One happy peculiarity of these assemblies is the number of persons in different stations
and of various celebrity, who are gratified by seeing, still more, in hearing and knowing
each other ; the statesman is relieved from care by association with the poet of whom he
has heard and partially read ; and the poet is elevated by the courtesy, and each feel, not
rarely, the true dignity of the other, modestly expanding under the most genial auspices.
In Mrs. Dodge's " Theophilus and Others," is facetiously recorded a bit of modern
conversation. "You should have seen Hobkins at our table. I'd no idea plain diet
could be so suggestive. He found spectrum analysis in the salt cellars, international
rowing matches in the spoons, balloon traveling in the omelet, and co-operative house-
keeping in the hash. He drew 'survival of the fittest ' from the cheese; and, as John
confidentially remarked, actually shook kindergartens and juvenile delinquents out of the
baby's feeding-apron. He found prison discipline in the bread ; and female colleges,
universal sufferage, and bland opinions generally, in the butter. The calves'-head soup
brought forth capital punishment ; the beef, labor-union systems ; and the dessert was
full of ' Gates Ajar ' and spiritual manifestations. Once, while filling his teacup, I felt
as if I was pouring out the entire Suez Canal, and I am sure I often dropped in a railroad
accident with the sugar. What with iron cars, and elastic platforms, and wide gauges, and
new brakes, car-starters, and compensating expansible rail-joinings, I grew confused in
spite of myself."
Apologies for poor dinners are out of place. Shakespeare says:
And oftentimes excusing of a fault
Doth make the fault the worse by the excuse.
English stories, bon-mots, and the recorded table-talk of their wits, are as good as the
best of the French. In America we are apt scholars, but have not yet attained the same
perfection. Conversation fills up the gaps, supplies all deficiencies. What a good trait
is recorded of Madame de Maintenon, that, during dinner, the servant slipped to her side,
u Please, Madame, one anecdote more, for there is no roast to-day."
DINNER GIVING.
" We ask persons to dine with us because we like them for certain
inherent qualities." Good sister let us dine and never fret. —
A table full of welcome makes scarce one dainty dish. —
Better cheer may you have, but not with better heart. — COMEDY OF ERRORS.
Bid them cover the table, serve the meat and we will come in to dinner. — MERCHANT OK VENICE.
'* T F our circle of friends be large we must be acquainted with many who differ ex-
tremely in all their social characteristics, to say nothing of their pursuits, sympa-
thies, and occupations ; and it is, therefore, by a judicious admixture of the guests
that we bring about a successful party.
Page 49
Presented as published in 1891. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
One happy peculiarity of these assemblies is the number of persons in different stations and of various celebrity, who are gratified by seeing, still more, in hearing and knowing each other ; the statesman is relieved from care by association with the poet of whom he has heard and partially read ; and the poet is elevated by the courtesy, and each feel, not rarely, the true dignity of the other, modestly expanding under the most genial auspices.
In Mrs. Dodge's " Theophilus and Others," is facetiously recorded a bit of modern conversation. "You should have seen Hobkins at our table. I'd no idea plain diet could be so suggestive. He found spectrum analysis in the salt cellars, international rowing matches in the spoons, balloon traveling in the omelet, and co-operative housekeeping in the hash. He drew 'survival of the fittest ' from the cheese; and, as John confidentially remarked, actually shook kindergartens and juvenile delinquents out of the baby's feeding-apron. He found prison discipline in the bread ; and female colleges, universal suffrage, and bland opinions generally, in the butter. The calves'-head soup brought forth capital punishment ; the beef, labor-union systems ; and the dessert was full of ' Gates Ajar ' and spiritual manifestations. Once, while filling his teacup, I felt as if I was pouring out the entire Suez Canal, and I am sure I often dropped in a railroad accident with the sugar. What with iron cars, and elastic platforms, and wide gauges, and new brakes, car-starters, and compensating expansible rail-joinings, I grew confused in spite of myself."
Apologies for poor dinners are out of place. Shakespeare says: And oftentimes excusing of a fault Doth make the fault the worse by the excuse.
English stories, bon-mots, and the recorded table-talk of their wits, are as good as the best of the French. In America we are apt scholars, but have not yet attained the same perfection. Conversation fills up the gaps, supplies all deficiencies. What a good trait is recorded of Madame de Maintenon, that, during dinner, the servant slipped to her side, " Please, Madame, one anecdote more, for there is no roast to-day."
DINNER GIVING.
" We ask persons to dine with us because we like them for certain inherent qualities." Good sister let us dine and never fret. —
A table full of welcome makes scarce one dainty dish. — Better cheer may you have, but not with better heart. — COMEDY OF ERRORS. Bid them cover the table, serve the meat and we will come in to dinner. — MERCHANT OK VENICE.
'* T F our circle of friends be large we must be acquainted with many who differ extremely in all their social characteristics, to say nothing of their pursuits, sympathies, and occupations ; and it is, therefore, by a judicious admixture of the guests that we bring about a successful party.