The morning call., 1894-03-21
STOKES LEADING.
To-day Decides the Fate
of Greenway.
NO INVITATION so FAR.
Where Edward Gets His Pull in
Society.
HIS AWFUL ATTEMPTS TO QUIT.
But Every Time He Announces His
Retirement Society BegS for
Just One More.

"Festina Lente" may be translated "a
little too previous" said a club man
grayely yesterday, referring to the skating
club of that name organized by James
Brett Stokes. by that, l mean that the
originator has gone the wrong way about
making it a success if be exclude Green
way, don't you know. For instance. the
rock upon which it will split is that of ex-
pense. Five large dollars is what the
subscription Is, and, to tell you the truth.
what with club dues. living dues and bad
business the swell set is not throwing
money away just now. Still. that would
not make The difference If Greenway was
IN the Festina Lente. Being out. lots of
his friends will stay out, and then the
hiring of that rink cannot be dcne. l tell
you, Greenway Is as indispensable in San
Francisco society as dog is to tai"
"In this case which is the dog?" asked
the newspaper man, as his informant
stopped to light another cigarette at
nickel apiece.
my dear sir, it does not so much matter
which is the dog as which does the wag-
ging."
well. then, which does the wagging?"
~ our best answer would be the thou
sand and one debutantes and the nine
hundred and ninety-nine society men who
owe their entree 30 society to Ed Green
way" and the club man blew ring of
smoke into the air which alighted on gas
jet and hung there.
1t is unnecessary 10 say that this be-
| lever in the indispensabiliLy of Ed Green
way in matters social was not James Brett
Stokes. Mr.. Stokes is saying nothing. out
he has a whole backyard full of the wood
he has been saving. His friends deny that
an invitation has been sent TO Greenway,
despite rum0rs to the contrary, and they
| say that tO-day's meeting of the Festina
Lente will not see Greenway there as
member. So the matter stands
! In society there is distinctly active de-
| sire to get rid of Greenway. Still, so far
there has come along DO one who is capa-
Dle of filling his large-sized shoes. 1t is q
common belief that no one can make dol
lar go farther than Greenway can in social
| affairs. He is good executive man, also,
and relieves thelaZy aud biase of the work
of organizing and carrying out 'fUDc-
tion." Ii is this sem-funky faculty which
has given him his greatest influence among
those who are proverbially dull in organi-
zation. Outside Of this there is nothing in
particular that would indicate Mr.. Green
| ways fitness for the place of leader; and
/ as far as good looks and appearances go ii
| ts "as a watch case TO a common 'larum
bell" when compared to the elegant James
| Brett Stokes. Then, the latter is fresh
from the East and has worshiped at the
shrine of Ward McAllister, while Green
way has got into rut staying in a town
which Lillian Russell and Blanche Walsh
declare to be Jay" Then, again, James
| Brett Stokes is club man, and Greenwav
is not. In Bohemia Stokes may often be
| found, while as sure as o'clock comes
round in the afternoon he can be located
unfailingly at the University Club. So
thar, taken all in all. GreeRway is not in it,
10 use a vulgar expression. with Stokes.
All these things added to the faculty of
organization which Stokes has proved
himself to possess by the coup of the Fes-
tina Lente. the man seems to be here who
shall occupy Greenway's place in the van
of society.
Mr.. Greenway himself is telling friends
that he does not care to be In society.
That it no longer has any joys for him. He
| confesseS freely that he has been bankrupt
for some time, but says he cannot get out
| of society; that society drags him into her
functions whether he will or no. In fact.
Mr. Greenwsy draws most pathetic
picture Of society weeping at his feet
whenever he announces his positively
! last appearance" On such occasions So
clety whimpers. "Oh, do please. Mr..
Greenway. this once. We won't ask you
again If you Will but attend to this func-
tion." Then Mr.. Grsenway consents and
! another year is gone before he knows il.
! Positively" said a friend of his yester-
| day. 'Mr. Greenway would give anything
to get out of society. He would, indeed.
| He's sick and tired of it. If he had put
the energy and push into some business
that he has into society he would be well
off to-day. But it's his fad. He cannot
help it. Nobody can do it here as we'll as
LIE can, and he is indispensable. Society
can't do without Ed Greenway. And as to
stories about his making commissions on
everything that is furnished at social en-
ettainments-well. that is told by his enc
mics"