The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-01-09
NOW
Notes on Dinner,
$50 aPLate
TOO SWELL
By HELEN ESSARY

S0dyAIOWCE 11OGC1 1doI AASAV'
They Began getting their
moneys worth as soon as they
found their places.
At 7:45 o'clock they started on
their celery and olives. Gnawed
the celery down to the leaf and
the olives down to the pits.
At 500 o'clock they tackled the
rolls and devoured 'em-every
crumb.
At 8:15 o'clock, after they'd
cheered the President, they made
Q determined path through five
courses. The walters who changed
the plates said they'd never seen
Eas few leavin's after any
banquet"
When the dining rooms were
darkened and the parade Of
lighted dessert was borne past,
the well-nourished Democrats stood
UP and cheered for an iced donkey
with a melting eye.
Somebody said one of the other
CONNECTIONS was the Supreme
Court on ice where it ought to be.
And somebody else or 500 of 'em,
seeing, shaped like big icicles, the
magic numerals 1887" clapped
very loudly and Joined in the
orchestra's chorus of Happy
Days are Here Again"
It was a really swell party
mean a party Of Swells. If I've
any criticism, it is that it was
too high toned. Those so dol
lar-a-platers didn't make half as
much noise, I'm sure, as the five
dollar-a.platers out in the prov
inces. They shouted and laughed
but they were generally refined.
A fellow at the back of the room
gave q wild yell once in a while.
A long.legged Texan got SO over
heated from stamping that he let
his dinner coat fall way down
his shirt sleeves so he could cool
off. One man had flask on his
hip that soon emptied itself into
4 water glass. But the party was
really genteel. More than that it
could read the French words on
the menus.
I don't believe there was o
rented dress suit in the crowd.
= The Democratic ladies who had
managed to get themselves to the
party were dressed like nobody'S
business. I've never seen as well
put together a lot of politically
minded women. Politics is prob.
ably getting more becoming to
women. Most of the gowns were
extremely decollete and of cheer.
full colorS. On some sleek heads
were tiaraS of one sort or another.
Ermine wraps were thrown art
leSSly about chilly backs.
Judging from these signs, my
bet for the coming campaign is
that women politicians are plan.
ming to add to political argument,
Q proper feminine guile. It's time
they did.
Looking down from the bal
cony, I had several st;rts of sur
prise. The hairs on the top Of
one head-table head looked as if
they belonged to Arthur Vanden-
burg. I was wrong. Another
gentleman at rich table, where
champagne was being drunk, was
the double Of Governor Talmadge
until he cheered Mr.. Roosevelt.
Then I knew he wasn't Talmadge.
The greatest shock I had was
when my eyes fell on a profile
with a big cigar under big nose.
Sal Smith as I live and breathe"
But no-wrong again. However,
it would be a neat trick to hire
Al's double to sit on a platform
and clap every time the President
or any New Dealer makes a cam
paign speech.
The President ate with the
Zest Of his Dutch ancestors. His
capon and broccoli disappeared
in about two minutes. He liked
the gravy, too. The gravy wasn't
mentioned on the menu. The
Mayflower probably added it to
make the Democrats feel at
home. Somebody said a hot stew
would have been a more natural
Democratic element.
The people at Table Is were
undoubtedly important. While
they were quietly eating diamond
back terrapin soup, a page ap-
peared with a huge box Of
flowers-a corsage of three gar.
denias for every ladylike Shout
der, and a single gardenia for
every gentlemanly lapel.
Table Is had several kinds OF
wine. too. While the glasses were
being refilled, another big box of
flowers was delivered-American
Beauty roses for one of the ladies.
Soon after the coffee, husky
chore boys arrived to remove the
tables. The Persuader, a nice
voiced head waiter, preceded the
wrecking crew and gave warning
of what was about to happen.
Thereupon the diners were up
rooted and the tables borne away.
Not that ever wish anything I'M
pleasant to happen, but it would
have been a lightrhearted return