This is a manufacturin' country, everything is done by machinery, and that that ain't must be made to look like it; and I must say, the dinner machinery is parfect.
"Sarvants keep goin' round and round in a ring, slow, but sartain, and for ever, like the arms of a great big windmill, shovin' dish after dish, in dum show, afore your nose, for you to see how you like the flavour; when your glass is empty it's filled; when your eyes is off your plate, it's off too, afore you can say Nick Biddle.
"Folks speak low here; steam is valuable, and noise onpolite.

They call it a "_subdued tone_." Poor tame things, they are subdued, that's a fact; slaves to an arbitrary tyrannical fashion that don't leave 'em no free will at all.

You don't often speak across a table any more nor you do across a street, but p'raps Mr.Somebody of West Eend of town, will say to a Mr.Nobody from West Eend of America: 'Niagara is noble.' Mr.Nobody will say, 'Guess it is, it got its patent afore the "Norman _Conquest_," I reckon, and afore the "_subdued_ tone" come in fashion.' Then Mr.Somebody will look like an oracle, and say, 'Great rivers and great trees in America.

You speak good English.' And then he will seem surprised, but not say it, only you can read the words on his face, 'Upon my soul, you are a'most as white as us.' "Dinner is over.

It's time for ladies to cut stick.