The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-10-20

the dinner viii on IN nat tine s2hs-
faciosily.
lie turned 70 the taller Of the t~s
Germans Who without bis coat seemed
more like a Goldfish than ever.
-Herr Steluemann. Is u notr' This
time be spoke IN German.
The man WHOSE interest in German
coal was hardly less well known than
Hecslng's IN cotton. bowed stiTly.
"And Herr Won GratEY The Count
turned 20 the last member Of the par
" and shook hands Though less well
known than either Of the other tive In
the realms Of international hnance. Won
Gratr's name in the steel trade OF Cen
tral Europe was one 10 couture with.
well. gentlemen" said the Count.
before we SIT down TO dinner, ] may
perhaps be permitted 70 say few
words Of Introduction. The nations
o, the world have recently been en-
gagged IN a performance Of unIiyalef
stupidity. As far as one can tell that
performance Is now over. The last
thing / wish 10 do Is TO discuss thu
war-except in so far as IL concerns
our meeting here tonight Mr.. Hook
ing is an American, you two gentlemen
are Germans. THE Count smiled
rllghtly-"have no nationality. or
rather shall say. ! have every IA
tionallty Completely cosmopolitan.
Gentlemen. the war was vaged by
idiots. and when idiots get busy on .
large scale. Il is time for clever men to
step IN. That II the raison d.
etre for this little dinner
claim that we four men are sufficiently
international TO be able to disregard
any stupid and petty feelings about
this country and that country. aud ia
regard the world outlook at the present
moment from one point Of view and
one point OF view only-our own"
The gaunt American gave hoarss
chuckle.
1T viii be my object after dinner"
continued the Count. Ito try and proys
TO you that we have common point
OF view. Until then-shall we merely
concentrate on a plous hope that tho
Hotel Rationale will not poison US
with their focdi'
The next moment the head waiter
opened the door. and the four men sat
down TO dine.
II must be admitted that the average
hostess, DESTROYS Of making a dinner Q
success, would have been filed with
secret dlsmay at the general htmos'
phere in the room The American, In
accommodating his millions had also
accumulated digestion OF such an Ell
otic and tender character that dry
rusks and vichy water were the limit
OF his capacity.
Herr Steinemann was OF the common
order OF German TO whom food Is
sacred. He ate and drank enormously
and evidently considered that nothing
further was required OF him.
Won Gratz did his best 10 keep his
end up, but as he was apparently In
chronic condition OF fear that the
gaunt American would assault him
with violence, he cannot be said 10
have contributed much to the gaiety Of
the meal.
And 80 TO the host must be given
the credit that the dinner was a sue.
cess. without appearing TO monopo'
lie the conversation he talked cease
lessly and brilliantly. But to even the
most brilliant OF conyersationalists the
strain OF talking TO hypochondriacai
American and two Germans-one
greedy and the other frightened--is
considerable; and the Count heaved an
inward sigh OF relief when the coffee
had been handed round and the dool
closed behind the waiter. From now
on the topic was the topic OF money
the common bond OF his three guests.
And vet. as he carefully cut the end
OF his cigar. and realized that the eyes
of the other three were nxed on him
expectantly. he knew that the hardest
part OF the evening was In front OF
him. Big nnanciers. In common with
all other people, are fonder OF having
money put into their pockets than OF
taking II out And that was the very
thing the Count proposed they should
do-ln large quantities.
Gentlemen" he remarked, when his
cigar was going to his Satisfaction,
Eve are all men OF business said
before dinner that I considered we
were sufficiently big 10 exclude any
email arbitrary national distinctions
from our minds. As men whose inter
ests are International, such things are
beneath us. wish now TO slightly
qualify that remark" He turned 20
the American on his right who with
ewes half closed was thoughtfully pick
ing his teeth. AT this stage. ! ad'
dress myself particularly 20 you"
go right ahead" dravled Mr.. Hook
ting
II DO not wish 70 touch on the war
or It's result: but though the Central
Powers have been beaten BY Americs
and France and England. I think can
speak for you two gentlemen
bowed TO the two Germans
say thni n Is neither France nor Amer
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