The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-09-11

TO BE IN BUSINESS IS TO BE OUT
OF SOCIETY"
Experience of a Wide Awake, Vigorous
Young Man in New York - Not
Like London Paris-EarIy
Closing.
[BrOOklyn Eagle. |

1t is said that the early closin movement,
if such a term may be applied in this in
stance-which the sociG>y ladies of New
York tried to inaugurate last year, is
doomed to bitter failure when next season
opens. This doesn't refer to shops but to
dances 1t has been apparent for several
seasons that tho and tear on young
society men who were in business would
have to be alleviated Dancing until 3 or
o'clock in the morning, hurrying home,
snatching four hours sleep and going down
to business, heavy-eyed, tremulous and
weary is not conducive to the health or
cheerfulnos' of the young society man.
There is no leisure class hero in London
or Paris, from which to draw supply of
dancing men, ami so society women decided
to look after the health of the young men by
inaugurating early dances.
The scheme was much discussed and we'll
indorsed, but it is now doomed to failure
for it has been definitely settled in Lond on
that it is proper to serve the supper after
the cotiiiiOn german, it is usually
called here This means a supper at
o'clock as general thing, and that keeps
the festive young man out of his little bed
just as it did a year or two ago. The young
man who works for his living in New York
hasn't much OF a chance, after all, socially.
The men who thoroughly in society
have no time for anything else than their
social duties. Hence, society is largely COM
posed of younger sons and aged beaux.
A wide awake and vigorous young Amer
can is not content with continuous round
of luncheons, teas, dinners and dances He
must go into business, athletics, racing,
profession-mrIst do something in fact, and
lie goes to work he must of neces-
sity drop his social pleasures L have an
acquaintance who has within two years es-
tablshed himself as printer and publisher
on q small scale. He Is a man of scholarly
attachments, graduate OF Harvard, and
has been admitted to the bar a natural
taste led him into artistic printing, and by
sticking close to his work he has built up a
paying business AMI laid the foundation of
what is confidently expected to be great
publishing house in the future. Less than
four years ago he was society man in the
widest acceptaton of the term. His name
appeared in society reports constantly; he
wa, u fashionable leader of the German,
had OBLIGATED as best man for dozens of
well-known men, and spent all of his time
on the wing
"For a long while he said, al felt that
business was low. | cassed all merchants
as shop-lleeTers, and looked down trade.
j did not realize how man felt who was in
business for himself. 1t seems to me that
one grows to like his business as he would
his child, and that he takes tho same inter-
est in its growth. get down town at half
past every morning, and stay till 5. As a
rule, dine here at the club, because my
people entertain good DEAL and | find I'm
more or less in the way"
you're quite out &C the swim now9'
"Oh, quite" he said, with smile. There
is no middle course in New York society,
you know. y must tie altogether in or
altogether cut. 1t is different on the other
side. In London or Paris if you are once
on the invitation lists of leading society
matrons you are free t. attend or not as
you choose, or as affairs permit. 1t Is not
thought harsijly Of there if you absent your
self for time. Theory is that you
ciaiy eligible AMI valuable and that you con-
tinue so no matter how many cards you re-
fuse. 1t is very different here. Women
who entertain extensively i'll New York are
imperious to the last degree. 1t is every
thing or nothing with tlienl and if you de-
cline two or three Succes i've invitations
they promptly drop you, matter what
your connections or social position may be.
Take my case "a an example. L was a
slave for several years to society women /
danced till L down to 100 pounds,
whereas | now weigh n clean 10. My skin
grew yellow from eating CONNECTIONS at late
supperS, and l slept every morning till
after ii. 1t was u craze with me- but
very enjoyable one, for find
more enjoyable companiOnship than among
the beautiful girls of New York society.
They ara bright, clever agreeable and
beautiful Well, | made up my mind one
I day to go into bu mess, and [ went at it,
hammer and tUngS. For some weeks l tried
to keeps up n limited social connection, but
L found it wouldn't work. If | went out to
two dinners a week that made, with the
nece,ary party calls, four social visits. That
was four nights out of the week What re-
manned was spont at the club. I'm fond of
| athletics, AM now put in two nights a week
at the Racquet cub.
81 don't know how it happened exactly
yet, but the fact remains that in the course
OF year ! found myself almost as COM
pleteiy alonf from the social world as though
| had Just arrived from Ireland. My sister
caleI me- a hardened bachelor, hermit
and dozen other things. and I'm in per-
petual hot water at home because L won't
go out. Ny younger brother took my
| place, only he made the place hotter than l
! did. He's the precociouS anglomaniac, who
had his nose broken by the kick of his horse
while fox-hunting in pink coat last fall,
| you know Tho only friend | have in the
| family is the guv'n,r, who backs me up like
| brick in every thing. But I'm glad I'm
| ont of it all. AMI / would not go back for
| worlds. meet men now. instead of sappy
| dude, and like the change