Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-10-01

for Il supper he proposed 10 give tnat
day. the eve OF his departure. What
surprised us was that he included
those who had been cool 20 him ana
even those who had cut him after he
had admitted that he had worked In a
factory. Even Miss Price was invited.
The next question was, What were
we going 10 do about ~ We fellows
discussed the matter az the club, but
men are not so particular about their
social acceptnnces rs women. and we
got no further than II statement from
each man either that lac would so to
the supper or he would do as he pleas
cd about II. understood that there
was good deal more discussion among
the girls. some of whom Miss Price
being the prime movcr-thought that
they owed II TO their social position TO
decline In n body. But they wVc over
ruled by those who did not relish the
idea of giving up the supper. third
lot were independent enough TO assert
that they would accept even IL all the
others declined.
When the evening for the supper
arrivcd-i0 o'clock was the hour fixed
1T was found that every one invit-
ed was present. Nebbins met us In
the anteroom. What was our surprise
and CONSERVATION. in some cases. to be
received In overalls. Being all In full
dress themselves. some considered this
apparel an outrage Fully one-third
turned away and left the place. The
rest chatted with one another till the
door OF the supper room was thrown
open and we entered. Walters stood
about ready to serve the viands. and
when all were seated. ut a signal from
the host. the covers were removed.
There on each plate was n surprising
feast indeed.
Each guest was served with crackers
and cheese.
Nebbins began 10 MUNICH HIS portion.
while some OF his guests followed his
example, a few good naturedly accept
ing the situation. others grudgingly,
while others. one by one, left the table,
very red in the face, here and there
muttcring lnaledictions ON the head OF
the man who would invite guests TO
such n supper. One of the guests as
he passed out glared aud said.
"You may intend this as n joke. 1t
Is an insult. But what Is to be expect
I'd from one who attempted 10 rise
above his station and seeks admission
to the society OF his bettersi"
Ncbbins rose. lifted glass and bow
ed imperturbably 10 his retiring guest,
drinking his health In cold water.
The departure OF this person left
half dozen men and ms many girls,
all Of whom sat good naturedly MUNICH
ing crackers and cheese When It be-
came apparent to the host that those
who remained were not disposed 20
upbraid him he stood up. unbuttoned
his overalls. threw them of and stood
before them In evening dress.
Come" he said.
\ waiter opened a door, and Neb-
bins led the way into an adjoining
room. where stood a table with place
for each one of those remaining at the
supper party. Seating themselves at
the table. real supper was served. 1t
seemed that their host had ransacked
the uttcrmost parts Of the earth to find
dellcacies. As TO wines. few OF those
present had ever drunk wines of such
delicious flavor. The host. too. was In
keeping with the feast lie offered. Ger
tain mannersms that he had evidently
up 10 this time assumed were dropped,
and he appeared a plain gentleman.
my guests" he said. you who re-
main / count my friends. and so far
as | am concerned you will always re-
main such Those who have retired
are TO me part Of the great world In
which l exist. iou. on the contrary.
are inexpressibly near TO me. | owe
you an explanation and will not ask
you to wait for Il longer
First Of all. am workingman:
secondly. ! am Il capitalist My father
and mother were both OF the labor
footsteps But | am more fortunate
than most laborcrs in this -my father
aud mother worked hard and saved
10 give me better education than
usually falls to those of my class. All
that ! am is due 10 them. God bless
theml worked and studied at the
same time. Providence bestowed upon
me a gift began by inventing ma
chimes 10 save labor and ended by In
venting them to give me wealth that
might help my fellow men have
succeeded beyond my highest hopes
Il believe that In America labor IS re-
spectacle, that there Is no prejudice
against It rs labor and that any la
borer who becomes refined can find
place among the best people OF the
land X he wishes TO do So TO crafty
within | came here among you. !
have found that place among the
best has been open 20 me. You are the
best. For your interiors care not"
During these remarks we all looked
at one another. each remembering
some occasion wherein we had not
been as blameless as our host had as
sumed. confess, remembering GER