The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1912-12-14
A
CHRISTMAS
DINNER
At Which q Gentleman
Played a Unique
Part
BY F. A. NIT c II e L

BY +. A. III L II q
ssssssssssssssssssssssss
1 lived at my club, roomfng and eat
Ing there. for was bachelor, twenty
five years old, with no other home.
! Roger was my especial waiter In the
club dining hall, and by tips and other
wise | secured his good will. One day
| At noon | went into a second class
| restaurant for luncheon, and who
should step up to serve me but Roger.
| He looked much put out at meeting me
! there and without waiting for me to
say anything begged me not to report
| the fact to the club management, since
| he was supposed to serve that lnstitu-
| ton alone II have a large family
| he said land since the club is up
| town few members lunch there, so |
have the noon hour to myself and can
earn something here
| promised to keep his secret and
while lunching asked him If he earned
| anything beyond what he was paid at
the club. He replied that he some
times assisted at dinner parties when
not needed at the club, adding: Next
week Christmas comes. sir. There's 9
very few dining at the club on Christi
mas day. I'm to wait at private
house"
My only Invitation to Christmas
dinner was ut the home Of an aunt of
mine, an old lady. very deaf, and no
young persons in her family. had
made an excuse to decline 1t. was
consequently one Of ''the few" who
would dine at the club. The club
restaurant was solemn enough at any
time to its habitues. and It's loneliness
on Christmas day was enough to drive
any member dining there into matri-
mony With any woman short of a gor-
gOn.
Where are you going to walt on
Christmas, Roger?" ] asked.
"At Mr.. Peppers on Montague ave
nue.. sir
Il don't know the Peppers"
"They haven't been in the city long,
SIR
An idea came into my head for q
lark-an expedient whereby l might
enjoy seeing persons at a joyful Christ
mas dinner without being one Of the
diners.
Roger" | said. could you get me q
job as waiter at that dinnerT
Roger was too astounded to reply. sc
/ wetsss on: Take me with you and tell
ther-sI'm friend of yours who Is anx.
ions to- laas.s haK 10 zEaat 5 aez. en- the
| ity' and you have brought me as you
assistant. Say I'm not to be paid any
thing"
why. sir" replied Roger. ''you't
give yourself away directly
Not bit Of it. | once played the
part Of butler in private theatricals and
got lot of applause. Do you think 20,
could manage it?"
"Of course can take you as my as
sistant. and no charge"
well. I'll think 1t over aud let yot
know at breakfast at the club OF
| Christmas morning"
l was not unknown in social circles
but. these Peppers being new to tn,
city, could count on their not KNOWN:
me. Christmas morning was lowering
and l felt that the day would be very
depressing to me. l told Roger a
breakfast that l had decided to carr.
out my scheme for waiting and, tax
ing my dinner at o'clock. was read
to 60 with him at 6 to Mr.. Peppers.
wore discarded dress suit, but rathe
too good for the purpose.
Roger took me into the house through
the servants entrance in the rear. ant
fell to assisting in serving the dinner
which was nearly ready. Followin.
Roger into the dining room. he bearin.
tureen of soup. a bottle Of wine, w,
found the hostess there, putting card
on the plates. bearing the names of th'
guests. She looked surprised at seein;
me, but Roger told her the story abou
my wishing to learn to wait under hi
supervision. ana the lady seemed quit
pleased at the addition to the servin,
force.
When the guests entered the dinin,
room in couples l stood with my bacl
to the wall, stiff as q ramrod, napkin
on my left arm and looking straigh
ahead Of me to give the appearance o
being there to serve and be oblivtous 4
all else, as a good waiter should. Unti
the company were seated / kept NJ.
eyes fixed on the wall opposite, AM
when lowered them to begin my du
ties l encountered the gaze Of younl
lady fixed upon me. AS soon as looE
ed at her she turned her eyes in an
other direction and chatted with he
dinner companion. I heard her ad
dressed as Miss Phipps. and one of tn
ladies spoke to her as Lucy.
Phipps, Phipps? Where had I hear
that name? When its owner was nc
looking at me l studied her face, bu
could not remember to have seen he
before. At times l was terrified les
she suspected that was gentleman
but at others she ignored my pres
ence so completely that felt assure
she was as much deceived as tn
others, none of whom paid any NOR
attention to me than If l had been
waiter all my life, circumstance tha
l did not consider f1attering
l confessed that l enjoyed tha
Christmas dinner very much. took
all the good things that were said, an
there were @ number Of them. especia
ly Miss Phipps, who was remarkabl
bright. The only reason why shoui