The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-03
NOW
Come to Cuba
To Learn Life
DINNER STORY
BY HELEN EssARY

Watch a Cuban mother nuy a
white linen suit for her son.
Witch a Cuban fruit vendor sell
a dozen golden bananas or a lat
green papaya from his orange
wheeled cart-then you will real
i1e sadly that we Americans are
dull honbres.
We're stupid and phlegmatic.
We pretend we think nothing Is
of any importance. After q few
days on this gay island, know
we miss a lot Of the fun Of living.
The simple act Of setting two
extra places for dinner party In
our hotel last night threw the
entire dining room into a state
of delightful uncertainty and an
ticipation.
We noticed a big table spread
with red roses while we were be-
ginning our private dinner. We
were progressing from pate de
fois gras aspic to broiled POM
PIANO when two Americanos, a
gentleman in a white suit and a
lady in black net, walked hur-
riedly up to the head waiter and
said something short and definite
and walked hurriedly away again.
The two assistant head walters
and four ordinary walters who had
been listening in on this converse.
ton Immediately sprang toward
the table and began tearing it
apart.
Assisting in this thrilling per-
Torrance were four plain walters
and a sort of major-domo who
wears white linen. The walters are
in blue and the head walters ap-
pear in black dinner coats night
and day-and five page boys who
hour after hour mournfully refill
glasses, brush off crumbs and
carry finger bowls back and for
ward.
First, the excited crew took all
the napkins, glasses, roses and sill
yer to various nearby tables. Then
the first head waiter went round
and round the table, counting
imaginary places in case two or
more could be squeezed in.
He was trailed in this voyage Of
discovery by his two assistants and
the blue coated walters. When he
paused to consider, as he did every
two steps, he bumped into his fol-
lowers. This would cause much
conversation and many gestures.
After several rounds Of the
table, he evidently decided it would
be necessary to add another leaf
or two. So he waved his hands
grandly and took many rapid steps
in three directions at once.
Three walters and two pages
then ran off to some mysterious re-
gion in the back Of the dining
room. The StalwartS who remained
pulled the table quite apart. This
sight must have been a surprise
to the major-domo. He took to his
heels and ran after the crowd who
disappeared in the back Of the
room. On his way he was stopped
by the head waiter-gestures, rapid
talk, more gestures.
The major-domo then returned
to the table and waited, talking
constantly to the walters and
pages who talked to each other.
Soon two page boys, weighed
down under the weight of two
bare pine boards, staggered in.
Followed by the three walters bear
ing green table legS-one in each
hand. The boards were tried this
way and that. One board was dis
missed. A page hurried out with it
on his head, missing the heads of
the other diners by a single Craze.
Now followed the business of ad.
justing the new leaf to the orig
inal table.
Ahhh! Very bad! It would not
do. One page dashed out to find
the other leaf that had been re-
turned as unwanted. Back came
the leaf. It was fitted into a big
vacant space. Two walters first
had screwed green legs on it.
Then, dear heaven, the new
green legs would not stay close to
the original legs. Another page
rushed out to the dining room to
find some cloths to tie the va
grant members together.
The tying was done by the four
walters. The head waiter super
viSed with animation. Also the
two assistant head walters and the
major domo.
Next came the problem Of the
table cloths. Two, three, no,
four cloths were put together.
After 10 minutes of happy
anguish, they were adjusted to
suit the artistic eye Of the major
domo.
Then the flowers. Their ar
rangement was the proud task of
the head waiter. He waved the
others away and spread out
the red roses and ferns simply.
beautifully.
This comparatively leisurely task
finished, he sprang into violent
action. He called directions,
waved his hands, walked very fast
in this direction and that and
said "pSst" 81 times. And presto
there came in three buckets Of
champagne, chilled fruit, fresh