The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-29
1Y))l)l'lNly)ll)lN


=
Shallow people are apt TO think that
mere recreation and amusement are the
principal ends of social meetings and
social intercourse, and that when n psSn
goes to a party, he goes in the hope OF
enjoying himself, without ulterior OBJ
1ects. To have penetrated beneath this
bcperflcial judgment constituted, in
philosophical view, the chief distinc-
tion of BOBBY Baines. He perceived--or
Mt least acted as II he perceived-that
society was, when properly treated. at
once the fairest and the most fruitful
field for a young mans activity. Other
men worked from ten 10 six, and played
from six to midnight or SO much later
es seemed good TO them Baines dallied
with the hours of daylight, the scene Of
his dalliance being the Offices of the
board of trade, and toiled strenuously
from dinnertime till returning dawn.
The hours were long, but the work was
congenial, and II was done in the spirit
of an enthusiast. To Baines an invita-
tion TO dinner was the voice of con-
science, and card for n reception tho
finger of duty. The flesh might be
weary and desire might fail, but he
went still to his long "At Homes" and
The dances followed after.
Such devotion did not go without its
reward. II you stroke the most scorn-
ful cat with patience. in time the cat
will purr. Baines strol1ed society, and
sn due course society purred. Thus II
6ell out that the Joe Baines. of the littlc
vicarage in Herefordshire, the BOBBY
Baines of Rugby and Cambridge-for
hugby originated, and Cambridge, To
iss disgrace, adopted the ribald name
blossomed forth into the Mr.. j. Adj
dington Baines, young man Of infinite
and graceful culture, highly regarded
In drawing-rooms, and possessed OF an
honored place in houses of high repute.
Those who had not watched the process
might be pardoped II they marveled at
the result. The means were SO simple,
The product SO magnificent. Mr. Baines'
success illustrated TO perfection the
principle of the parsimony of nature.
AS every evening. so this evening, ho
stood before his dressing-table, tying
his white tie, and revolving, as Homer
says, many things in his heart. The
thoughts came at random; first he ad-
mired the "sit" of his shirt, then the
arch of his nose, then the curve of his
chin; next he hummed verse Of
French poetry and smiled at the recol-
lection of M. Coquelin aine in his latest
part; for BOBBY was great French
man. In the middle of his amusement
he caught sight of his money on the
table, and was suddenly reminded that
he was very hard up. He groaned
against his dura noverca, the board Of
trade; gloves and coats, cabs and stalls,
mount up; his country underpaid Boo
by Baines; he could hardly live on
what he got. But his face frightened
again; it was a pleasant house to which
he was going. Mrs. Swayne perhaps
hardly understood him, but one can be
admired without being understood, and
Addie Swayne, at oil events, was a
most attractive girl, full of esprit and
cspieglerie and many other charming
hmportatiors. That was thing to be
considered. For Addie liked him very
much, and he liked Addie very much in
deed, and Addie had eight hundred
pounds year.
Now It chancellor the luck of Mr..
Baines was constant-that he could not
have chosen happier moment for pay
tng his attention to Miss Swayne. For
that rude old savant, Prof. Martin, had
told her before dinner that Mr.. Baines
WAS no genius-he had put it even more
|bluntly-and that he was surprised at
= girl Of her good sense liking to talk