DEAR ABBY: As a faithful reader of your column, I'd like to comment on a column you once printed on how to eat asparagus.
While growing up in Paris, my mother, who was a debutante, attended a dinner given by French President Raymond Poincare at the Elysee Palace for the King of Morocco. Asparagus vinaigrette was served. Everybody waited for the king to try it. He did, but found the tough end too tough. He looked around to see what other people did with it, but of course, everyone was waiting for him. So when he thought no one was watching, he tossed the tough end over his shoulder. The other guests, thinking that was a Moroccan custom, did the same.
Soon the floor around the table became so slippery, none of the servers could get near the table. The rest of the dinner was a disaster -- and to this day, the dinner for the King of Morocco at the Elysee Palace has taken its place in history! -- GILBERT GESTAS, NEW YORK