The New York freeman., 1885-03-07
CHAT AND CHAFF.

A recent magazine story entitled THE
Brown-Stone Boy" deals with a subject of
live interest in most realistic manner,
though the title is somewhat suggestive of
prehistoric times. However the sketch is
only christened after the abode Of the sub
iect. he having resided in one of the brown
stone dwellings peculiar to this city. He also
belonged to gang and was what would
be termed "tough" in New York or a
"hoodlum" in San Francisco. But his most
striking characteristic is the naive and open
manner in which he acknowledges his de-
linquencies and the absence of any feeling
of shame or guilt. In fact he rather seems
to consider his misdeeds as a record to be
proud of. In this respect he brings to mind
the many harmless young men nowadays
who seek to achieve fame for toughness.
In pursuit Of such reputation they affect a
knowing air when alluding to the traps and
guiles Of this great city, settle their hats
jountily on the rear part Of their craniums
and unburden themselves of personal ex-
ploits, which if true, would prove them fit
candidates for a reform school. Some
times this longing to be considered tough
leads them to a plunge in the evils they de-
scrib;, but in most cases their only offence
is against truth and in the insult offered the
credulity Of their hearers.
The season of prayer and fasting has been
fairly entered upon and the pleasures of the
"madding mob have been exchanged by
many for the sober realization of life's du-
ties. The numerous church services de-
mand much of the time of the faithful, and
those who contemplate the relief of their
sponsors from the obligations assumed at
baptism are under instruction in the class 'es
preparing for confirmation. Yet the neces-
sites of social existence find ample play in
the opportunity afforded for paying the
long accumulated debt of calls incurred by
the winters festivities. Sundays not being
included in the days of fasting dinners may
be INDUCED in with Immunity to both Civ
ers and guests. The Lenten Club makes a
requisition upon the talent of its members
for the exercise of their various gifts in the
departments of music, elocution, invention
(of excuses for n-performance), and
others too numerous to mention. Many
lax churchmen-and women also-avail them
selves of the season for partaking of theat-
rical pleasures, while others perceive pc
culiar propriety in whist parties-especially
stags The City of Churches falls into line
with the popular recreation of the day. and
-,-Avidas a private roller skating rink. where
the poetry or motion may be illustrated on
wheels with all the variety incident thereto.
In estimating the expenses of this new wrin-
kle, careful heads Of families leave ample
margin for arnica and court plaster.
Calling being the occupation peculiar to
the season word on some phases of the
custom may not be amiss. The professional
caller who calls as religious duty
and never omitS to pay a hostess the
courtesy within an early Period after the oc-
casion incurring it, is usually very young
man or else 40 elderly one who retains the
punctilious habits of a previous generation.
For after a few seasons activity the average
society man grows shamefully careless in
fulfilling social duties. and his debts of un-
made ct tlls assume such immense proper
lions that finally in despair of getting
around in person, he takes advantage of the
New Years practice of sending his cards by
mail. That this shirking of formal visiting
is largely the II suit of love Of ease and
aversion to exc rtion is illustrated by the fol-
lowing incident, which bears the impress of
truth. dozen or so young men were
lounging aimlessly around a club room,
billiard room, or some other resort, when an
acquaintance entered, and in response to the
inquiry as to the cause of his immaculate
appearance, answered: ''Oh, went to pay
my party call at Mrs. Blanks. She was at
the theatre, but left card" With one
accord the whole dozen or So who had also
been at Mrs. Blanks party, rose and pro-
duced or borrowed cards, and in detach-
ments of twos and threes moved upon Mrs.
Blanks residence and showered the paste
boards, with expressions of deep regret at
her absence from home. The only kind of
call which seems to possess any attraction
for the gilded (or brazen) youth of the
period is a tetc tete one, on some attract
i've acquaintance of the opposite sex. Then
his aversion to extrtion manifests itself in
a reluctance to depart, causing the heads Of
much brain work in the devisng
of polite methods of indicating that a leave
taking would be acceptable. Of course few
have the haldihood of the Western parent
who lights the kitchen fire and rings the bell
For breakfast as a hint to the obtuse caller,
out an invention which would secure
he prompt exit of the tarrying one without
lamage to any of the parties, would, in the
anguage Of the ancients, fill long felt
want.