Omaha daily bee., 1894-01-14
NEARING THE LENTEN REST
sooiety Shows a Nancy Hanks Gait During
the Past Week,
PRETTY DANCING PARTYFo MISS TURNER
Entertainments thar Gave Pleasure 10 the
social Lions - Another Debutante
Launched Into the Gay World
Dolngs of a Minor Nature.

II it is the pace that kills, then some OF
the more fragile members Of the beau
monde will have to stop a bit in their society
career, else will the sick room claim a few
victims before the dawn Of Ash Wednes-
day. The pace set by the younger crowd
has been unprecedented, and the grand
round Of functions includes every known
form Of entertainment. The week past has
been filed with events OF a social nature
and there Is no apparent diminution in the
number of affairs TO come. The debutantes
are commencing to show the effects of the
mad rush just a little, and Lent will be well
coined with rejoicing, for it will bring u
modicum Of rest 10 its train at least.
An Interested Observer contributes the
following to the society olumns of The BEE:
If Mrs. Pcattie in her recent criticism OF
Omaha society entitled stand Up Gc Social
Lions" intended to arouse the combativc-
ness of the so-called social lion as well as
the indignation and disgust of all those con-
versant with the subject, she has accom-
plishcd its purpose, not owing TO the
soundness of her criticism, but TO its gross
injustice and palpable Misrepresentation OF
facts.
Ii is a matter of wonderment to many
who nave reason to suppose that they are
in society from what source Mrs. Peattie
p IL OIbulliu htI llO lhhLlOhs w lCl' ~
the name Of society she has observed these
glaring abuses of common conventionallty.
We must presume one of two things either
Mrs. Peattie in her zeal for criticism has
Knocked at the wrong door, and, thinking
she was writing up society, has, in fact,
come in contact with the mediocrlty, or, on
the other hand, charity would suggest that
she has sir ply been cruelty deceived and
misinformed on the subject she attempts to
treat.
We will proceed on this supposition. There
Is no doubt that a great deal may be said in
criticism of London and New York society,
and the salho might be applied to a certain
extent to Omaha society, or rather TO a few
individuals composing 1T, but Mrs. Peattie
is far too severe in her criticisms and TOO
general in her terms, as well as absolutely
mistaken in most OF her Re-
garding the success of Omaha entertain.
ments this season, of course | don't know
what lone hears whispered everywhere"
but / do know that most of the parties this
season have been very successful and very
enjoyable in every respect, ard If there has
been any lack of attention on the part of
the men 1t may he attributed to the fact that
comparatively few of them are going out this
winter, and not that they are in any way
dereIict in their social duties when present
at entertainments, and as for the noticeable
feature that Mrs. Peattie suggests of the
men standing around in stupid groups dis
cussing the charms of the young ladies'"
bllC plCbuTt 10 LOO dUSuEu lOT ClSCuSSlOO, anu
is absolutely without fact as being in any
way characteristic as a custom of Omaha's
society men.
l really appreciate Mrs. Peattie's charity
In her gentle handling of the holder sex, but
the fond and the young girls so
ssamelessly thrust in the matrimonial mar
ket." Where! on where did this remarka-
Bile writer get her ideas on this subject?
From the Figaro or the Kansas City Sunday
SUM- / believe that is about on a par with
thn n,yn,a1etAr th,- y1.-- --- +!
their wild rawlings against society and on
kindred subjects.
If the Innocent enjoyment of a young girl
in attending dancing parties, receptions. af-
ternoon teas, and in social intercourse with
her friends, especially in the exuberance of
her first season out, is to he construed into
the putting up of a young girl iuto the
matrimonial Market" have not a word to
say In contradiction to such a proposition;
moreover, and | know whereof l speak, 1T is
not the impression or understanding of the
young men of Omaha society that a young
woman's coming out is an expression of her
Willingness to be married. The suggestion
is absurd and is a cruel injustice and reflec-
sion upon the young women as well as the
mothers constituting Omaha society.
Now on the subject of the Yale concert
and ball, supposing this affair was made a
social event and q successful one, it was the
only entertainments of the kind this season,
forthe reason that our extravagant society
kooio u hSil lcthltSS tSpcnulJuEe OF money
for frlvolities did not feel able to support q
social organization of any kind during the
existing hard times. The Yale concert did
dot take out of town d dollar more, if as
much, as the companies that gave their per-
formances at Boyd's theater. Many of them[
am sure, not as worthy or commendable as
this concert. AND another thing, Mrs.
Peattie should remember that all this lem
onstration and the pains expended by the
Yale men of Omaha was not simply for the
purpose of entertaining these boys" as she
Is pleased to term them, but to show, in q
tangible form, their high esteem and honor
for their alma mater, dear old Yale! If this
is Objectionable to the lady's sense of pro-
priety we are extremely sorry that her invi-
tation TO the ball failed to reach it's destina-
tion.
The gross mls-statements in this TRADE
against society and the bitter accumulation
of every one connected with it cannot fail
to place the writer in the position before
the public of a discontented outsider, who,
participating in none of tho enjoyments of
society, has gladly seized the opportunity to
to rail at those more favored by accepting
as true any information which has come to
hand and BY maliciously applying to the
whole OF society the shortcomings and fail
ings of the few.