asked me to say a few words. This is the eighty-fifth anniversary of this dinner, which was started by Napoleon Cushing for a most unusual purpose. He wished to acquaint the philanthropic and idealistic Washington community with the need for more missionaries in the Far East, especially in China. For many years the dinner parties were influential in obtaining many kinds of support for this noble effort."
Nick took a gulp of the drink he had been nursing and thought,
Oh, man, tuck Buddha in a basket. Build me a home where the water buffalo roam out of kerosene and gasoline tins.
The unctuous voice went on. "For some years, due to circumstances, this project has been somewhat curtailed, but it is the sincere hope of the Cushing family that the good works will soon be resumed.
"Due to the present size of the annual dinner, tables have been placed in the Madison Dining Room, the Hamilton Room in the left wing and in a large room at the rear of the house."
Ruth squeezed Nick's hand and said with a tiny giggle, "The gymnasium."
The speaker concluded, "Most of you have been advised where your place cards can be found. If you are not sure, the butler at the entrance to each room has a guest list and can advise you. Dinner will be served in thirty minutes. The Cushings say again — thank you all for coming."
Ruth asked Nick, "Have you been here before?"
"No. I'm working my way up."
"Come on and see the things in the Monroe Room. It's as interesting as a museum." She motioned to Jeanyee and Pat to follow and threaded away from the group.
It seemed to Nick they walked a mile. Up wide stairways, through great halls like hotel corridors, except that the furnishings were varied and expensive and every few yards a servant stood at attention to provide guidance if required. Nick said, "They have their own army."
"Almost. Alice said they employed sixty people before they cut the staff a few years ago. Some of these were probably hired for the occasion."
"They impress me."
"You should have seen the do a few years ago. They were all dressed as French court servants. Alice had something to do with modernizing that."
The Monroe Room offered an impressive selection of art objects, many of them priceless, guarded by two private detectives and a dour man who looked like an old family retainer. Nick said, "It warms the heart, doesn't it?"
"How?" Jeanyee asked curiously.
"All these wonderful things given to the missionaries, I suppose, by your grateful countrymen."
Jeanyee and Ruth exchanged glances. Pat seemed to want to chuckle but thought better of it. They went out another door and found their way to the Madison dining room.
The dinner was magnificent, ranging through fruit and fish and meat. Nick identified
guy choy ngow tong,
Lobster Cantonese,
soot dow chow gee yok,
and
Bok choy ngow
before he gave up as a simmering slice of
Chateaubriand
was placed before him. "Where can we put it?" he murmured to Ruth.
"Try, it's delicious," she answered. "Frederick Cushing IV selects the menu personally."
"Which is he?"
"Fifth from the right at the head table. He's seventy-eight. On a bland diet, himself."
"I'll be with him after this."
There were four wine glasses at each setting, and they were not allowed to remain empty. Nick sipped a half-inch from each and responded to several toasts, but a fair majority of the diners were flushed and flying high by the time the
gay don go
— steamed sponge cake with pineapple and whipped cream — arrived.
Then things happened smoothly and rapidly and to Nick's complete satisfaction. The guests drifted back to the conservatory and tent where the bars now dispensed coffee and liqueurs in addition to great quantities of alcohol in almost every form devised by man. Jeanyee told him she had not come to the dinner with Pat... Ruth suddenly had a headache, "All that rich food"... and he found himself dancing with Jeanyee while Ruth disappeared. Pat paired with the redhead.
Shortly before midnight
Nick took a gulp of the drink he had been nursing and thought,
Oh, man, tuck Buddha in a basket. Build me a home where the water buffalo roam out of kerosene and gasoline tins.
The unctuous voice went on. "For some years, due to circumstances, this project has been somewhat curtailed, but it is the sincere hope of the Cushing family that the good works will soon be resumed.
"Due to the present size of the annual dinner, tables have been placed in the Madison Dining Room, the Hamilton Room in the left wing and in a large room at the rear of the house."
Ruth squeezed Nick's hand and said with a tiny giggle, "The gymnasium."
The speaker concluded, "Most of you have been advised where your place cards can be found. If you are not sure, the butler at the entrance to each room has a guest list and can advise you. Dinner will be served in thirty minutes. The Cushings say again — thank you all for coming."
Ruth asked Nick, "Have you been here before?"
"No. I'm working my way up."
"Come on and see the things in the Monroe Room. It's as interesting as a museum." She motioned to Jeanyee and Pat to follow and threaded away from the group.
It seemed to Nick they walked a mile. Up wide stairways, through great halls like hotel corridors, except that the furnishings were varied and expensive and every few yards a servant stood at attention to provide guidance if required. Nick said, "They have their own army."
"Almost. Alice said they employed sixty people before they cut the staff a few years ago. Some of these were probably hired for the occasion."
"They impress me."
"You should have seen the do a few years ago. They were all dressed as French court servants. Alice had something to do with modernizing that."
The Monroe Room offered an impressive selection of art objects, many of them priceless, guarded by two private detectives and a dour man who looked like an old family retainer. Nick said, "It warms the heart, doesn't it?"
"How?" Jeanyee asked curiously.
"All these wonderful things given to the missionaries, I suppose, by your grateful countrymen."
Jeanyee and Ruth exchanged glances. Pat seemed to want to chuckle but thought better of it. They went out another door and found their way to the Madison dining room.
The dinner was magnificent, ranging through fruit and fish and meat. Nick identified
guy choy ngow tong,
Lobster Cantonese,
soot dow chow gee yok,
and
Bok choy ngow
before he gave up as a simmering slice of
Chateaubriand
was placed before him. "Where can we put it?" he murmured to Ruth.
"Try, it's delicious," she answered. "Frederick Cushing IV selects the menu personally."
"Which is he?"
"Fifth from the right at the head table. He's seventy-eight. On a bland diet, himself."
"I'll be with him after this."
There were four wine glasses at each setting, and they were not allowed to remain empty. Nick sipped a half-inch from each and responded to several toasts, but a fair majority of the diners were flushed and flying high by the time the
gay don go
— steamed sponge cake with pineapple and whipped cream — arrived.
Then things happened smoothly and rapidly and to Nick's complete satisfaction. The guests drifted back to the conservatory and tent where the bars now dispensed coffee and liqueurs in addition to great quantities of alcohol in almost every form devised by man. Jeanyee told him she had not come to the dinner with Pat... Ruth suddenly had a headache, "All that rich food"... and he found himself dancing with Jeanyee while Ruth disappeared. Pat paired with the redhead.
Shortly before midnight
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