St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-10
LIFE IN SOCIETY.

Local society mas been good deal
agitated during the past week or two by
a somewhat extraordinary incident. 1t
appears that we'll known leader in the
smart set issued invitations the other
day to an entertainment of much elab-
orateness and eXcluSivenesS. 1t was
counted no little honor among those
who care for such things to have been
included in the number hidden, and,
even i'll advance of the evening, the
names of the fortunate ones were quite
generally known, not only among them
selves, but also by the rest of the social
world. When the guests arrived, how
ever, everybody was filled with surprise
and amaZement to see woman who
they were all sure had not been ex-
pected deliberately enter the room in
party attire and proceed to participate
in the festivities. She was very we'll
connected and eminently respectable
individual, who was intimately ac-
quainted with the hostess and with
those who had been invited, and Ordi-
nariiy would be warmly welcomed on
such all occasion. But in this particular
instance her presence completely de-
stroyed the success of the entertainment
because no proffered amusement could
distract peoples minds from the absorb
ing inquiry, GLOW did she happen to
come without invitation?' 1t may fairly
be said that she alone of all enjoyed
herself, and with evident pleasure en-
tered into the spirit of the affair, in bliss
full ignorance of the comment to which
she was exposed.
The next day the discussion was re-
newed Oh broader scale, and as those
who we're not there heard about the mat
ter, the town became divided into many
hostile camps, warning over this sub
ject. An unusually large number of
charitable and literary organizations
held their regular monthly meetings at
about this time. and so fascinating was
this topic that very little was said at
any of them about the rumored engage
ment of one of this seasons brides
to rich young member of Min
neapolis' quarter Of million. There
were two opinions prevailingly ex-
pressed. One was that the wom-
an had really been invited, but
this was received with little favor. A
half-Score Of witnesses declared that
they had seen the regular list. and that
her name was not on it; and finally the
hostess of the evening, being appealed
to, reluctantly confessed that she was
as much dumfounded as ANYBODY at
her appearance. There are still few
stubborn people who insist, in spite of
this evidence, that all invitation must
have been sent her. They say that it
may have been by mistake, and that the
giver of the feast may have forgotten it.
But they are not willing to admit that
one of the alleged culprit's standing and
training would have been guilty of such
a breach of decorum. The rest of the
jury think that she is either a brazen-
faced intruder, trying to gain social
footing at any cost, Or that she is so used
to being included in parties that she
overlooked the fact of her omission for
once, or that she got the invitation
which never came confused with some
one which actually did arrive, and I'M
consciously responded on the wrong
evening.
The GLOBE does not underte Ike to set
tie problem to which society itself
is not equal; and, as no one is willing to
hurt the woman's feelings by asking
her to explain course of con-
duet which they are all criticising
so caustically behind her back,
this is likely to remain, like the author
ship of the Junius letters. among tn
worlds mysteries. 1t suggests, howev--
pr The jenth Of nacSiOp vvb,ob rurI,c t,o
meath the seemingly placid surface of
existence among the socially elect. A
stranger witnessing the air of settled
melancholy with which it's votaries ap-
proach the joys prepared for them
would surmiSe that Indifference was
their characteristic and their ideal. But
this is not true. Beneath there RACES
seething sea of deep billowed sensations,
and they have their anticipations, their
realizaitons and their recollections like
the rest of mankind. They compare
notes as to their achievements in the
shape of invitations received. Some
times, as in the case just presented,
rather than admit temporary
discontinue, they go even where
they have not been asked, and
it is a rare event which after
it is all over does not afford some theme
on which the higher intellectually of
the community may besport itself. This
evening may incite to a rapturous ex-
pendlture of adjectives, so beautiful
were its appointments, this one to
denunciatory philippines because it was
pare and unsatisfactory, and third
may disclose some charming episode
like an unbidden guest. or one without
wedding garment, over which there