Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-01
A FABLE.


BY R. E 1T.
A dainty handkerchief and a japanese fan,
the handkerchief carelessly thrust through the
fans sticks, were lying on chair.
"Well," said the handkerchief, Chow do YOU
Ike this? We have had enough sea air at any
rate, LEFT out all night on this damp piazza 1t
is outrageous. look like an old rag"
at is careless OF her." answered the fan. 81
feel very rheumatic, and am sure my sticks
.sSpoiled! should think so!n snapped the
handkerchief; .'aIl the varnish Is coming OIL on
me. Il shall never be tit to be seen again, and
hate rag bags
drearily; that is where Will be thrown at last:
1t is awful Such dirty people pick one up
Wei, it Is nicer to be picked up by pleas
Cartright now He always picks me up so care
fully When our lady let's me fall. 1 like him.
Yes know said the fan; but why does
ways jump up without looking what they have?
1t seems so. Up they get, down roll dozens of
things: and off go the gentlemen to pick them
they the roll if far So b bali Of WoTsted told me"
''Oh! ladies never think; it isn't expected"
said the handkerchief, shortly. ''They are sup
posed to look pretty, that's ALL Dress does
careful about her toiletteS for coming here
She has handkerchiefs to match every dress
She came to get into society, you KNOW"
{" Did she?" said the fan, curiouSly. What
does that mean?"
"Wel, really" answered the handkerchief,
contemptuously, ''you seem to know very little
of the world; but l suppose quite supplemented
people live in Japan"
Japan" laughed the fan; 81 never saw the
place. Most of us are made in America and
perfumed. 1t does just as well. But, never
mind that. Tell me about society. What must
one do to get there? Is it a placer"
"a place." laughed the handkerchief in her
turn; 81 should think not. indeed Society is
people. Not everybody, but THE people,
"What sort are they" asked the fan-"hand-
some?"
"Well, not always; sometimes"
mo, not always: sometimes"
GOOD people perhaps2"
81 am afraid not always"
"Often, but not always; our lady Is rich
enough, you know; her father made it in glue
sWeil what sort Of people is society, them"
"Oh! people of family. The Walllngforls
and the Shushans and the Gottards in our town.
7heg are society. Blood, you know"
swered the fan. sturdily. 81 HAYS heard that
Mr.. Wallingfords grandfather kept grog-shop
and that MIR. Gottard's mother made flowers for
living before She was married. Is that all so
ciety is?''
"You don't understand" said the handker-
chief, GROSSLY; 'you are rather stupid. You can
tell society people in minute; they have an
air. They come into a room as If they owned
everything in it, and so they do. Plenty of peo-
pie bow down to them"
AN! now you Degln TO talk," said the fan.
81 am not so stupid; you did not tell me prop
erly before. see now, l see now. 1t IS push
which makes society; smiling and bending bat
pushing along all the same, never minding
snubs and sliding into place after all I have
seen people get through crowds that way; it is
the same sort Of thing. A smile and by-your-
leave here and gruff push there and stiff
beg pardon another time, but always getting
through. Before people know it, sometimes,
there you are in front Of them. They almost
wonder how you got there. Push, smile, push,
and on you go; all"
"Dear me-" interrupted the handkerchief,
'there comes our lady-and with Mr.. Gottard
for all the world! How did she get to know
him?'
"Why." said the fan, silly, che talked to her
| all last evening, very close, in this very spot
were you asleep?-why didn't you tell me he
was society,""
at was so dark" murmured the handkerchief
rather ashamed. zone can't tell society people
| in the dark"
"Oh! here it is" said bright, fresh young
voice. 81 am so glad. Dear old fan; would
not lose it for the world; now"
'Nor would have you" answered Mr.. Got
tard very softly. sit reminds me OF one OF the
pleasantest evenings ever spent"
.'Oh! Oil" whispered the fan to the handker-
chief; 'sshe is IN SOciety.'j[IhHa. Press.