Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-08

n YoT even n worldwide war can deprive
l v Washington of its undoubted record DIS
being the banner banquet town OF these
United States One or more conventions OF
civic or scientific or uplift or commercial or
industrial or some other kind of body meets
here every week during the winter and the
wnd-up of each of such meetings is a pam
uuet Then there State societies formed
of wanderers from some one of the As States
and each of them gives banquet during the
winter II the International Society OPP
posed to the Eating of Raised Biscuits, or
some equally important body, is not on hand
with a banquet then some one of the many
local associations or clubs societies is
proffering banuuets to its members and
friends. There are in washington three first
class hotels and their principal incomes
must be derived from the numerous largely
attended and expensive banquets they are
called upon to provide
Reducing Board Bills
1t Is naturally the chief ambition OF ban
ouet giyers to secure the President of the
United States or IL he is not available, then
some member of the Cabinet, and falling
even in that respect then the Vice Presi-
dent or the Speaker OF the House, to ap-
pear as the orator-in- chief Any member of
Congress who is able to speak dozen or so
pretty after-dinner sentences could easily
reduce his board bill by one-half or two
thirds, by accepting all of his banquet in
vitatons.
As human nature in it's large aspects is
very much the same when it is displayed on
the shore of the Potomac by the ripping
waters of the Chicago Hudson River,
San Francisco or Boston Bay, 1t follows
naturally that "honored guests" at most of
these banquets are expected to pay for them
in some way or other. The after-dnner
speaker pays with his speech and the high
official pays by having the newspaper ac-
count of banquet mention the fact OF his
presence. This is, in way, high price. but
a much higher one is expected from many
members of Congress who are asked to
these affairs.
The Man Who Is BanqueLPrOOf
/ know of one member who is banquet
proof; 1 do not mean that he can eat them
and not suffer the pangs of indigestion, but
that he is proof against all the wiles of the
committees or individuals who attempt to
secure his very desirable presence. He is a
man of a great deal OF Importance in the
House, and therefore, the pursuit of him
in this respect is dillgent and persistent.
This winter one man had asked the member
I refer to to dine with him a half dozen
times, and after the sixth refusal he called
again and said with delightful frankness;
We'll as can't get you to dine, I'll have
to tell you what 1 want out OF you, any
way"
The member smiled and responded
you could have saved great deal OF
trouble by telling me that the first time you
called for had suspicion that possibly
you wanted my aid in the passage of some
bill"
know a wealthy member who, when he was
serving his hrst term, thought 1t was part
OF his onicial duties to so to every banquet
he was invited to, and he rebslled late In
the session on the ground that he at
none Of them had enough to eat. Terrapin
and eanvasbaels had been on the menu OF
nearly every banquet. but he claimed that
as 10 the terrapin there was an abundance
OF toast sicklied DER with bare teaspoonfuI
OF terrapin meat; and as to the duck, there
was mere silver and always Overdone.
Dinner Extraordinary
He took this matter very seriously, and
near the close of the season invited 9 party
OF So to a dinner at the club in this city hav-
ing the reputation OF serving the best dinner
10 be had here. When the terrapin came a
thin slice Of toast at the bottom OF a deep
dish was thiekiy covered with terrapIn meat,
and just so soon as a wstchful walter
found that diner had reached the toast.
the supply was renewed again and again as
often as thers was the slightest excuse.
But the sensation OF the dinner came with
the game course. Walters entered bear
ing mighty pewter trays. each piled high
with whole eanvasbsek ducks that looked
Ike mammotb dishes q French ffisd pote-