Daily Yellowstone journal., 1886-11-21
TIE UPPER CIRCLES.
HOW THE SWELL WOMEN MANAGE
THE LION BUSINESS.

A Lady who Finds Parliamentary frac-
tic~ Good Training for the MANAGE
ment Of Receptions-Getting Into the
Higher Circle Of Gentiiity.
Literary people are very like other
people, and we may presume that they
have not altered much since Thackeray
wrote "Pendennis, but notwithstand-
ing the number of times this fact has
been repeated, we ordinary mortals go
on expecting something extraordinary
from them. We know il is not Mt a liter
airy house that 'languid beauty keeps
her pale faced court" and II we don't
get enough novelty TO excuse her absence
we are apt to feel that we have been
cheated. We go there TO hear the utter
ances of illustrious mouths, to compare
genius with common people, In order,
when il is over, to call the latter stupid
and dull and the other ridiculous, and
at last to take our hats and go away, say
ing what fine talk"
There are houses in New York where
this sort of entertainment is provided;
temples Of tedium, where people meet to
show off, and not to exchange mental
pleasure The hostess there appears to
be no more than conversation manager;
when a lion roars she makes signs 10 the
other guests to keep silence just as IL
prima donna were singing or Joseffy were
at the pianos She listens with all her ears
and constrains her guests TO listen to all
the nonsense that may flow from cele-
brated lips. while she stiles her yawns
and rustlcs her fan at every word uttered
by nobody Matter cannot be sensible
unless it is vouched for by n fashionable
name. With such a principle for its
raison d'etre a salon cannot be but mn
successful. This prejudiced censor.ous
society will not believe that hostess
treats the favorites of the public will sys-
tematic adulation because she regards
them with frank sympathy and sincere
admiration. 1t ascribes her action TO
motives of personal vanity.
Jennie June is the exact antipode Of
hostess OF this order; even her appear
ance says so. She is little woman,
with brown hair, small sensitive
mouth, the quietest manners, and n low,
sweet voice. During her long incum-
bency of the Sorosis chair she never once
lost the reins OF order, and her voice had
never to be raised to command the attsn-
tion Of the Ioyic LOVING sisterbood
-,
hA-r'h''phNi VT ''"os'
suppose Il good hostess needs "A knowl
edge OF the rules OF debate, and because
OF her thorough acquaintance with
Robinson we need go no farther to IL
quii e why Mrs. Croly Is so successful in
private capacity. She answers precisely
10 the definition oi the truly superior
woman who knows enough never to ask n
ridiculous and i'll timedquestion and never
to oppose people of merit on the ground
OF personal prejudice. Her parliament
airy ability comes In to help her Keep
apart two powerful antagonists eager 10
tilt and to display their learning by dis
putting about question that nobody
wants to understand; she believes IN
making the subject general, piece 81
wisdom taught her no doubt by the Soro-
Sis where u is SAID, all the members
want To talk at once.
Personally Jennie June Is iavorite
with all KINDS OF people; with the doc
tors, VINO IKE her because she desires 10
learn ana is attentive 10 any eood thihgs
they may say; win the ignorant, because
she does not care 10 Illuminate them and
Is lndulgent 10 their absurdities Id
WORD, she knows now TO Keep SILENT
and that' no douDt' iar more than her
parliamentary skill, Is the secret OF heT
success.
Have YOU ever thought how !OnPly a