Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-03-11


little faster. I hoped that they would
find another seat before they came to
my vicinity, but they were getting
nearer and nearer and / realized with
a sickening sensation that they were
headed directly for the two seats at
my table, and that was indeed the
case.
These two seats were In front Of the
table facing the stage and except when
the officers would be eating or drink
ing their backs were toward me, and
there was considerable consolation In
that. From my seat I could have
reached right over and touched one Of
them on his bald head. 1t would have
been more than q touch, I am afraid.
If 1 could have gotten away with 1t
safely.
As the officers seated themselves,
a waiter came to us with printed
bill-of-fare and program. Fortunately,
he waited on the others first and I
listened intently to their orders. The
officers ordered some light wine, but
my Belgian neighbor ordered "Bock"
for himself and his wife, which was
what I had decided to order anyway.
as that was the only thing could say.
Heaven knows would far rather have
ordered something to eat, and was
afraid to take chance at the pronun-
ciation of the dishes 1t set forth.
There were a number Of drinks listed
which I might safely enough have or
dered. For instance, I noticed Lemon
Squash. 1.5O." "Ginger Beer. L."
Sparkling Dry Ginger Ale. H.
"Appolinaris, L." and "Schweppes
Soda, 0.80," but it occurred to me that
the mere fact that I selected some
thing that was listed in English might
attract attention to me and something
In my pronunciation might give fur
ther cause for suspicion.
It seemed better to parrot the Bel.
gian and order ''Bock" and that was
what I decided to do.
One item on the bill of fare tanta.
lized me considerably. Although 1t was
listed among the "Prizzen der
dranken," which I took to mean
"Prices Of drinks" 1t sounded very
much to me like something to eat,
and Heaven knows I would rather
-, l.a o,a honocf y,o0,,fhfr1 NJ
food than all the drinks in the world.
The item refer to was 'Dubbel Ger.
stein de Flesch (Michaux)." A double
portion of anything would have been
mighty welcome to me. but I would
have been content with single ger
stem" II had only had the courage
to ask for 1t.
To keep myself as composed as pos
sible I devoted lot Of attention to
that bill-of-fare, and I think by the
time the waiter came around almost
knew 1t by heart. One drink that al
most made me laugh aloud was listed
as "Lemonades gazeuses." but might
as we'll have introduced myself to the
German officers by my right name and
rank as attempt to pronounce 1t.
When the waiter came to me, there
fore, I said "Bock" as casually as !
could, and I felt somewhat relieved
that / had gotten through that part Of
the ordeal SO easily. a
While the waiter was away I had
chance to examine the bill-of-fare and
I observed that a glass Of beer cost 80
cenfimes. The smallest change had
was a two-mark paper bill.
Apparently the German officers were
similarly fixed and when they offered
their bill to the waiter, he handed It
back to them with a remark which
took to mean that he couldn't make
change. ~
Right there was in quandary. TO
offer him my bill after he had just
told the officers he didn't have change
would have seemed strange. and yet 1
couldn't explain to him that.l was IN
the same boat and he9w0uld have to-
come to me again later. The only
thing to do. therefore. was to offer
him the bill as though I hadn't heard
or noticed what had happened with
the Germans, and did so. BE said
the same thing to me as he had said
to the officers. perhaps little more
sharply, and gave me back the bill.
Later on, he returned to the table with
handful Of change and, we, closed the
transaction. I gave him 25 centtmes
as a tip-I had never yet been to q.