Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-11-11
A SOCIAL FAILURE.

She was poor, she was ugly, and it was
her first party. In these few words was
written the history of her little tragedy
and of the countless little tragedies that
go to make up the great undercrrrent of
society, While it's surface is ever of the
same heartless brilliancy. We beg for
woman s rights, yet it seems to me that
they, like charity, should begin at home
or in the homes of her friends, where Of
ten, invited as an honored guest, she is
the veriest slave to conventionality. If it
might only be that young girl at social
functions could have all the Independence
that she demands elsewhere. AS it now
is, she must rely upon three things-her
wit, man and Il chaperon. The first fail
ing, the second is very apt to, while the
third proclaims an ignomonious retreat.
We're her privileges the same as those of
the more fortunate man, she would be free
from all embarrassment We're it no more
cause for remark to find woman ''stag-
ging it, or standing alone at ball than
it is to see man smoking on the piazza
or leaning in a blase attitude in the door
way how much happier she would be. 1t
would do away with all that vulgar talk
about being stuck with girl, when she
is far the more miserable of the two, real
izing her abiect dependence on this stick
of humanity who has not enough tact to
hide from her the fatal fact that he can
not get away.
You may argue that even were these
privileges granted that a man when sought
by maiden might bow himself away
II
still be where she is now. But no. the cir
cumstance surrounding her social failure
would be entirely different 1t would not
be so much noticed. and there would al
ways be q certain amount of conjecture
concerning it. At any rate, the world
could not say the next day: "Poor Ara
bella, she came to the ball last night with
out a chaperon and spent the whole even
ing with one man! I suppose the next
thing we shall hear will be that she doesn't
care for society and is going to become q
trained nurse.
Why does the world always make these
remarks with a peculiar smile of amuse-
ment, as though such things were very
trivial and it's only real interest was CEN
tered in the tactful, beautiful woman, who,
to be sure, wins all the more glory under
the present rcgime9 But then, old world.
YOU only "laugh with u.s. You were
never known to copdole So T suppose
YOU will find nothing to attract your at
tention in the incident which T am about
to relate regarding the Girl who was poor,
who was ugly and who went to her first
marty
A cousin under obligations to her moth
er had been asked TO take her. A heavy
snow had fallen. which. though the dis
tance was not great. necessitated n car
riape a fact not adding to the Cousins
good humor No flowers need be sent.
however. so there was some consolation in
that. When they had fitted through the
long awning like hurrying phantoms Of
the night, great wave of light from tho
openine door had eneulfed them. They
found themselves borne resistlessly along
with the crowd surging up the broad stair.
way and droppcd finally into their respec
tive dressing rooms-thc one all full of
eager. chattering voices. soft. fluffy wraps,
fur lined shoes, etc. the other staid, sober
study in black and white, blurred by much
smoke
Arabclla. for that was her name. ouick
ly freed herself Of the old made over
cloak in order to display tla dainty lace
trimmed muslin which showed n mothers
deft touches. Then she went to the mir
ror where all tho others went. but tbe
contrast between her own homely face and
the happv. nretty ones .hat peencd over
her shoulders to oct n last ui:mnse Of roc
ommendation was too great. So she
turned away with little SIGH. ioined her
cousin, who waited outside. and went SOL
emnly down the wide stairs Az thev
made tho first turn a vision so wonderful
spread itself below thet she impulsiyely
rrasped her companion's arm. exclaiminr.
ooh how beautifulp' while he. to cover
his annoyance. said laurhinply. "But Won
must apnear very ,1sed 10 II ali Yon mnst
not LET every one know that II ia vour FIRST
party"
ca sha ocoord,,o,,, hooo,,,o vo,-, ,,,,ot
Inf she could not be,n think,no that the
lnnr arnanse of nolishad floor anneared - H to
he saving ss(,ome dancing foot I'm Wait.
inc and I lone to be ca,essad ID tbe sdft
tonch Of downy skirts " that tbe massive mn
chandeliars stretched ont their arms In 81.
lent henediction r over the the fair fair SCENE which
tba % mirrors never % wear,ed . of reneating
rban tba music 90 nrovokinolv attractive.
yvonld apv ono ask her "a dancep Her eyes
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