The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-27
A BACHELORS TEA PARTY.
Kate Jorda. Says One Was All She Cared
TO Attend.

Kate Jorda. Says One Was All She Cared
TO Attend.
NEW YORK., DID you know that
it was ''quite the thing for Tom, Dick and
Harry 10 give tea parties to their dear girl
friends?
You always fancied a woman at a tea ia
BILE, her dainty wrist visible through falling
ruffles of lace as she poured out the fragrant
Pekee, whenever you thought of a tea party
at ALL didn't you?
Well. to be candid, SO did I until / re-
ceived quite an astounding invitation only
the other day:
will you not come and have a cup of tea
on Tuesday afternoon at at Mr.. So-and-
SOS studio:"
had heard that Mr.. So-and-so lived in q
studio. had even heard il rumored that
he sometimes made a sketch, although l
had never seen one in any illustrated paper,
but 1 was curious to find out what he
meant by sending out engraved invitations
TO tea party.
Il dare say his sister Mary is on for a
winter visit to the metropolis" said my as
tute friend Polly. land he is probably en-
tertaining in order TO make her acquainted
with his friends all at once"
But when reached the studio on Tues
day afternoon l found this was not the
case. Indeed the picture that met my gaze
made me want to laugh.
The curtains were closely drawn, SO that
no ray of light from the wintry sky pene-
trated into that mellow toned interior.
where candles famed under pink silk
shades The odor Of heliotrope, which
learned afterward was Mr.. So-and-so' ia
vorite perfume hung delicately and eva
sively in the air.
/ looked around in wonder. The studio
was thronged with young girls, middle
aged women, even elderly women, but not
a man was there to be seen save Mr.. So
and-so.
In few moments he came toward me
with tea and cakes.
Charming idea, this, of girls teas-er-
don't you think soi' he lisped.
Where are all the mem" dared to ask.
"MenY Oh. do you think I'd mar the
the-euphony of this charming day by hav
ing a brute of q man here? I'm awfully
selfish, know, but you see quite dote on
pretty girls just rs do on pictures or flow
crs," said Mr.. So-and-so enthusiastically.
II like to see lot of them together Look
at that group in the corner against the net
work of the palms. Isn't the effect perfect
IL charming? Now, your dress is a sort Of
pale heliotrope, and how exquisitely it
shows against that yellow satin pillowl Do
you suppose l could bear to see such SYM
phony Of color broken by pair Of horrid
gray trousers or mans hideous black
coatf"
Mr.. So-and-so shuddered at the thought
SO that the diyan mbled and my cup tot
tered.
This is girls day." he continued, with a
drawl. ''Oh, it's so refreshing after knock
ing around with lot of men at clubs and
that sort of thing, don't you know"
Yes, suppose so," l answered fatty. II
should think you would enjoy it,"
Pm in cloverl' he cried.
Just then tall girl in a white dress with
baby sleeves trailed languidly toward US,
moving with one sided swing
.'Dodie," which / learned afterward was
Mr.. So-and SOS pet name, won't you
singi"
Dear girl, I'm as hoarse as frog" he
protested.
''Oh, Dodie, you mustv cried three 9TH
ers, fluttering around him.
VERY we'll, then What shall II be-" and
he picked up guitar that stood against
the wall.
BY degrees every girl and woman IN tie
place was gathered around the divau. and
Mr.. So-and-so, enthroned like u god, was
singing French chauson with u very poor
accent.
But, oh, dear me, the amount Of pstter-
ing from gloved hands when he was done
and the gasps OF exclanations OF pleasure!
Mr. So-and-so took all this very kindly
and made more tea Then before we left
he presented each of Us with pink satin
ribbon, decorated by himself. as a aemento
OF that marvellous afternoon.
As be stood bowling us out he wore in his
buttonhole q huge bunch OF roses. No
wonder it was hugel Each of his visitors
had been required to give him with her
own fair hands a bud from the bouquets
he had provided.
No doubt Mr. So-and-so enjoyed himself,
but except for the girls who called him
Dodie, and who probably had done their
share toward making an affected idiot Of
him, | thought there were some who felt
as did-that IL was ridiculous parade 0.
vanity.
Some days after I received another card
from friend Of Mr. So-and-so's as follows:
"Will you not come and have a cup c. tea
on Saturday afternoon al a. Mr.. Airy
Nothng's studio?'
AnotherS
No. thank you, Mr.. Airy Nothing. One
bachelors tea, where one finds only weak
Oolon9. a horde Of gushing women and q
man vino reminds you CT piece Of ang.!
cake. is quite enough in the season. said
as with feeling Of satisfaction watched
the dainty card burn 70 eurled gray fake.
KATE JOKDAs.