The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-10

and for the thousands of Others merely
sends out her card and the card Of her hus-
band by messenger. In this way she is
able promptly TO return all calls made
upon her, for 2 messenger is cheap, and
often costs nothing, being the private sec
rotary of the senator, who gets his salary
from Uncle Sam.
Another question now agitating the pal
pitating hearts of society devotees at the
capital is how TO induce the men to come
TO their teas? Afternoon men in society
are lamentably scarce, and usually are
either very young men, who have nothing
else to do, or very old men, who entirely
fail TO satisfy the cravings of the maids
and matrons for masculine conversation.
1t is a melancholy fact that the average
man of consequence in the world, even if
lie have the leisure, will not join process
sion Of women before dinner and dawC!e
his time away over cup Of tea and q con-
versation about nothing. He is generally
through with his work by 3 or o'clock,
Just in time for the tea or reception, but
instead of going tkither he prefers TO drop
in at the club, play game Of cards or
billiards, or, selfish mortal, take drive all
by himself in the suburbs.
In consequence this is what we see on
every side every afternoon these days in
the capital city Of the nation: A beautiful
house, filed with all the art furniture, tap
estries, rugs and pictures that money can
buy and space bestow; an eXquiSitely
dressed. experienced and vivacious hostess,
standing Just within the first drawing
room TO receive her friends; assisting her,
either 'in line" ready to be introduced TO
every man that comes along, or ensconced
behind tea urns and in delightful little
corners, a dozen OF twenty OF the prettieSt
and most charming girls in the world, with
their best gowns and fuckers on and
wearing their brightest smiles. And what
else? Why, a procession of women, an
endless, smiling, chattering. well dressed
but manleSs procession OF women. Some
Of them are young and charming, but more
are old enough to have outlived the mania
for receptions, which dear experience must /
long ago have taught them was a stupid,
vapid. artificial means Of pleasure.
Many Of this passing throng are I'M
known women, such as Mrs. Senator Blank
was complaining Of just now-the women
who rush into fine houses out Of sheer curl /
osity 70 see the homes and gowns and man /
ner Of people above them in socisi station |
They are here TO crafty an unquenchsble 4
thirst to see and be seen, and an undying
ambition 10 be able TO tell their friends
here, and 10 write 10 their friends in the
country, all about their call on Mrs., f.
Senator So-and-so, and the wife Of the
minister OF This-or-Jhst of the presi
dents cabinet; but the men. on! where
are they? And what a dismal, almost
pathetic scene this is in the parlors
Women gushing over women, young
girls wasting their charms upon the
maiden aunts of other girls. beauty Ian
gushing for drop OF masculine appreoia-
ton, and the colored man in the hall
solemn and little timid amid so much
bufeting Cd a sea Of bonnets.
Did you ever know ten or fifteen men 10
assemble in a parlor and spend an sitter
noon shaking hands with two or three .
hundred other men there. as il 10 do some
thing and skill with nothing TO DO, talk. 4