The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-27
A eAcHELoR,s - PARTY.


AAAN MNNMAN says WV " - 80 "AN NaANNA
20 Attend.
Especial Correspondcnoo.l
NEW YoRK. Jan. 22.-Did you know that
Il was "quitethe thing" for Tom. Dick and
Harry 70 give tea parties 20 their dear girl
friends?
You always fancied a woman at a tea Ia
Bile. her dainty wrist visible through falling
ruflos OF lace as she poured out the fragrant
Pekee, whenssgcr you thought of tea party
u all. didn't you9
Well 70 be candid, so did I until / re-
ccived 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"
I had heardithatNfr So-and-so lived In a
studio. had even heard il rumorei that
he sometimes made a sketch. although /
had never seen one in any illustrated paper,
but l was curious 20 find out what ne
meant 10y sending out engraved invitations
10 a tea party.
II dare say his sister Mary is on for a
winter wish TO the metropolis said my as
tute friend Polly, "and he is probably en-
tertaining in,order to make her acquainted
with his frieris all at once"
But when Ilresche,lsthe studio on Tues
day afternoon l found this was not the
case Indeed the picture that met my gaze
made me wautsto laugh.
The curtains were closely drawn. 50 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-sos ia
vorite perfume, hung delioately and eva
sively in the air.
looked around in wonder The studio
was throngod with young girls, middle
aged women. even ehlerly women, but not
man was there to be seen save Mr.. So
and-so.
In few moments be 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 menu l dared TO ask
"Nlen? Oh, do you think I'd mar the
the-euphony of this charming day by hav-
ing a brute OF a man hereY I'm awfully
selfish. / know, but you see quite dote on
pretty girls just as do on pictures OF flow
en-" said Mr.. SO-and-so enthusiastically.
Il like TO see a lot Of them together. Look
at that group in the corner against the net
work Of the palms Isn't the effect perfect
IL charmingg Now, your dress is a sort Of
pale heliotrope, and how exquisitely it
shows against that yellow satin pillowl Do
YOU suppose could bear 20 see such a SYM
phony of color broken by pair of horrid
gray trousers or a mans hideOus black !
coat?"
Mr.. So-and-so shuddered at the thought !
90 that the divan trembled and my cup tot |
tered.
This is girls day" he continued, with
drawl. "Oh, its so refreshing after knock !
ing around with a lot of men at clubs and .
that sort of thing, don't you know"
Eyes, 1 suppose so, 1 answered fatty. II /
should think you would enjoy it,"
Pm in cloverp he cried.
just then tall girl in a white dress with /
baby sleeves trailed languidly toward us,
moving with a one sided swing
"Dodie," which l learned Gfterward was /
Mr.. SO-and-so's pet name, won't you /
sing'"
Dear girl. I'm as hoarse as a frog" be /
protested
"Oh, Dodie, you mustp cried three 9TH |
ers, futtering around him.
Very well, then. What shall it be-" and /
he picked up a guitar that stood against /
the wall.
By degrees every girl and woman In the |
place was gathered around the divan, and |
Mr.. So-and-so, enthroned like a god, was |
singing a French chanson with very poor /
accent.
But, on, dear me, the amount OF patter-
ing from gloved hands when he was done /
and the gasps Of ordinations 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 a pink satin
ribbon, decorated by himself, as a memento
of that marvellous afternoon.
As he stood bowling us out he wore in his /
buttonhole a huge bunch of roses. No .
wonder it was huge! Each of his visitors
had been required to give him with her
own fair hands bud from the bouquets
he had provided.
No doubt Dir. So-and-so enjoyed himself
but except for the girls who called him
Dodie, a. who probably had done their
share toward making an affected idiot of
him, thought there were some who felt
AS did-that it was ridiculous parade Of
vanity.
Some days after / received another card
from a friend Of Mr.. So-and-so's as follows:
viii you not come and have a cup of tea
on Saturday afternoon at I at Mr.. Airy
Nothiug's studiO'"
Another?
NO, thank you, Mr.. Airy Nothing. Ona
bachelors tea, where one finds only weak
Oolong horde Of gushing women and
man who reminds you Of piece of angel
cake, is quite enough in the seasonm said
as with feeling of satisfaction / watched
the dainty card burn 10 a curled gray fake.
KATE JORDAN.