The dinner-party method, however, has its dangers as well as its advantages--it depends on the point of view.

Personal peculiarities and defects, if any, can be easily detected by the way in which the conversation is carried on, and the manner in which the food is handled.

It has sometimes happened that the affianced have cancelled their engagement after a dinner party.

On the other hand, matters of great import can often be arranged at the dinner table better than anywhere else.

Commercial transactions involving millions of dollars have frequently been settled while the parties were sipping champagne; even international problems, ending in elaborate negotiations and treaties, have been first discussed with the afterdinner cigar.