The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-01
Manoir des chouettes.

l
 My Dear Little Simone-I do not know how to answer your witty letter. All that you tell me about yourself and the pleasures you have found in Paris fairly turns my head and makes me de- test my sojourn in this arid plain in the Sologne.
 But there Is nothing to be done. Papa awalxes every morning a more ardent sportsman than ever. House parties fol- low in succession, all of them equally un- interesting. and shall be forced to con- tinue in this seclusion until the end of November. shall never console myself for having missed the most artistic mar Nags of the season.
 I think of you at the usual skating hour. and at o'clock tea. I am in de- spair at not being able to join you with mamma at Ritz's or the Palace. An! my little Simone, how you will find your Marcefle changed by the ennui which con- sumes herl At the beginning of the sea- son I went out shooting willingly, or else mamma and l went on horseback to be present at the ''dejeuner des chasseurs," which took place either in the open air or at the house of one of the small farm CTS. But now the tastes of papas guests are far too exclusively energetic to suit me.
 have taken A regular aversion for my bottle-green velvet shooting costume, and my red riding habit is q veritabie night mare. I have only one supreme amuse- ment left-the blessed automoblie-and I assure you I have not had much trouble in becoming the most ardent ''chauf- fepse" in the department. My big broth f,.rIA narta panied me and acts as my mentor. He has turned me out an accomplished pu- pill. and we run kilometer after kilO- meter at a speed that seems record breaking.
 By thus annihilating space, have suc- ceeded in renewing my relations with my former convent friend, Jeanne de Trebois. Do you remember her? She is delight In spite of fet~life in the country. This winter she &pRgTpome out. You will re- member thatJyKetis an orphan and that her grandmother has consented to intrust her to her stepmother, the Marquise de B.. who is to give series of white and pink balls in her honor.
 Hvonne's grandmother is very nice, but, between you and me, there are wide gulfs between us. dug by the telegraph. by steam and electricity. The dear sim pie soul remains faithful to the days of post chaises, and the manners and GUS toms of today completely upset hef.
 Still. she gave us a hearty welcome and was grateful to us for coming to amuse Yyonne, who is her only joy. But l should surprise her much less than l do if l were to descend from a "berline" in a silk dress and escorted by powdered Iackeys in livery. My great mantle of Russian-coIt skin, my ''chauffeuse" hat and my taffeta mask. with holes for spectacles, throw her into fits of kindly laughter.
 Yvonne Is terribly tempted to put on my uniform and would fain become pupil of the lieutenant and rush along the roads with us. But grandmamma will not hear of such thing, so that We arc driven to more domestic amusements.
 As you may suppose, my little dog Lulu accompanies me in all my escapades, and my manner of dressing 1t is not without its charms for Yyonne and Mime. de Trebois. They have a little bitch of the same breed, veritable darhng' named Toilette, which, as they imagine is spoiled by tying a simple red ribbon on the top of her roguish head. Can you fancy such countrihed ideas2
 Lulu and Toilette are enchanted with each other. and yesterday l repeated the