The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-13
.rrrr rHBvAx DUsExs. DARKxEss.
A Greup 81 pae,eers That FSssea over the
social Firusaunent or niaukviiis.

oro.v 81 ruetesrs Thst F6ssea over the
social Firt,aunent or
1--WE have lost the most conspicuous family
In o,r town" said tho man from Jersey, land
40 ncarIy Ms I can figure IL out these people
have buncoed us all in very slick fashion.
Lot me call them tho Van Duzens. l
live, as you know, In a restricted town. NO
shops or other places OF business are allowed
in the residence portion OF the town. and we
pride ourselves on being q little better than our
noiehboring towns. No house may be con-
structod there which shall cost less than $4,000.
| though I must confess that tho majority
| of them are very close TO that limit. Our show
house, however. up on tho hill cost the builder
| about Sl5, 900 n year ago, and he was unable TO
rent II untn last fall. when the Van DuEens,
consisting of father. mother. and two daughters,
moved in. The ngent said that no had given the
house to thom for tho winter at a very small
| rental because Mr.. Van Duzen said that IL 1t
suited him he was willing TO buy 1t, and hit
didn't he would not remair.
Two were all very curious about the Van
Duzens, and the week after they arrived we
were pleased to see a paragraph In n Newark
paper which said: The Van DuZens have taken
q large house in Blankville. and as soon as they
are settled they will give n serios OF elaborate
Entertainments. One of my nciEhbors saw this
paragraph. and he passed the paper around un-
til every one in town had seen 1t. There was re-
joicing at this news. and the local real estate
dealer marked all OF his property up 10 per cont.
on the strength Of II.
"'That is Just what Blankvillo needs. he said.
and / suspect that the Van Duzens are going
to DO very desirable additions to our society.
We have long wanted some family Of wealth
and social standing to take the lead here
During tho following week every woman in
town made a call on tho Van Duzons. and theiT
impressions Of the new people varied. There was
a good deal Of discussion as to whether Mrs. Van
Duzcn's hair was bleached or not. and 1t seems
that there was very little furniture in the house,
and. such as 1t was. it was not good.
There is no uee Of finding fault with such
things,' said Mrs. Leader, because Mrs. Van
Duzen told me herself that her furniture was
simply u makeshift. and that as soon as she de-
cided to buy the house she would refurnish 1t.
make out a list Of the people, whom she should
invite to her receptions and dinners, and she
tensive scale. 1 am sure that we should BIO very
well pleased that she has come to live here
said saardediy that there was something queer
about the whole family, but their remarks, we're
Needed. Mr. van Dassn did sometthiPng In wall
street, whatever that may mean, and, although
he talked like a man with millions; he didn't
seem to have much ready money. The trades
people had heard these tales about the enter
tainments that the Van Duzcns were going to
Ellis Ellis. aH The ' Ven B bevsr e gifis S Wero OF y u Iae,r
tain age and pronounced coloring. Every
about these entertainments which were to be
given. end within three weeks nearly every
other woman for the favor Of the Van Duzenss.
The Van ,Dnzens didn't bring their horses, as
they explained, because they did not know
now that they found it delightful they would
have their horses sent to them. They kept ex-
didn't come. Under the circumstances 1t was
not strange that her neighbors who had horses
did, dividing her demands among them.
The Van Duzens started a series Of dinner
man in town with any social aspirations enter
tertained the Van DuZens at an informal little
fdTmeI S wh bos.i Is ana matter ims Of > faet mas was maae ,S as
hostess could afford. AS a result the Van Du.
gems dined out at least four times a week. oh,
Of the men bought new evening clothes in antic-
ipation OF the Van Queens coming entertain
elect Of New York was going to be present.
"A month ago we realized that the winter
Duzen entertainments had been given. Some OF
the more suspicious inhabitants in Blankville
S &bn, , to hint ss. that the hey Van M.. Puzens w, were Sn, not
family loft town. and on the following day their
the agent who rented then, their hoGse.
1T means he replied. that Van Duzen only
not to buy, SO he left
Then these people are frauds. and you de.
ceived us grossly retorted Mrs. Leader.
When the tradespeople found thaIthe Van
Duzens had left town they held an Indignation
meeting and engaged a lawyer to sue the Van
know whore to find Van Duzen. OF course 1t
was the Van Duzens' privilege to get out IL
Blankville thinks, that she has been deceived
by them and sne blames her neighbors for 1t. I
shouldn't advise a new family to move into
Blnnkville now, for they would get the cold
shoulder. It's my private opinion that the Van
Duzens buncoed the whole town and they did it
very neatly"