Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-01
A BEATS CONFESSION.
How He Tried to Force His WAY
Into Society.
THE REWARD OF IMPUDENCE
A Young Man 81 Three Ycars, Expe.
rtence Tells OF His struggle-A Self.
Invited G nest 10 Repeatedly snu bbed-
Successes and Eailures.

rience Tells OF His SsFuggle-A Self.
Invited Guest 10 Repeatedly snubbed-
Successes and Failures.
- Gov THESE EFFORTS to get into
>G the circles of fashion fatigue me ex.
A~ tremely. For three years past have
~ devoted an amount of endeavor to
that end which should have 90
complished it by this time-and yet where am
l now? My father, who was in q small shop
keeping way, used to say to me: 'Adolphus,
you must be q swell It's easy enough here in
Washington if you 60 at it right. All you need
is push So went at it, making it my first
prudent step to cut the old man."
The youth smiled YEARLY as he said it and
took puff or two at his cigar before continu-
ing.
ITO begin going out in society was not at
all difficult. In no other city would / have
had SO desirable an opportunity for making
start as was afforded here by the receptions OF
people in official life at which any one may pre-
sent himself without improperly. But one
may attend such receptions for the age OF
phoenix and not get into society, unless he has
the gumption to make use of them as a means
to the end il view. My cue was to scrape &C
quaintances in this way which might be subse-
quently pushed. For instance, l would be in
troduced to
AN ALTOGETHER UNExCEPTIoNABE GIRL,
and, in the course Of conversation which she
could not well avoid would say carelessly:
And what is your day for receiving? 1t was q
thousand to one that she would tell me and
then would add that I promised myself the
pleasure of calling. She could not do other
wise than acquiesce, and thus the first step was
accomplished"
"You took care to follow it up, suppose?'
said The STAR reporter.
swell, rather. AS quickly as the day men
toned came around presented myself at the
earliest possible hour, with the intention Of re-
naming to the end. Very likely my reception
was frigid, but did not mind that, having pur-
poses in view beyond. From the beginning
fastened myself to the young woman aforesaid,
staying by her as closely as was PRACTICABLE,
while she received, so that she was compelled
to introduce me to pretty nearly every one.
This gave me many new acquaintance, and,
extending my operations subsequently where
ever could find an opening on the same lines,
Knight well think myself in hard luck il I did
not procure an actual invitation now and then.
claim intimacy-my rule being always to speak
thereafter Of the young ladies of the household
by their first names. Snubs, of course, were
common"
'Is it possible."
PUTTING UP WITH sNUBs.
eyes, but I didn't mind them, because
knew that would have to endure a good many
as an inevitable part Of my experience in get
ting into Washington society. To put up un-
finchipgly with snubs requires a certain degree
Of moral heroism, to begin with, as well as
highly developed philosophy. The other day
went to call upon aAady whom didn't know
that's all right, of course, in Washington-and
just as I was asking il Mrs. So-and-so was at
home it CHANGED that Mrs. So-and-so herself
came out on the step, being on the point of
leaving the house, and she herself replied to
my query by saying:
No, sir; Mrs. So-and-so is not at home and
never will be at home to you
Now, l call that real rude. She knew about
me In some way, you see. but that was no ex-
cuse for trying to hurt my feelings. However,
bowed politely and went off to attend re-
ceptlon few doors away. i was not expected
| and it was scarcely part of my anticipation
that the ladies would make crabs for me, SO
to speak. Indeed they did not, and, when
limited that would like to go back to the din
ing room, where the young people were having
jolly time, no attention was paid to the sug-
gestion. However. it is against my rule to take
notice of such impolitenesses and SO. having said
goodbye finally, told the man at the door that
l shouldn't want my hat and coat just yet and
quietly walked back to the salle-a-mange-.
BY WAY OF THE HALLWAY
81 fancied that the young woman Of the house
looked rather surprised at seeing me, though
don't quite know why it should have been so,
and all she said was:
"'Will you have cup of tea, Mr.. links?
II said yes, though her tone was rather frigid,
and she handed it to me, turning her back upon
me thereupOn and paying no more attention to
me than if had been stuffed. While the other
people laughed and talked at great rate sat
apart, unlntroduced and speeches. At length
l ventured remark, which merely elected a
question as to whether desired another cup of
tea, and when l said no the young lady ex-
hlbited to my view once more the back of her
| neck, which was cut V-shaped and filled in with
tulle. SO then made up my mind that my
welcome was not sufficiently cordial. and, mas
much as l am never willing to intrude too tar,
l thought it best to silently withdraw. or
| course, it was annoying, but if people who ought
to know better will be Inbred where is the use
of repining, as the old song says?
my philosophy is above being discomposed
by such trihes, though l must confess that
was little annoyed by something that occurred
Yesterday. A man to whom had been recently
| introduced made an excuse for leaving me by
saying that he was
GOING TO SEE COL sNoDKINs,
| who lived close by. Why said 1, 'Snodkins
and are old chums; We sleep together. I'll
go with you Now, the fact is that had only
met the colonel once; but he is one Of the
board of governors of the Platypus club which
l am about to make another attempt to get
| into-I only got eight black balls last time,
against fifteen the time beforehand q person
| Of social influence generally. Therefore it was
| desirable that should enjoy his acquaintance,
and it is necessary for one who is trying to
| make his way into society to adopt expedients
So went arm-in-arm with Col. Snodkins
| friend to Col. Snodkins house. Maybe l was
| trfie too ELUSIVE with the colonel, for he
looked upon me with stony sort of glare and
bowed very slightly. During the visit he did
| not address any remarks to me, replying to my
| own in monosyllables merely, and when he
| brought out some rare old whisky which
would have tasted with pleasure, it was to share
| it with my fellow guest only, leaving me out
| entirely. thought it downright inhospitable,
| and said 80 after we had taken our departure.
However, my experiences in trying to secure
an entree have not always been SO unsuccess-