New-York tribune., 1896-11-27
THE WY IT USED TO BE.
HOW MRS. PERRY. BY BECOMING ONE or
THE RANK AND FILE. COMPLETELY
LOST HER CHARM.

How very few people really have the courage OF
their convictions, The great majority are continu-
ally playing the old game OF folo" my leader ana
should they stop consider would often ma tha'
their actions much more Influenced by what
their neighbors think than by their own i'u'''""''
preferences or opinions
Mrs A. refuses to call on Mrs B.. not because she
knows ANYTHING 10 the latter's disadvantage, but
simply because Mrs. {. does not Mrs . gives
FIVE dinners and dance during the season. al
though she can hardly AFFORD II, for the apparently
Insufficient reason that Mrs u. gives eight dinners
and two balls etc.
In,l. Mrs Perry proved herself TO belong TO this
sheep-like class when IT would have been better
rolicv hv far TO have preserved her Independence.
She came Of an od-fashioned kind-hcarted South
ern family. who believed In sharing all they had IN
a simple unaffected manner with any stranger VINO
happened 10 be within their gates. So when Mr..
and Mrs Perry took up their quarters In New
York they pursued the same kindly cours. toward
the outside world. and their house In consequence
was desery.lly popular Their income was
limited but the pretty and sympat hcticaly unaf-
fcctcd manners OF the young hostess made her I'M
rromptu little entertainments "A great success. on
such occasions as All Halloween or Thanksgiving
or New Years Eve. she would ask those OF the
neighbors whom she knew 10 drop In informally.
Just used 10 do al nome she said with
simple hospitality.
Then they would clear the dining room and spread
a sheet on the hoor. and bob for apples In pals OF
water pop corn. roast chestnuts, melt lead TO tell
each others fortunes. etc.
II don't believe" said one OF the participants.
that there l. another house Of its size In New
York whore one could act in such an idotic manner
and not feel like Il fool: but the Perrys are so un-
conscious and jolly that It is perfectly delightful
Perry was also likely to bring men home 10 dinner
unex ,edly and II the beef was burnt or, as was
often the case the food insufficient. Mrs Perry.
with her pretty smiles and dmples would bring out
a silver-plated chafng-dish. which was one OF her
weddinr presents and would concoct welsh rare
hits or cook scrambled eggs. After which, al
though the guest was often obliged 10 satisfy his
hunger a the nearest restaurant he always felt he
had enjoyed himself Immensely. and at the next
opportunity came again. That was the way 1t used
TO be.
Then Mrs Perry began TO compare other peoples
methods OF entertaining with her own. with the re-
suI, that the latter struck her for the first time as
being provincial and when she heard her little
soIrees described being delightfully."- unconven-
onal she began to SUSPECT ridcule, ana Slu b moa
altogether like her guests enthusiasm. so she
gave up her All Halloween parties ana the IKE
and determined instead to have one big dinner
with the Somersaut sisters to dance afterward as
an excuse for asking people In later Tor the even,
ing-an entertainment which cost as rnuch as an
OF their pleasant little parties put toeether ana
which was stupidly conventional as similar
Did the Perrys gain anything by giving this osten-
tatious feast which was obviously beyond their
and which resulted III tntii sNi"h "P my
urprctent tious little gatherings which gave 40 much
pleasure others and TO themselves! ., -,
why do those people attempt so much salu
Mrs. Smart. They entertained so charinihsiy De-
fore. That. dinner was dreadtuly duii;
Mrs Perry. however. Is well pleased She mas iiau
the satisfaction OF having had IA dinner JUST IKE
every else's. with much the same pcopc anu
substantially the same courses. Ihe same names
that were wont TO be mentioned as dining AZ sundry
smart places that winter were reported IN tne So
ciety columns the next morning as dining with the
Perrys All of which was very gratifying. ana MIS-
T. remains hlissfuly UNCONSCIOUS .nnt ,l' pco,"s 1 ing
on. OF the rank and file she has completely lost her
| charm