The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-31

Nothing but a faulty memory can excuse
those persons who declare that this has
been q lively Lent; that we have failed TO
observe the season of penitence and prayers
with anything like the rightly of former
seasons. and hat, forsooth, because we
have appeared on a few first nights at the
playhouses, we ave been revealing in So
cial dissipation and rioting in mirth.
Those who have taken upon themselves
to make such statements are respectfully re-
ferred to the printed accounts of what we
did last season and the season before that.
II they think that this Lent has been gay
to an unseemly degree. They will find much
to astonish them. should they begin to make
comparisons.
''Golf Cotillon'' at Krkwood started the
ball rolling-it was, in fact, given on Ash
Wednesday-that memorable function that
ended in q regular Dakota blizzard ana
everybody had to walk home in the snow
drifts, except the two Webster maidens that
BILLY" Tompkins carried under each arm.
Musicales-and big evening ones they were,
too-came thick and fast at the beginning
of last Lent, followed by all that festivity
prior to Geraldine Dillon's wedding. Don't
you remember how much the bride was en-
tertained with a series of affairs at the
Van Blarcoms' and others too numerous
to mention? The wedding gayety extended
over two weeks with almost nightly affairs.
Then a large afternoon D.. o. c. reception
at one of the West End hotels; the ar
rival Of Miss Hazard, president of Welles-
ley College, and the giving of a function in
this lady's honor; the Vogelsang wedding in
Cabanne-really. there is almost no end to
the things which We did, in a social way,
to say nothing Of the opera. which was IN
its first flush Of glory and to which every
body vent at least once a week.
70 49, Ia ,~ 1~1., .aanNt nm Nvyr II Qrfn on
shortcomings and our sins of social COM
mission this year.
There is, Of coucse, the theater-going
But remember that the best plays and play
ers have come to Us this Lent. If there are
good attractions people are bound to see
them: and q great many persons who OBJ
serve Lent rigidly in some respects do not
deny themselves this pleasure. They are
penitent in other ways, and, presumably,
ways Just as satisfactory to themselves as
the staying away from theaters. And, too.
there Is a large class that must be taken
Into consideration-the class that does not
keep Lent because of religious belief. but
because 1t is not regarded as au rait to en-
terrain from Ash Wednesday till Easter, at
last on q large scale. This class will I'M
doubtedly go to the theaters. provided they
are in town, though 1t does not indulge in
dancing.
So, granted that We have seen six or
seven plays since Ash Wednesday, what
else have we done? Have there been any
big weddings: any notable afternoon recep-
lions or teas for important ~personages: any
musicales or even recitals of special interest
and large attendance? If so, they surely
would nave been noised abroad. Colonel
Peugnet was married-very quietly. Miss
Straub and Miss Link, two South Side girls
who might have been expected to indulge IN
large smashing functions, were married,
also very quietly. The st. Louis Club gave
three art receptions, so-called. to inaugu-
rate the gallery, but all three were in
formal, the afternoon ones with no refresh
ments and nc carriage toilets"
Card parties have waxed fast and furious,
there is no gainsaying that fact. But card
parties with a dozen women gathered at
one house, though they may happen every
day in the seven. can not be construed
into great and glorious gaiety, try as you
will. Luncheons have happened, naturally;
and a few dinners. though no large ones.
But the teas, except for Mrs John David
EDavis's last week and the one given by
Mrs. Thayer. with Mrs. Oliver t1iley as
guest Of honor at each. and both of them
small may be represented by a minus guam
tity.
More ST. Louis people went South and to
Mexico and California after the season
proper was over, than 1 can remember In
several wears. 1t has become the eminently
lr.o.r thing to do-this resorting in mid
winter and early spring; and St Louisaps
have improved the occasion. An absence Of
society pefsons-even two or three hundred
has Its effect on the general liveliness,
since We are by no means SO large as
Chicago and New York. and our social ele-
ment, with all its different little sets. can
hardly be stretched over a thousand. The
Cole reception list numbered LOO. and it in
cluded just about everybody. And, lastly.
think Of the large number of persons who
are in mourning this season, those who
have heretofore done SO much entertaining.
No; a careful resume Of what we have
done the last forty days, compared with
what we did In similar seasons past and
gone, points conclusively to one indisputabie
fact-that this Lent has been a period OF
+ much social depression, and has been care
fully and conscientiously observed by the
church-going; and none the less observed by
the non-church-going, though, possibly,
against their Wills.
st. Louis haberdashers are displaying
white hosiery for men. Thus Is one W.
Tudor Wilkinson nobly vindicated.
Chicago shop windows are full of pink"
coats for spring and summer wear. SO Mrs.
Louis MulIgarut returns to tell US. and
New York clothes emporlums display violet
hats and clocked hosiery, II Miss Grace Gale
81 to be believed. My last informant also