New-York tribune., 1900-01-14
SOME WAYS OF THE WORLD
IMPOSING FooTMEN WHO GUARD THE
DOORS OF THE RICH.
THE PERs1sTENcY WITH wH1cH. PERSON A. rrrz,s
ARE TALKED OF IN socIErY-D1FF1CUL-
TIES OF DEBUTANTE

mere are many Paralyzing things 70 be met
80 80 ~ one nrst winter IN society" remarked a
niue oeoutante but I think on the whole the
most terrifying Of all the footrnen IN the smart
houses I really mind them more than ANYTHING
else Tor they are far grsnder than their en-
ployers, who are generally most kind
we have no carriage and mamma is an invalid
so have TO do the calling for the family. and
assure you II takes a deal Of courage 10 walk up
the broad flights OF steps belonging to one Of those
huge piles Of masonry and deliberately ring the
Dell and ask for the ladies' # were anything but
wnat ana poor gentIewoman-I would not feel
myself so entirely out OF place If I were a foot
man belonging TO some ones carriage a trades
woman, a music teacher. massage rubber a
rnanlcurist or any part Of the retfnue OF bir
establishment, should feel respectable and as II
Inere were raison d'etre for my being there But
the expression Of a high toned funkv as he re-
celVes my card in an absent minded manner look
ing over my head into vacancy as if did not even
exist, is most trying.
Ihey are not all aristocratic however 7
know one Hveried gentleman in a grand house who
IS most fatherly in his kindness. He Is rather
ancient, and is evidently one of the old retaners of
the family. I have called at the house twice this
winter once 10 leave mammals cards and the next
ten6e6 tls % f Leave & my own for dance which at
I'7rI gtGgo, VI course Mrs Z my hostess, does not
purely matter Of form; but the kindly old retainer
/ think Mrs. z would ike TO see Won he
salq- sa,6 Please come up 10 her sitting room
Trembling al my presumption, but not tnovv,ne
no" 70 refuse, l found myself actually ssceT7i1S
me grand marble staircase leading TO the rriats
apartments above I knew ii was all mistake br+
"Iat was l 70 do2 Opening the door Of N av
quislte little sitting room the well inten+ioned CO..
19nt Inouoned me TO go in and then disa ppeare1
WINE waited IN a state Of absolute coIlaIse +ryr-
-Es L 20 thlnk OF what on earth I should say when
ne stAtety MIS- L made her appearsnc To
ny gTeal reIleT, however, friend returned
q ctesLIallen countenance, having probably re-
ceIYed sharp reproof for having brought me m IN
mlIaoy's sanctum. 49, ~ -
- Mrs z is very sorry that she cannot see YOU
MISS, ne said; she is particularly enga ged
eellng very small indeed. I Descended +ba es
cree staircase and ANONYMOUSLY departed On
now oehghtful the dear old familiar Fifth-ave side
go aIA seemed aFter my frosty experienced But I
scored on my visit anyway. for few davs after
waId M az a luncheon party the talk turned on the
oecoral-ons OF boUdoirs, and I said CASUALLY. T
HouGed IN Mrs. Is boudor the other dav thar
sne had a new way OF draping her curtains and
proceeded 70 give a few particulars about the room
- mL1cn showed my familiarity with the arrange
2L-SIIts- / saw al once the girls were irnpressed
Dy my being evidently intimate enough no he re-
L1eG N her own private apartments by the great
-dIs L, ana II Is needless 10 say I did not deem
II necessary 10 explain the why and the wherefore"