CHEAP ENTERTAINMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 97, 14 October 1911, Page 11

CHEAP ENTERTAINMENT.

A Parisian journalist recently adopted a novel means of securing an entertaining article for the newspaper by which he is employed. He made a bet with a colleague that in one day he would procure two meals and afternoon tea and pass the evening at a theatre without spending a penny. He won the bet, and then told the story of his free day. He entered a large shopj at noon, as the luncheon-bell was ringing, and joined the stream of assistants who were walking into the dining-room maintained by their employers. During a hurried luncheon nobody noticed that there was a stranger present, and the journalist made «.n excellent meal of calf's head, spinach and dessert. At half-past two he walked into a church where a wedding was taking place, and after the ceremony he went among the guests to the bride's home and enjoyed afternoon tea. Although it was not "in the contract," he decided to obtain more light refreshments from strangers, and at five o'clock he presented himself at a reception given by a countess. After drinking champagne, he left the house smoking an excellent cigar. Dinner and theatre remained to complete the day's adventures. At seven o'clock the young man entered a large restaurant, where a banquet was to be given an hour later. He told the. waiters that he had come to arrange for the placing of the guests, and producing a bundle of tickets he contrived to spend half an hour in distributing them around the tables. Having made friends with the waiters, he remarked that he would not have time to dine himself while the banquet was in progress, and asked for something to eat before the guests arrived. After enjoying a substantial repast of fish, game, wine and other delicacies he slipped away quietly before eight o'clock, and visited a neighboring theatre. After talking impressive English to the French doorkeeper, he passed in and saw the evening's performance from the back of the stage. Doubtless the journalist went to bed that night feeling that he had enjoyed a, satisfying and profitable day, but more punctilious members of his profession would have thought it very dearly purchased by the loss of dignity and self-respect.