Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-17


heroically in their effort to serve
three times the number on which
preparations had been based.
Perhaps the chef did over-season
one dish in his haste.
Perhaps the cake was too brown
on the bottom, but
Is bad food a good subject, or,
Did anyone make allowances:
Possibly the original 40 who had
sense OF obligation, did, but not
the 70 and seven among whom Gabby
was seated,
Their one topic OF conversation,
exclusively, but not exclusive, was
the food.
The food, the food, nothing but
the food.
Gabby has talked with murderess-
es; she has seen pickpockets at work;
she has had close contact with wom-
en- who have visited too often the
flowing bowl.
But these people are less discour-
aging, more easily explained and
more quickly obviated from ones
lie than those who will discuss in
minute detail the food before them.
A murderess can be electrocuted, a
pickpocket is jailed sooner or later
and there is, or was, the Kelley cure
for inebriates. There seems to be,
as nearly as Gabby can discover, no
legal or eleemosynary institution
where these food experts can be
done away with. One can only iortl-
fy himself against them by devel-
oping powers OF endurance.
Gabby needed all of hers derived
from THE Daily Dozen and other
sources to sit through the attack on
that luncheon, that hot day, last
week.
The Curtain Lifts.
"Awfully poor luncheon, isn't it."
said the first woman by way OF
prologue.
Then the curtain, as it were, was
lifted on the scene.
Second woman: "Yes, | don't like
this salad. l wonder why they didn't
have Thousand Island dressing
Remember the late I'D.
Third woman: Il don't like this
salad and l couldn't give the soup
anything" 49,,
Late Conner, Just Seated-"The
soups The soup:" (Voice rising with
excitement).
Third Woman-"Yes. Didn't you
get any soups'
Late Comer-"Nc, | didn't get
any soup
Chorus-"Why, they didn't bring
her any soup"
"Weil, my dear, you didn't miss
much when you missed the soup.
There weren't even any noodles in
it (From one who had been silent
heretofore).
Enter Gladiolas.
Exactly at this point, chronology
callv. a woman, probably one CT the
originally considerate 40, made pit
iiul little sally about the giadiolas
(accent on the "i'') in what seemed
an effort to change the topic CT the
Gay.
YES. gladiolas' (accent on the
(" however you pronounce IT, J"
(sweetly apologetic). They're so
'profurious' this year" said the wom-
an who-didn't get any soup that
wouldn't-have-had-any noodles-in-it,
ii she had.
A Cut Back.
Silence a moment while minds
travelled back.
Fourth Woman-"Well the soup
could stand, but croquettes | de-
spise."
"Yes, | hate croquettes, too. They
always remind ME of left-overs.
This breathlessly from woman
who wore "done-over' express
sion.)
By this time the meat course was
served all around and the clever
little woman with a propensity for
Thousand Island dressing, made the
shrewd observation that some had
ueen given French fried potatoes
and some mashed.
"How funny"
"Why did they do ite
Certainly queert'
Il wish | had the French frys.
(This from those with the mashed.l }
"You could have mine, dear, if |
hadn't already eaten them, though
really they were no good" said one
almost self-sacrificing person.
Then followed pitched battle
between two rather athletic figures,
one attacking and one defending the
gravy.
There was no physical violence
and for this Gabby was grateful,
though comments on the meal con-
tinued until it was devoured down
TO the last crumb.
Making a Lady.
After all it takes so little to make
or unmake lady, in the nice old
meaning of the word. Eastern board
ing schools, a house full OF maids,
buffers and Wallets are unnecessary.
A little common sense, little good
taste, a little care for others, and
the trick is turned.
But a lady-a woman will never
be, who talks loudly about the food
she eats-or doesn't eat The fault
is common one. Not only at this
gathering. but at numerous Others
has Gabby heard such conversation.
Gabby suggests the dramatization
OF this little sit under some such
name as The Ioodless Soup" or
The Mystery Of the Mashed Po-
tato"
VII HATS wedding without
w wedding ring? Well, it's
- wedding just the same.
The massive door OF the vault