Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-07
SOME SOCIAL OBSERVATIONS

SOME SOCIAL. OBSERVATIONS.
The Wit and Wisdom Of . Theatsr Party
aftsr the Play.
tn GoNsRoulNCH OF AYoUNa LADY SAYING THAT
MEN WHO GET DRUNK IN SOCIETY ARE A Dis
9RACE-How BLACK LIST AGAINST THE DRINK.
hrs Il LIKELY TO Owe MORE OPPORTUNITIES 70
THK EATERs-THE SCENES ABorr MODERN so
GETTY REPBSsHMENT TABLE-wHY PEOPLE EAT
50 hvcH-A PLEA FOR CHARITY FOR THE HUN
aBY AND DESTITgTB IN SILKS AND vELvETs.
The enjoyment Of . theater party does not de.
pad entirely upon the play although 1t may be
the very best, nor upon the erakr' dcte conversa-
ton, which may be very attractive, but rather
upon the little supper which follows. This Is es-
pesially the ease when the party enjoys the fur
tAsr hospitality Of their host or hostess In their
ova home. The delights Of late supper In con.
genial company must be experienced to be ap-
prsciased, and whatever disagreeable conse-
Quenees the doctors may predict and past expe-
rlsnces suggest. the aliurements of such an occa-
1oa are not easily resisted. Yet the charm does
not lie altogether in the pleasures of the table.
The social intercourse, the talk, perhaps Qossipy
and disconnected. at one time general then re-
hpslng into quiet little tete-s-tetes. Is what
really constitutes the enjoyment of the occasion.
Az gathering of this character few evenings
age, In one Of the lulls In the general hum OF
conversation which had prevailed since the party
had taken their seats about the table, q young
lady WAS heard to remark:
1T lisa perfect shame that q lady cannot provide
VINE for her guests ut receptions without IN
curing the FISK OF some disgraceful conduct
from men who don't restrain their appetites."
chorus Of voices eohoing this sentiment and
eplnr2in9 upon it at once arose and when it
had somewhat subsidized young man, who
seemed to be absorbed in securing mathemati-
cal precision In the cutting of an orange, said
calmly:
But they never have. they don't. and there
seems TO be no immediate prospect Of their do
Ing 50 this side OF the millennium
Il just wouldn't invite such men," exclaimed
the young lady Indignantly. mo man who is
40 little OF gentleman as not to be able to
properly control himself ought to have the en-.
tree to lady's house.
4 SOCIAL BLACK LIST.
~ would suggest. then" continued the young
nan as he divested the orange Of it's rind in ex-
act quarter sections, that society ladies keep a
black List, as the grosers do. People that run up
bills aud then fall to pay them are reported at
oasa to Headquarters, and their names are added
to the list. which every grocer keeps. All he
has to do Is to refer to the list when be wishes
to know II it would be safe to give q customer
credit. The society ladies could initiate this
method. and BY united effort the name Of every
man who Is not able TO restrain his appetite
uslld be known and omitted In the list OF IN
vitsd guests"
The lady who had started the conversation, as
well AZ the hers who had chorused her opn-
Lon, had been rather suspicious Of the Young
man IN spite OF his Indifferent manner and calm
sSas. and they rather suspected q concealed
D2nQafl Re or,nO
however, was so plausible. that their suspicious
were 0safmed, and it met with general ap-
Roval. Presently one Of the gentlemen OBJ
ssfved, "Ths plan proposed by nv oyneal
nssna, while theoretically good one. In prac-
zee am afraid would prove failure. The eft.
tese OF excluding the men from our social gath
effngs who evince their appreciation of hosts
hospitality by drinking up all the liquor they
can get hold OF would only give wider scope to
ths display OF the abilities Of more numerous
e.ass IN society. mean the ladies and gentle
men who take upon themselves the duty of
Clearing the refreshment table OF every edible
as rapidly as possible and as often az the supply
is renewed. These people, if the drinkers were
out OF the way. would not only eat everything
up bat also make way with all the liquors The
peated on a much larger scale"
would put all these people on the black
nat. too. exclaimed the young lady who had in-
tPedueed the discussion. II think that it is al
most a. disgraceful TO eat to excess as to drink
to excess, and decent people ought rot to be
ooAxso 80 come In contact with such persons. "
hAKING SOCIETY SELECT
"Perhaps you would" said the gentleman in
a nusing tone. "but I imagine from what I
have ssec. that such a rule If carried out. would
about deelmste society. Social affairs would be
extremely select If numbers have that effect
Any one who has observed what occurs in any
nd olyao b,,S -;
whether the affair be . large public reception or
one cOmprising what Is considered a. our best
sosisty, must be Disguised with the rapacty and
the almost fierce consciousness displayed.
was going to use another word-it is a good old
veTd, but not often used in polite soeiety-I
mean hoggiahness. 1t expresses, however, e1-
aesly what we are compelled to see in society"
suppose" said one OF the lady listeners
dHehtly, that you object to this black list ap-
plying only to people who drink for the opposite
the conversion Of Jessica to Christianity. He
saAd. you remember. We were Christians enough
before, as many as could well live one BY an
other. This making Of Christians will raise the
price Of hogs"
Everybody laughed at this, and rapid IRE of
WHSiaisns at once started. Some one OF q con-
OCCASIONAL turn Of mind, intlmated that it would
Appear to be spssia legislation in favor Of the
hoEA
He WAS FOND OF CReoUKTTEs
The discussion, which had been diverted, was
brought back to the subject by Lady, who said !:
~ declare it is dreadful to see how people
VIII act when they get near refreshment table,
and 1t seems to me that it is but little better
the higher ysu get in the grade of society
fvsnenbsr at one OF my afternoon receptions
man. who IL great favOrity in society, came up
to bid me goodbye. AZ he was leaving. he said
Il have had very agreeable time indeed. len
loyed especially your croQuettes; ate nine Of
them. l sappose that he thought / would be
delighted with this evidence of his appreciation
Of INV hospitality. but as the people were still
coming and croQuettes cost IS dozen, you can
Imagine how truly delightful 1t was"
81 am sure 1t must have been charming" re-
marked one OF the ladies in sympathetic tone
OF voice. "But, perhaps, the poor man had
had nothing to eat all day and did not expect to
got any dinner. and SO he was obliged to put up
with your croquettss in order to sustain life
Rather an expensive life, sustained In this way
you think. Perhaps So But have been told
that there are numbers OF people, how many
/ don't know, who live to large extent
u what they get at receptions and parties
] are not, l am told. mere social adven-
to- ers, but people Of standing, who live in
nne houses and keep their carriages Their
inaome may be limited for the style In which
they live, or else they may be economical
At any rate. they live on short rations at home,
reduce the table expense to the lowest figure,
and thus have money for their dresses, their
eQuipages aud other expenses. or course when
people Of this kind yes near . well-flled table
natural instincts assert themselves and II thew
scramble tor the eatables. and the extent Of their
appstites astonish the well-fed 1t IL because the