A SUCCESSFUL DINNER 59 



versa high caste and low caste would decline to 

 meet Europeans would keep away I did not 

 know India this sort of thing would not do 

 and so forth. The Viceroy tried to dissuade me 

 from attempting the impossible, and I was even 

 told that it would be " very unfair " to ask such 

 different elements to sit down to dinner together. 



When I sounded the members individually, 

 however, I found certainly some surprise but ready 

 acquiescence. 



The Bengal Club very courteously allowed me 

 the use of their Guest Banqueting Hall (I had 

 anticipated difficulty in this particular), and I 

 issued my invitations. The response was general, 

 warm and appreciative, and the result proved that 

 you have only to get Indians and Indians and 

 English and Indians to rub shoulders unofficially 

 to obtain a very happy result. 



