Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-11

And TO the parlor takes her way.
Like the benodiction which follows after
prayer came the respite longed for by the
leaders of the smart world, who during New
Years week were going from morning till
night, and morning again.
The past week has been exceedingly quiet
hi social circles and if it had not been for the
beautiful reception at the Millard on Thurs
day evening" the opera, and one or two card
parties and Kensngtons, the week would
have been utterly devoid of social interest
But there is great compensation in the fact
that there we're fewer entertainments the
past week than during the week previous.
The young girls could not have stood the
strain and cases Of pneumonia would have
resulted with the chances even that they
might prove fatal.
1t was far better to have letting down
from the rapid pace and bright eyes and
rosy cheeks testify to the efficacy of the re st.
This week promises little more than last.
The reception by Mr.. and Mrs. w. II. Nc
Cord, Mrs.Levi Carter's dancing party
Mrs. Samuel Burns are thus for
the only entertainments announced for the
week, Dut some how or other when the week
IS ended the social columns of The BEE
show activity among the leaders of the social
life IN the city.
1t is not necessary for Tillie May Forney
TO remind US that there are few more de-
hghtful ways OF entertaining than dinner
giving. In recent article in Table Talk this
practical writer and broad observer very
justly remarks that it is grevous error to
suppose that the menu is the only especial
feature OF the ideal dinner party. OF course
the choice of dishes, the preparation and the
serving are of primary importance, but to
Insure lifting appreciation it is neces-
sary to give careful thought to the Sc
lection OF guests The company gathered in
a family dining room, must, in the nature of
things, be small one, and it should be thor
oughy congenial. The TACT therefore, of a
dinner hostess shows itself first when she
sends outhcr invitations, as many feasts have
} been spoiled by lll-chosen guests as by in
competent cooks. Nor is it necessary that all
the company should be old acquaintances;
y indeed, SUCH party is likely to be dull; con-
nIi ..',iVu fresher when the social element
/.@yariod. 1t is, however, judicious to so
range it that each guest is acquainted with
at least one other in the company
A very large party Is generally unsatisfac-
tory. 1t Is a sad fault to crowd at table.
Nothing is more unpleasant at dinner than
rubbing elbows with your neighbors. Plenty
OF room. plenty of light and plenty OF air are
a trinity of essentials if you would make your
dinner parties successful.
The Invitations to n formal dinner party
should be sent out two weeks in advance.
Happily, i'll this country, we are not both
cred with formal rules of precedence. The
simple one to be observed with us in seating
guests Is that the lady Of distinction, that
Is, the one forwhom the dinner may be given,
should be placed at the right of the host. If
1T be a gentleman who is so honored, he is
properly seated at the right hand of the
hostess. The remainder Of the company is
placed as the fancy Of the hostess dictates
and If the arrangement does not meet with
general satisfaction it is well to remember
that tho lady iswithin her rights and no one
Is justified in being offended.
II the boutonnieres of men grow much
larger they will arrive at the dignity of cor
sage bouquets, A year or so ago the most
pretentiOus swell considered the lapel of his
coat sufficiently decorated If it bore small
rose or n spray OF fern. Then he increased
the size Of the boutonnere by an extra rose
= or bunch of vi0lets, and the fashion finally
''came around to gardenias and what are
known as white pinks. FIRST, men wore two
white pinks then three, then four, aud now
they frequently wear five in u bunch. It is
the least harmful fashion to which men are
addicted, however, of which no one complains
least of all, the florists.
Mrs. s. V. Cruger's second novelette, "a
Successful Man." is very knowing book
says Life. 1t illustrates the remark of a
lover of paradox that "domesticity is the
greatest foe of American societyn Daniel
Lawton, characteristic successful man, rose
through the careers of a dozen men. He
married early wife who was suited to but
one career. Lawton awoke in middle life, on
the eve OF his greatest achievement, to the
realization that placid, domestic life mig hit
not furnish the greatest stimulus to an am
bilious man. He was not weak man, or a
vicious man; he merely recognized what
every thoughtful man knows to be true. and
which Lord Bacon long ago put into the
famous remarks about wife and children
being hostages to fortune.n The usual
reply to make is that such situation is
trough on TIE women,n Without being un-
generous, is it not fair to add that it is oc-
casionally trough on the menP' or course
there have been two ways out of the dilemma
in this Countrywide adaptablity of Ameri-
can women and the divorce court And it is
surely safe to say that the former way is the
more popular-for the American woman has
proved herself aDle to 'rise in the world"
about as RAPIDLY as the American man-and,
indeed, it usually takes good man to keep
pace with her in the race.