Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-15

threatened TO become the favorite in the bet
ting.
~ throughout his life had been what is
called "a good fellow" and was a man who
never forgot a kindness or friend In his
increasing enthusiasm he refused to part with
any share in the ticket, waited until two days
before the race and. when fortune seemed to
certainty, did freak thing He sat down and
made a list of every available friend and every
man who had ever done him favor, and sent
each one an urgent invitation to dine with
him on the eve of the in of the largest
and "swankiest" hotels in London Those too
poor to pay fares privately requested to
take taxicabs at his expense At the hotel he
engaged the largest banquet hall and explained
the situation to the maitre dhotel who is
himself good chap, and although amazed. he
entered Thoroughly into the spirit of the thing
The guests came and came and came: MANY
OF them had never before attended a banquet
OF any sort, let alone enter such a hotel. There
was one crossing sweeper, two bootblacks four
Covent Garden pOrters and half a dozen wait
ers, as well four branch bank managers
scattered among more important and indepcnd-
ent men; but the maitre dhotel told me that
although it was the most motley crowd he had
ever served, the dinner was an enormous sue
cess.
He said he had never known host who could
make every one fee! much at home and that
~ was tactful in selecting seats so that no
group might feel embarrassed He made his
guests feel that they had been brought there
to share his fortune, to forget their lots and
cares and be happy with him.
THE reason and motive for this banquet had
become known to every waiter serving it
until they, too, infused good will into their
work and cheerfuly outdid themselves to make
it perfect. Even the largest hotel at bottom is
human, If it is any good and has the family
III Nj
with man who hadn't forgotten his friends
when good luck had capriciousIy knocked
upon his humble door,
For this sole reason, after the first courses
had been served and just as a procession of
walters bearing champagne was formed outside
the checkers stand hall porter entered and
burst through to the maitre d'hotel He talked
excitedly and his superior stood with bent head
and distress slowly creeping into his face. The
naitre dhotel stopped the procession just as
it started into the banquet hall, entered alone
and quietly stepped behind rs" chair and
whispered into his ear
II sorry to tell you, sir that late sport
ing extra is out and there has been a scandal.
They say there has been a false entry, or a
substitution, and even the entry is annued.
Your horse, zeb, has been disqualified and will
not be permitted to run"
~ took it gamely He sat for a moment
regarding his little army of guests and then,
somewhat pale looked up at the matre, who,
himself enormously distressed by what seemed
such scurvy stroke of fate again whispered:
II thought you should know, because, sir, we
were about to serve the champagne-and If
you wish to substitute something less expensive,
or cancel the order"
Serve it, ~" said, land let none of my
guests know about this. 1t is perhaps the last
banquet can ever give to my friends"
That goodwill banquet cost a little more
than $4,000 and it took nearly every dollar "z'
owned to pay for it when he came to settle
his bills; but there was nothing in his smile
he babe the last of his guests goodnight
to betray that he was a ruined man.
Do you think that was bad luck" or merely
the pitiable folloy of an overgenerous. over
kindly man? No matter difference in
opinion as to whether there is or isn't such
a thing Luck nosing into our human affairs,
we can at least join in regret that such fine
impulse brought such an individual catastrophe.
Yet it still seems to me that Coleman Cox
covered the majority of luck" instances when
he said, II am a great believer in luck-the
harder work the more of it seem to have"
Me, too!