The Red Cloud chief., 1888-08-24
n SOCIAL CALL.


A Cvnic Who Throws stones ut Woman'a
FsvOrite Diversion.
The cynic wants 70 know what Is
gained for any rational being when a
city full of ONE undertake to make
and receive formal visits with persons
whom for the most part, they do not
wish to see. What is gained, he asks,
by leaving cards with all these people
! and receiving their cards? When a
woman makes her tedious rounds, why
is she always relieved to find people
not in? When she can count upon her
ten fingers the people she wants to see.
why should she pretend to want to see
the others? Is any one deceived by it!
Does anybody regard it US any thing
but a sham and q burden? Much the
| cynic knows about it! Is it not neces-
sary to keep up what is called society?
Is it not necessary to have an authentic
list of past board acquaintances to in
vite to receptions? Aud what would
become of us without receptions? Every
body likes to give them. Everybody
fiOcks to them with great alacrity.
When society calls the roll, weall know
the penalty of being left out. Is there
any intellectual or physical pleasure
equal to that of jamming SO many peO-
pie into a house that they a hardly
move. and treating them to u babel OF
noises in which no n can make her.
self heard without screaming? There
is nothing like u reception in any UNI
civilized country. 1t is So celebrating!
When a dozen or a hundred people are
gathered together in Il room. they all
begin to raise their voices and to shout
like pool sellers in the noble rivalry OF
..wariOus langwidges." rasping their
threats into bronchitis in the bidding
of the conversational ring. If they
spoke low. or even in the ordinary tone.
conversation would be impossible. but
then it would not be "A reception. is we
understand.
But does sOciety-that is, the inter-
course of cOngenial peOple-Gepend
upon the elaborate system of exchang-
ing calls with hundreds of people who
are not cOngeuial? Such thoughts will
sometimes come by a winter fireside of
rational-talking friends or at a dinner
party not too large for talk without a
telephone. or in the summer time by
the sea. Or in the cottage in the hills.
when the fever of social life has got
down to II normal temperature. We
fancy that sometimes people will give
way to Il real enjoyment of life and
that human intercourse will throw of
this artificial and wcarisOme parade.
pride rs they may, upon their personal
achievements and labOrs. they will
also regard them with establishment.
Women. we read every day, long for the
rights and privileges of men. and the
education and serious purpose in life
OF men. And yet, such is the sweet
s~elf-sacriice of their nature. they
voluntarily take On burdens which
they would speedily cast of if they
had.
What should We say of men if they
consumed half their time in paying
formal calls upon each other merely
for the sake of paying calls. and were
lOw-spirited ii they did not receive Us
many cards n they had dealt out to
society? Have they not the time?
Have ONE more time? and if they
h4Ve. why should they spend it in this
Sisyphus task? Would the social ma
chine go to pieces-the inquiry is
made in good faith. and solely for in
fOrmatiOn-if they made rational bust
ness for themselves to be attended to.
or even if they gave the time now
given to calls they hate. to reading and
study. and to making their households
civiliZing centers of intercourse and
enjoyment. and paid visits from some
other motive than clearing of the
list?:" If all the artificial round Of
calls and cards should tumble down.
what valuable thing would be- lost out
of anybOdy's life?-Harpcr's Weekly.