands clean al dinner
Iif she hadn't made up her mind 20 return
I 20 the DAYS in which fingers were pre-
/ ferred 10 forks"
( There was something Of a shout when
( the CLANS we're brought IN Nobody
/ seemed quite 10 know what would happen
until the hostess picked I'D one OF the
/ tiny shells and slipped the sprinEtime
bivalve down her throat Then II was
/ seen that every clam had been detached
! from its shell, so The problem Of how 70
eat them was easily settled
+ But the soup?' said one guest I'm
80 afraid Of the soup. 1t is so unbe-
/ coming 10 2 shirt 'front.'
I've heard" another man answered,
/ that eating soup with a fork is like
{ kissing a man without a mustache- Then
what Will Il be Ike 20 have 10 eat Il with
. out even a fork-lille kissing a girl with
! q mustaChe?"
/ Nobody answered him. for the waitress
. had already appeared with the soup II
was chicken gUmbo. strained and IN cups.
So the Uselessness OF forks or spoons
seemed 10 De established.
Entree Also Proves Easy.
Now the eutree was impending. Its ter
rors were discussed before the course ap-
peared on the table. Never before had
the arrival OF the waitress in the dining
room been awaited with such interest.
The minute that either Of the two women
opened the door leading from the but
ler's pantry ten pairs Of eyes stared at
them intentIy.
Just 20 think cried the jubilant host.
three courses and not a grease spot
yet, I'll take those forks downtown
4 tomorrow and sell 'em. Mabel. suppose
we sell 'em and buy a motor?"
The entree proved TO be large mush-
rooms. none Of them less than three
inches in diameter. They were served
on thin slices Of toast also round, and
not more than half en- inch broader than
I the mushroom. over which there was
spread a layer Of sweetbread.
"Just see how easy II is" the hostess
explained as she lifted up the circular
piece Of toast It's just as easy as eat
irg a sandwich"
! II was not difficult. and the gayety OF
youth carried the party successfully over
this episode.
Il am afraid OF that roast beef" one
male guest complained How can I
I eat a piece OF roast beef without a fork
. or knife7 The next time I suspect I'm
coming 70 dinner Ike this u go 20 the
zoo at feeding time the day before"
I His apprehenSiOns were unnecessary.
Il was not roast beef that came next
The waitress handed 10 every guest a
delicate spring lamb chop.
II had been made in the manner OF a
French chop. as the butchers call Il. and
the tiny bone was attached only 10 a ten
der clump OF the meat. BY holding the
dry bone one could eat with as much
ease as if there had been a dozen forks
at ones disposition.
/ The second waitress put on every plate
some potatoes fried in the style that the
French call pommeS de paille. or straw
potatoes. They are perfectly dry and
can 10 eaten quite as well with the fingers
as with q fork.
This is r perfect cinch. called out the
man who had eaten more than anybody
else. and from his appetite might always
have struggled along without any con-
ventionaI aids 20 appetite. but 1 tell
you one thing. The idea Of salad fright
ers me- Tomato mayonnaise in ones
fingers, Wow again,
when Mabel talked about this thing
first. the host began, Il expected TO
have a shirt Ike Turkish rug. but I'm
still Ike driven snow
Just wait for that salad before YOU
boast" came from a young girl 1T
VIII spatter So
There turned ont 70 be no more spa.-
itering from the salad than from any other