The courier., 1896-03-28
MISS PENELOPE, OMAHA

My Dear Eleanor:-Whst do you sup
pose it is, in the things about ourselves,
which makes the subject 30 absorbingly
entertaining? Why il. even discounts
scandal about our neighbors, which is q
difficult thing to do. How do you like
this bal masque? Scarcely necessary to
ask. once you admit 10 your letter the
fascination OF mystery. The idea was
presented to me. first endured, then
pitied, then embraced the opportunity,
to retouch both friend and foe. 1t is q
great opening. in a way. for girl who
is in. and not exactly OF it.
For three yeare have been an ad-
junct to Omaha's Four Hundred. /
have not been bowling success. That
is to say. Luther Drake, Frank Hamil-
ton and Dick Berlin have never even
been suspected Of having proposed to
me. Dick took me to the theatre at
one time, but that was only because
papa's political ''infiooence" was wanted
in the Third ward, which also accounted
for dozen American beauties ] re.
ceived one Christmas from the same
source. What do you think, Eleanor.
constitutes the elements Of popularity?
i am not pretty girl, but l believe !
have more-I was about to say intel
lect-I repent and substitute sense
than numbers Of girls here who give me
cards and spades" in the social game.
1t is a very nice problem to solve. Why,
Miss x who started out pitted against
Miss Y with equally favorable sur
roun1ings. loses her popularity before
the end OF the first season, while Miss
Y has increased hers. / have had
ample opportunity to speculate on these
things. have attended all the social
doings for several seasons, in a sort OF
wall flower role. imposed on me by my
family's standing. and my own inability
to be belle, and have observed many
things and deduced many conclusions.
sat near dowager at a swell func
ton here once, and heard her say, a
woman she is by the way, who has seen
the best on two sides of the water, that
many Of Omsha's young people had ad-
vanced very little in polish, since the
days of wampum belts and moccasins.
As explanation il may be well to add the
festivities were given in this iady's
honor. and none OF the younger guests.
or few Of them, had thought it worth
while to speak to her especially.
You ask what has been going on
nothing especial or pronounced, it being
the proper caper to sustain a paralytic
shock during Lent Do you suppose
Omaha would 30 far forget herself as to
10 more than sneak few amusements
Turing tins period of sack cloth and
passe party clothes! However we have
,vaded strict compliance to the letter
II the Law, and enjoyed ourselves in a
;haffing dish style capable OF explana-
ion to our confessors-I was hungry
md ye fed me. Its hard lines, however
when the rabbit curdles.
There was such pretty luncheon
yiven here ~eek or two ago. which
wen now bears description. 1t was
yiven by one Of our particularly origi-
,al hostesses, Mrs. James McKenna, for
Mrs. Abbott. Of Minneapolis, sister to
drs. Schwan, Of Omaha. 1t was a
Napoleon lunch. The round table was
covered with pale green crepon cover,
he fiat center piece of white lilies was
led with gold colored ribbon in semi.
ircle over the platte, half wreath OF
,lossy laurel leaves and red berries fin-
Dhed with bows Of same ribbon, and
acn lady rocoivod n modollion picfura