The San Francisco call., 1910-12-04


y nee upon a time it was my fate
TO be one OF a dinner party
" made up chiefly OF milionaires
and their eonsorts. The situa-
Eion was to me odd, but So fun OF
striking features and characteristic
incidents that I soon lost the sensa-
sicn OF strangerhood. and gave my
self TO the business Of getting ac-
Quainted with my neighbors.
. I have said that they were all rich
beyond the dreams Of avarice" Qf
that be q possibility ia this gold-coin-
ing country. I should have added
that. without exception, the mOneyed
men had sprung from the ranks and
We're architects and builders OF their
own fortunes. Wise students OF human
character do not need to be reminded
that, whereas the seIf-made man who
wOrshsps hts maker IS almost In
variably proud OF the fact that he has
risen so fast and so far. and disposed
10 contrast the brilliant present with
the tgnObIe past, his wife never
shares this inclination He likes to
recount his early privations, and ex-
aggerates them after the manner OF
Dickens Josiah Bounderby, who
trumpeted the fiction that he had been
born IN a founding hospital when the
foundation OF his prosperity was the
self-denying labor Of the respectable
old mother whom he yet denied a
share ia his improved fortunes.
Madame Nouveau Richie would sink
her early past and her husbands in
oblivion, and carry herself as one
born in the purple.
So there was a decided disposition
on the part OF the fuIl-plumed ma
irons collected about the festal board
on this evening 10 talk down and out
the condolences their lords inter
changed respecting "old tines and
modern changes. one big-voiced man
got the better OF discouragements at
length.
i say, Diclk." he called to a crony
at the Tar end OF the table, with
comprehensive flourish OF his arm that
took In the sumptuous paraphernalia
OF flowers, glass. silver and viands set
in array upon the damask cloth. II
wonder what you and me would have
thought forty years ago IL we had
been set down 10 such q dinner as
Good heavens. man. was the re-
sponse. we hadn't no dinner at all
The wife OF speaker No. Joined in
the general laugh with zest that did
her breeding credit. Then she adroitly
changed the current Of talk by say
~ is interesting and marvellous to see
the change ia social and domestic Gus
toms within my recollection. Late din
ners were unheard Of on this side Of
Haryr fHrrr 4-r-f q fr1a
naerest apology Tor a meal when IT
meant anything al ADJUST what the
people OF that day would have called
a snack-cOld meat. bread and butter.
and maybe cO0ky, eaten IN haste when
one was going on a Journey. or taken
along in a basket under the seat Of the
carriage TO be partaken OF en- route
As a family meal. much less as q state
9y social function. the luncheon was
unknown fifty years back"
The scene and words come back for
cibly to me as I seat myself 10 talk OF
what is a more important meal than
breakfast under the changed conditions
Of American life. and hardly secondary
10 the third ano-more ceremonious OF
daily repasts.
,1ncheon-shOrtened into lunch
after our breathless, hurrying national
styles essentially Woman's affair.
FJnder the uOCern-ano most sensible
custom that forblas children under =
wears OF age 10 sit Up 20 q Z or o clock
~scOurse dinner" the family luncheon IS
virtually the nursery dinner. For that
reason, II for no other, Il should include
hot. noUrlshing dishes and proceed IN
decorOus sequence. Indeed. under the
prevailing order OF meals, do not see
how our boys and girls are TO learn
table rnanners if their knowledge Of the
midday meal be restricted TO the school
luncheon. Breakfast IS seldom partaken
OF quietly and leisurely by the assembled
household II the youngsters oversleer
themselves. or are indolent In dressing
ehev rush through fruit. cereal and sub
Etantials silently or they wiz be late a.
school. paterfamillas gulps coffee and
boIts rolls behind the morning paper
and mamma is Ponoering the days en-
fragments.
homes are not remote from theil
schools should come home at inter
mission. Parents should make q matter
sof principle Of this. And the mother
should consider Il q duty and q prlVllege
70 preside IN person. j have the pleas
ure Of knowing women who sit GOVT
70 a well-ordered family meal at halt
past p dressed for the function they
are TO grace at half-past J IN the house
OF friend or neighbCr The mother MAY
not eat Al the first meal But the chil