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A short story by George Ade |
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The Life Of The Party |
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Title: The Life Of The Party Author: George Ade [More Titles by Ade] One Night a Complimentary Dinner was given to a Captain of Industry by some Friends looking for Orders. The Chairman of the Arrangements Committee was a popular Wine-Pusher, consequently the volunteer Search Parties were out for Three Days after, gathering up the Dead. Along about 10:30, when every Perfect Gentleman was neatly Stewed, a Man connected with the Jobbing Trade got up to say a Few Words. He was keyed to Concert Pitch and the Audience was Piped and all the old sure-fire Bokum of a Sentimental Nature simply Killed them in their Seats. When he Concluded, the hilarious Bun Brothers, with the mussed-up Hair and the twisted Shirt Bosoms, arose to their Feet and waved Napkins and gave the Orator what he described to his wife at 2 A. M. as A Novation. Another Good Man was spoiled. After Herman made this goshawful Hit with the Souses he became convinced that he was an After-Dinner Wit. Gus Thomas and Simeon Ford had nothing on him. Whenever he found himself seated at a Table with other People and Food being served, he began to suck Lozenges and classify his Anecdotes and try to appear Unconcerned. All the time he was simply waiting for the Main Fluff to come up from behind the Chrysanthemums and say, "We have with us this evening." He knew he was a Dinger, because he remembered how the Magnificent Assemblage stood and cheered him for five minutes. Therefore his Voice sounded to him a good deal like the Boston Symphony Orchestra playing Rubinstein's Melody in F. Whenever People sat down in front of the decorative Canape Caviar and got ready to endure the Horrors of another Hotel Gorge, they would glance across the Snowy Expanse of White, dotted with plump California Olives and cold, unfeeling Celery, and seeing Herman seated opposite, would remark, "Stung!" He could not have been kept in his Chair with a Ton of Coal in each Tail-Pocket. And if The Ladies were present, that was when he worked in the Bird- Calls and ordered out the Twinkling Stars. According to the Expectation Tables of the Insurance Actuaries, probably he will Stick Around for 32 years more and never find out that he is a Pest. MORAL: Those who bemoan the Decline of Oratory should remember that Oratory never was known to Decline. [The end] GO TO TOP OF SCREEN |