New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-18
on SOCIETY IN BOSTON.

From me Boston NfirFu0y EtcNtHg bft1fUc
II is both Christian and moral truth that every
one is worth knowing, but as matter OF policy 1t
is even trucr that every one Is worth knowing.
(;ubernatoria cleo IONS and social influence depend
ON such knowledge and that cosmopolitan grace
which marks well-bred person who Is afraid OF no
one Ii the German narrows society IN danclIg
hall. still more can the absence OF lntrOductlOnS
diminish sOcia pleasures; forIt would be .Ooish
to expect that Boston Is yet Old enough 10 enable
one to speak to another III a trends drawlng-room
without being presented. most amusing Instance
of the con-equen, of such fear ,ssness scene
he: wcen an elderly aud mlddie-aged lady IN
crowded supper room on l}eacon-st. lhe younger
one had eaten her salad aud ices IN unbrOken silence;
80 had tHe elderly woman. As coffee wa stu To be
handed round the first ventured TO remark that, as
the room was very hot, the zee was refreshing
Yes" was tine long drawn reply coupled with
the words Have | met you beisTe ~
Mo" was the amused answer; perh1ps we may
never meet again but iancled we mlght speak 10
'' Yes %s"'i am Mrs. b, of Dave And youi"
al am Miss W, OF N-st"'
An indeed! The lee is cooling" And the older
LADY, having satisfied herself that the person had
name She had known. slowly dri.t 1t INFO aconver-
sa ion which was more ing than ne zee.
The 30 ton Blue Book whose crcua ion Is
g,ttiup 10 be- So common that trst-cia>s families
hide II in covers of medieval embroidery, should
nuhIsh Is rule for All the families. IN one of its
dlyl.Ions that al the houses of persons living In
uch streets introducuOns were uunc cessaTy or else
n should state that everywhere guests were the
servants of the host s. and should he introduced AT
her bidding, for II ], impossible Iof the hosthS 10
make people have a good time unless she has this
right II is very easy, when the stranger Is already
hsraIded 10y a reputation OF distinction; INT Whtn
one il mplv lady or gentleman trOm another city,
ar from SIDE street of our own Guy, II Is hatd 10
g. olnplsn iutr0ductions. Older men are much
more cumpasant rndn heir younger brethren, ana,
having been hosts themselves, are III turn DISPOSED
t. sci sacrifice the younger men are more ttarIul
of compromising themselves or thelr SCI.
Al least one-t hid of tn" word Is PLAIN an awk-
wand 40 would il not he well 10 insist on forced
growth of conscience, which shouiu deter young
man from using ms cyrgld>s 10 examine Young lazy
.,ltr... IN IL "a q All
coup,l a youngi dy to instantly draw the unwilling
victim into conversational 1t Is tme for hoStesses
nave become the laWpNerS, ana decline a INTRO
auctions except those thy desire. some people
cannot accept an invitation without bringing their
personal caprices with them. Many oi our elderly
Young men CcclIne an introduction, as they
- already have such an extensive clrce e" one such
indiyidual was asked to be presented to lady who
Us surfing alone. lie eyed her back and front and
drclincd. He returned half an hour later saying.
mi he introduced to her nOw see several OF the
men have been talking to her. Her PRONE Is ho1
had "No" replied the lady. hen asked
YOU because she was my friend, you declined. Now
decline to present yon.D
One of Bostons oldest families gave reception.
Two scons of other Old families attended, 10 WuOm
the host said "Pll n,rOduce you To those ladies'
upposi e,r and he moved oWarI them. " Excuse Us,
saIu of the men; inc ladlrS are OF eaS''u t
siyle OF beauty; 10 Is hardly worth While Inc host
bowed low IN rccDgniu on of their faI-s eng poWer'
adding Yes, hey are my nleccs from the country,
but will not trouble you." No apoiogY WoGln ho
wa, right he wished To NlndIcate the hOnor OF MS
house. 800. . - A., ,.. ,,,
eral hospitality unfss he accedes 10 reasonable
demands: tut we are IN mortal terror lest young
man may not come again, ana we allow nm 20 90
as he plpascs, which means 10 seek tue dttIH'Ulfo
iris Then as every woman has host OF friends,
Who are only delightful when hroWn, she Is oOIlgeu
TO seem unaware of their value, because so many
men decline mtruduCuunS Inc soclctS PhIHsT 10,
{" thank you see 50 many here whom know mat
will not trouble you;' and II the hostess PERSISTS
then is addict Thanks 9P'8bE Az to bSst ss # her
nersisiency continues for she will have to go after
The voung man; he will never come back 10 her
The prepOnueraDcc of women over men IN every
n,r,v ~ en- evil winch can only be remedIed by the
general sperson of the men among the long trains
of the women. In ed receptions lutiOdUctlous
by the hostess impossible; me Nalue Vi s"o SUI
n3ttirs consists i'm their beng iu bill OF dlscharge
of social duties much cost pace OF ne'tu,
Ii Il no more complimentary 10 one Nio,,S liam
invited To such crowds merely 10 no ioSp III 49,,
thn # Is TO be invited TO family dinner oecdu s
the hostess does not know exactly whom u "9h "
Inc ct you. . -, so,notir,as very
a,nusinr: they think seml-hterary, ana tnat
they shall meet such persons ana 'heS Toi nc
and find real estate men ana wholesale u.uloiS III
Intbnr Or else thry 20 especially to meet the boot
and sho, trade aud ind an ESSAY ISL ana stoIldh
Tnev fancy their entertainer Is homeopathic, anu
find both new and old school present lhey
consider one rs pI0us, and the SUNDAY paper
tells them that piety has had dance ana an ele-
cart supper 1t is considered odd when extremes
meet in private houses If they do on poll zeal
occas ons. 4 PLAIN l.dy living in an un ashionabe
street invited a gentleman OF lesurely lie to her
home, because in her simplicity she thought ne
seemed lonely, though he only suffered from esthet-
icism. lie came, ana at the close OF the evening oD
served to her. had no idea / should meet 80 many
distinguished pc pie at your house." his voice ua
consciously emphasizing the pr0noun. Sucu To-
mark stands IN STRIKING contrast to that Oh ~,
Holmes, VINO WAS heard evening 10 say 70 n,s
hostess Make use Of ne in any way can nenp
you mOstv That vas high-bred courtesy no Oin
to serve her and make others happy. If each Youu
believe as simply as did the Doctor that sIlch apS
was more or less in each ones power, now as'uo .
able society would become. aud now haPpS W.
should all Dol