The morning call., 1892-12-11
,itality in New York, Washington or Eu-

L K.
rope.
''San Francisco society does not live strictly
up to the code of etiquette, but there are
numerous reasons to account for this.
''The difficulty OF procuring good servants
makes entertaining moro aTdnous than else
where. and our laxity in returning calls has
partly grown up from the old style of liv-
ing, when people were not here to-day and
gone tomorrow. as Is the case now. but
having fought their way to California with
difficulty and danger came prepared to
stay"
A distinguished member of the Spanish
colony here gave it as her opinion that
social duties are real pleasure to people
who are happy and can entertain hand
somely without giving thought to means.
.'But even them" she added, ''those who
live in a perfect whirlpool Of entertaining
become tired as time passes by"
Mrs. w. /. Dickinson thinks that society
| obligations are pleasure to thOie who take
| them as amateurs and do not make social
| duties the business OF their lives.
TOO much display and too little sincerity
| poison so much of our enter tanning" she
! observed.
THE most enjoyable kind of social life is
| that in which friends visit without expect
ing or aiming at display.
"As for social duties" she added, hest
tating little, ''if it should fall to the lot of
hostess to entertain guests who are un-
! c0ngenial she may easily be said 10 perform
! duty.
g"Happily this seldom occurs; it is not
/ difficult to find and bring together the right
| people,"
Mrs. w. W. Morrow considers that society
duties become burden when the home
life has to be sacrificed to them. In moder-
alton, entertaining IS a great pleasure.
MY opinion respecting social duties ?"
queried Mrs. Dr. VOORHEES,. 'But l really
| do not understand the expression.
81 have always been accustomed to socI-
ETY.. and have regarded it as an enjoyment,
a necessity even.
1T is always pleasure to meet a friend,
even If l ouly chat for a few moments on
the street.
Certainly" she continued, smiling. "thera
are a few women perhaps, who find that soci-
ETY. becomes real work when the dayis passed
for their shining as bellies, but to any one
| who appreciates the beautiful can imagine
nothing more delightful than looking at
young girls enjoying themselves. Girls
visit me so much, and 1t is always easy to
| entertain them.
Without doubt music is one of the chief
charms Of society. 1t is a charm that young
and old can enjoy alike.
in my opinion" she added, ''lf you al
low any part of society lie to become
duty. the pleasure vanishes."
Mrs Judge Finn considers that as organ
lied society is one Of the necessities of CIV
ilized life, particularly in large cities, it
becomes almost incumbent upon prominent
| people 10 entertain.
! Whether woman enjoys this or not de-
| ponds upon her individual temperament.
To some it is the chief joy of life, others
find that society makes too many demands
upon their time.
For herself, she enjoys the intimacy of a
few chosen friends more than society" in
its wider sense. which is often matter of
veneer, something altogether on the sur
face.
"In really fashionable life you never get
| very near people," she observed
Social calls, perhaps, pay more than any
thing, because by means OF them one can
| keep up a pleasant acquaintance with a
larger circle of people than one can possibly
number among ones intimates"
Mrs Finn concluded by stating that in
| her estimation teas, concerts. etc, for char
| ity are the most delightful form of social
| duty, because in addition to the pleasure of
| the entertainment there is the satisfaction
| OF knowing that the poor aud the suffering
are benefited thereby