The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-11
Society at I~rNingtOn.

Apropos of the recent articles upon In
d~ianapolis's manner of entertainment"
social CUSTOMS expense and so forth a
few words on like subjects In connection
with one of her suburbs may be of interest.
To the vague conception Of the man who
has never followed Washington street out
east a little distance Irvington. the suburb
referred TO. seems forty miles instead of
four. To the casual visitor the town itself
seems a rural and quiet place. Well, rural
to some extent perhaps it is. The residents
feel that way themselves sometimes when
they find themselves on the dry and dusty
~thoroughfares of indianapolis with the mud
of their native streets fresh on their heavy
storm overshoeS. And quiet the place is,
too, especially in the morning and early
afternoon. hut should that visitor lineer
until later he would find ii animated enough.
In spite of the winding streets, the long dis
tanceS and the muddy ways, walking is a
favorite paStime, and on a pleasant even
ing or a bright Sunday afternoon all the
town turns out. AS spring comes on the
young man and young woman who diSsi-
pate very much in this direction are watched
with anxious and curious eye, for every one
understands the symptoms. The residents
nave seen this sort of thing go on for years
and recognize it as the first signs of future
woe or bliss on the part of the young peo-
pie of the town.
The suburb is a social place in-its way
in spite of drawbacks, which only serve to
lend a delightful uncertainty to all its en-
tertainments. In the first plac &c the expense
Of these numerous informal gatherings is
Often but slight. especially If the young men
lemonade is a favorite article of refresh
ment. One of the youths goes TO the COM
mission house and purchases a lot of lemons,
TO the bakery and adds a few pounds Of
fancy cakes, the sugar he buys at the viii
lage store. the punch bowl is provided by
one neighbor and sherbet glasses by another,
and all the preparations are complete;
orange cider and cherry phosphate are ia
vorite substitutes for lemonade. Ice cream
0x-nlxnC moro trouble and N0nSi6arah ln moro
uncertainty. Its transportation must be by
street car. If the ice cream man is amiable
sponsibility ends; the conductor assumes the
charge. and having set 1t off at the desig-
mated place, his responsibility ends, Repos-
ing by the roadside 1t awaits the time and
pleasure of it's owner, who, when con-
venience makes it possible. trundles it home
in a wheelbarrow. He now enters upon a
brief space of care and anxiety. for that
cream is considered public property unless
placed under lock and key.
At a recent little company of the Own
residents the guests received a violent dis
appointment and the hostess a tragic shock.
1t had been ascertained that Ice cream
would be served, and II wrs a surprise to
all when the maid appeared bearing cups
Of hot chocolate instead Of refreshing ice.
The Mortified face of the hostess In the
cream had been spirited away from the
side porch, and the men Of the party imme-
search. In the course Of time they re-
turned, having rescued one oox, thus en-
aiding each guest TO enjoy a taste, at
leas,- The large halls of a certain building
in the town are a favorite place for hold
ing gatherings somewhat similar to the
old-fashioned church socialS our parents en-
joyed. About s o'clock the young folks
gather here and pass the evening in a jolly
fashion. Games are the order of the hour,
and one and all make merry with drop
the handkerchief" 'blind-man's buff" and
pussy wants a corner" The lights of this
building are regulated by a tyrannical jan
itor. who has his orders to turn them off
at 10 O'Clock, and who obeys TO the second.
Thus the occasion ends in a general scram-
bic for wraps, and often an exciting search
for ones escort.
But 1t is whispered that noI all the par
ties and Socials are so general and infor-
NAL. There are some to which a few young
folks go quietly. They are held in private
parlors, and the blinds are pulled down,
and they are mentioned only In a certain
set; not because there is anything wrong In
them but because the kind Of entertain