The age-herald., 1901-11-24

plan how she can skimp and save so as to keep up appearances. She must de- eide between. a party at some fashiona- ble hall to pay off social indebtedness, or the new set of furniture which the parlor so badly needs. Or she must turn the party into dinner at her own house and select cheaper set of furni- ture so that she may have both. She must carefully scan the household ex- penditures and find what servants are shiftless and, extravagant and where the greatest saving can. be made. As her children grow older they demand more attention and more of an expenditure, and she must effect this by reducing ex- penses in some other direction.
 The amount of money which she can afford for her own gowns must be care- fully considered, and the problem of her dressmaker Is one that makes her lay awake nights. Gowns are extremely ex- pensive, but she must have a great num- Der through the season. Her daughters must be as we'll gowned as herself. and as they are not able to realize the limita- tions under, which-she struggles the bur- den falls ofsher
 Her husband thinks the whole subject of dress Is "fol de rol," and he cannot understand why his wife should have more gowns than he does dress suits. or why she need be more concerned about them, or why they must cost as much as they doe She must have the skill of a Philadelphia, ,IawsEer in .order to debate with the lord of the manor on this sub ject and make him see 1t as she does, and, what is moreY make him allow her the amount of money that she needs. On a comparatively small amount she must arrange costumes, for herself and daughters for certain great event, and falr a ahi1ftx of a saNa n0lpOn of Finance" to get everything she needs on the limited appropriation.
 The arranging of a dinner. whist par ty, or some entertainment at home re- quires an infinite amount of labor. There is first of all, a careful survey of the probable cost of the affair. Then the list of people who. must be invited must be made out and revised half dozen times. There must be those invited to whom the host Is under obligations. and others whose presence is urgently desired because of their social position and standing and whose coming is a ques- -tion of grave doubt. Persons who are agreeable to each other must only be invited to a dinner, for 1t would be a social affront to put two people together at dinner table who are not on speak ing terms.
 After the invitations are out the hos tess prepares HeTSeil loI thot, iSiuSefAo' and as usual, it is the big fish that get away Then she must hurriedly look over her list of sworn retainers and substi- tute some of them for those who are not to grace her board. There are thousand plans to make, and at dinner or party the hostess must be all smiles and gra- ciousness just as though her heart were not breaking because the ones whom she wanted and for whom she really gave the party did not come. ,f.
 It was at fashionable gathering on the North Side last winter when, after the party was nearly over an old friend of the hostess met her for moment in the hall for word alone. The guests had been overwhelming the hostess with congratulations on. the delightful evening she had given them,a and she had replied with all sorts of gracious little com plirnents, making each guest believe that he himself had contributed largely to making the affair a success. and sending them all away in the highest good humor |, The old friend said: "Ah, l am glad tc have heard you say so many pretty things and to know that you are so hap py. Indeed, and your party was great success" e~
 "A success" said the woman. She dropped into chair and the tears filled her eyes and ran down her cheeks. Yes a success, only that merely the dummies came to my house. The ones I wanted staid away"
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