The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-05

half the time However I've turned out several
who can cut out picture with pistol or split
card with rifle. They're all New Workers.
Yes. it pays fairly well to teach them
who is that young man that was here just
now"
"Oh. he's the girls husband. He's clerk in
a big dry goods store up town."
Pistol and rife shooting by the way, con-
tinue to be fad among the solid swells OF the
metropolis AID more than one of them took his
first lesson in a modest shooting gallery some
downtown thoroughfare. The genus dude is not
proficient in the art Perhaps he is afraid OF a
gun, he may consume more cigarettes than
are good for his nerves. But such solid men
about town as Pierre Lorillard; Frank Lord,
Herman Oerichs, and others of that class, are
preferring pistol practice. European dueihsts
cannot challenge such New Workers with the
impunity of a few years ago.
A dozen or fifteen young society men from
Murray Hill confess that they strayed far down
town in their cabs, the other night, and halted
at the notorious dance house which is known as
Billy McGlorys. After waiting an hour, and
being excessively bored by commonplace yari-
ETY. entertainment on the stage, broken every
Eow and then by waltz on the waxed floor by
the men and women who make the place rem
devious, the uptown swells decided to enjoy
waltz themselves. One of them tells me that
the girls needed no introductions persuading,
and the young male partners in the previous
tables. under the shadow of the gallery. The
band struck up and the dancing began. Then
a very queer series of incidents occurred. First
of the young women dropped her partner in
the middle of the floor, and walked to a chair;
then another fair waltzer stopped and remon-
strated with her escort; SO did another and anoth
err Two three of the women presently reap
peared on the floor with partners chosen from
among the loungers at the tables
Whats the matter, inquired the spokesman
money and will buy all the wine in the house,
if necessary. Why won't yoa ladies dance with
usT
Because you can't Dance" was the reply.
"But that's nonsense" said one of the swells.
We all dance at the best parties and balls up
town. Come. what 10 the real reason for you
ali behaving this way2"
"You don't any of you know how to dance"
''You are as clumsy as goats" Il amt going
to fall over a mans feet all round the room, "
were the replies OF three of the young women.
Never were lot of men more nonplussed
than these. Almost before they could get off
the floor the women were in the arms OF the
men they were accustomed to dancing with. and
the throng slid and turned in unison graceful
and easy as the heaving of the ocean on a calm
day. The uptown swells took their defeat as
graciously as possible, but they looked unhappy
and confused. The truth that though they
could waltz we'll enough for the average soc-
ETY. belle, and as gracefully as the or
dinary man who tunes his steps to music
twenty two dozen times a year, they
were not fitted to take the place of the regular
dancers at a dance-h house like this. These fell
lows dance Tor a living, AND are at WOrk at THIS
singular calling between five and ten hours q
night every day in the year. In this city and
Brooklyn something more than four hundred
men follow that vocation in the dance houses,
music halls and low resorts. They paid from
81 to So night according to the skill and repu-
taton they possess, and they scarcely ever dance
anything but waltZes. They literally do no
other work than dance. For the rest of their
living they depend on the women and on betting.
Constant partnership with them educa.es the
women of these resorts to proficiency as high
hair ~ ar IN
ones in which one would look for graceful
complishment-there is greater charm o
an assembly of the Junior Patriarchs or the i
c. ID. Cs. in Delmonicos. These same men ami
women are employed at most of the masquerade q
balls of the winter in the Academy and the
Opera House. sometimes TO dance in costume, and
sometimes in evening dress. They attract all
eyes. and never fail to win admiration, if not
and then q country beau, who prices himself On
his dancing. asks for an introduction TO girl
whose charming movements he has admired,
and ten to one he is staggered by hearing her
respond to his compliments with: ..Sa-a-y
shorty, gimme little less tafy; if Yer want ter
dance, climb in and show what yer do. y
If he proves awkward he is summarily dis
missed.
The newest whim in that part of New York
polite society which suffers from chronic ennui
may be called the pug dog reception" It is
yet too early to say whether this form of social
entertainment will become permanent feature
of high life, or even enjoy reasonably run of
the season. But it has made beginning under
such auspices as show that its promoters con-
siderably in earnest. The set which inaugurated
this diversion is composed almost entirely OF un-
married girls. The affair which came under my
notice arranged for at an afternoon call
where three or four of the parties concerned hap
pened to meet. Ali brought along their pugs, and
the digniied delight with which the snub nosed
led n III s.
ton of giving to the pugs the complete flavor of
the grade of life in which they exist. Two or
three conferences had to be held over the mat
ter, and when it took shape those who were
upon the list as eligible received dainty invi-
tation, upon tinted and perfumed paper, in
which ''Charley," of No. - Fifth avenue, re-
quested the pleasure Of Danny" or George, "
''Jim," as the name Of the invited pug might
happen to be. to 5 o'clock tea upon Wednes-
day afternoon.
The pugs began to arrive, each one in its own
coach. of course, and attended by its mistress,
shortly after 4 o'clock. and by there were
nearly score present. II must be said that
the ladies concerned In the affair enjoyed the
thing thoroughly. There was continual chat
ter as they passed from one pug to another and
inspected its monogram, stroked its ears and
said cunning things to the naughty little
animals. There We're doubtless not a
few jealous heart burnings either on
&C. account sn OF the the evident SUI superior,
feelings were carefully concealed, and everythiu ug
moved with that serenity and animation which
together mark the do1ugs of all highly cultivated
people. AS for the dogs there a good deal
OF snarng, and such confusion that before the
affair the ladies had each to take her
own dog and hold him in her lap to prevent
canine Misunderstanding taking place upon the
parlor floor
Tea was served at o'clock in the reception
room, the pugs maintaining their places in the
laps of their mistresses, who slipped tea from
China cups and nibbled aud confectionery
placed upon the napkins beside the pets in
their silken laps. and when il was over, the
Mi T6o 4hA rie+r1 ~z,xo
in with coats, and
elegant wraps. and tucked up the ugly
creatures so that they should not by any possi.
bility suffer from the chilly air of the winter
evening. The maids the dogs homo while
the mistresses tarried for further chatting, and
altogether they agreed that the occasion had
| been an immense success. So that it is quite
probable that others will be held bofore the sea.
| son is over. CLARA BELLE.
Servia's Beautiful but Bad Queen.