The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-20

Copyright 1896 by Bachelor. Johnson &
Bacheller)
THE most brilliant company that
had ever assembled within the walls
of the aristocratic old Kalsomine
club"
So said Deacon Terrapin. as he stood
in the doorway of the ball room and
watched the throng OF jewellers as they
floated by him to the inspiring strains
of Professor Catgut's orchestra. 1t was
ladies night" at the Kalsomine, an
unusual function, which attracts the
very cream Of New York's colored So
ciety, and this year il was admitted by
all to exceed in point of exclusiveness,
wealth of color, and general tone TO any
entertainment ever given I'm the club
house before. 1t was 10 o'clock, and al
though the rooms were comfortably
filled, each Sixth avenue car that
passed the corner of the street a hun
dred yards away, stopped to discharge
its load of well-dressed, laughing
young men and maidens, for there was
scarcely family of any prominence In
colored society that was not represent
ed by at least four of its members. Not
to be seen in the Kalsomine parlors OF
such a night as this was to acknowi-
edge ones self small social potatoes r.
the smart ebony set.
Deacon Terrapin had fairly voiced
the sentiment of the club of which he
was president, and Mrs. Hominy, to
whom his remark was addressed,
agreed with him perfectly. There was
no one in the club who would have
dreamed of disputing a statement made
by such an eminent member of society
as the gentleman who had presided
over the sideboard of a certain famous
Madison avenue house for 20 years, and
was recognized as the dean of the old
fashioned and almost extinct guild of
colored retainers. Mrs. Hominy. who
had heartily endorsed the deacon's
statement, was the relict of Isaiah
Hominy, one of the most distinguished
artists of his day, and the founder OF
the summer school of the Kalsomine at
Canarsie, which remains a living mon
ument to his progressive ideas on art
education. and has since become the
rallying point of the most distinguish
ed whitewashers of the advanced inn
pressionist school.
Since her widowhood. Mrs. Homlny
had lived I'm strict seclusion, devoting
herself to the education OF her daugh-
ter. and appearing in the bright world
of fashion only on such extraordinary
occasions as the Kalsomine ladies'
uiknls vi the IlknlH FESTIVAL OI
the Watermelon coterie.
Tonight her daughter Lydia was
with her for the first time. and the
mothers eyes glistened proudly
through her silver bound spectacles, as
she watched the young debutante
promenading around the room on the
arm of the handsome. wealthy. and in
every respect eligible Henry Twospot.
who had charge OF the buffet i'm one of
the alaah in
town. II the proud mother had
watched more closely she would have
noticed that, although the young girls
teeth cleaned with innocent pleasure
as she listened to the honeyed words of
admiration which her gallant escort
poured into her right ear nevertheless
there was look of abstraction In her
face, and from time TO time her eyes
roamed anxiously about the room as II
in search of some one who had not yet
arrived at the scene of reVelry.
Lydia Hominy had no lack of cava-
liers. all eager TO claim her hand for the
dance. or the privilege of escorting her
round and round the great ball room
during the promenades that interviewed
between the different numbers OF Pro-
fessor catguts long programme. There
was Peter Layout. the trusted servitor
in Colonel Neverpulls faro bank. sit
uated in the very heart OF the Tender
loin, and within easy reach of dozen
of the leading Broadway hotels. And
near him stood the Rev. Gallilee Hoe
cake, the fashionable young rector who
had conquered every feminine heart
during the three months that had
elapsed since he preached his first ser
mon in the parish Mr.. Hoecake had
been outspoken in his prediction for
innocent amusements of all sorts. and
particularly those in which the young
people OF both sexes could AXE part.
and although some of the older and
more sedate members Of his congrega-
tion regarded his utterances on the
question as a dangerous departure
from the more rigid teachings OF his
predecessor. he had obtained remark
able spiritual ascendency over the
young men and maidens. who We're
only too glad to have their pet amuse-
ments receive the sacredotal approval
Thomas Heavytip. of the Wagner
Sleeping Car service. was another pop
ular gallant who had succumbed To the
beWitching smiles OF the new beauty
whose success had already excited the
envy Of many OF the acknowledged
bellies OF the club set.
But despite the graceful attentions
OF the most desirable OF the men de-
spite the bewildering. intoxicating
spell OF gay music. bright lights and
perfumes from scores OF bouquets,