The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-27

the pleasant eGuivocatiOns, the apologies
the ambitions and the compliments that
constitute the honey in the jar for those
fond of society jam. But nothing can
prove an adequate apology for the vice
that has fastened our social life that
of insincere hOspitality-either given or
received.
Some of the very best of women and
above all, the pOlitest are woefuIly UNI
truthful In their greetings of friends. i'm
their comments upon them in their absence
in the phrasing of notes and the sending
of flowers.
We lack the strength, the individuality.
that men have. They may lie to when
they make love. but then il is worth while
They will not lie about lifes smallest de-
tails to each other: they will not meet over
a luncheon table to stab each other with
studied phrases. Above all they are more
sincere in their hospitality Sometimes
one must think the secret lies in the tea.
Men, without exception, hate to attend
teas. You can induce a man to go to an
electrocution, but rarely to a tea. except
when they are lured TO the feasts by femi-
nine relatives, mothers and sisters who
urge them their social duties
There must, then. be some psychic con-
nectiOn between tea and the insncerity of
feminine hospitality. for men are more So
cially inclined than women. They will
come to call, to lunch, TO dine and to call
again, which proves that they have no
rooted distGste for feminine society.
But when tea is on the corner of the card
they shy. 1t seems TO stand for all sorts
of things they do not like And yet men
are known TO drink tea in their homes or
In yours, and may seem to like il, but then
IL is Invested of the fOrmality that attends
IL under pink candle shade with seven
teen girls pouring in the background.
The social life has taken the place OF hos
pitality. And the social life among women
has developed into something weird and
wonderful. We send out and We receive
cards and invitations that mean nothing
genuine in the way of friendship or even
We laugh at the cook when she flaunts
abroad on her afternoon out. but we are
quite as ridiculous when we hire palms and
plates and servants and band in order
to greet A lot OF people that we know. some
better and some worse, others hardly at
ALL many that we do not like. but that help
to I'LL in the picture.
We women meet and show our teeth when
we shake hands. and then pass on 10 hate
each other from the other side of the room.
We note with pleasure that some other
woman is not looking at all well; that her
gown IL queer and her hat bad
Men. with all their crimes. do not indulge
in this sort OF thing They would call IL
womanish. They snub and cut each other
al clubs and occasionally knock each other
down, but when they meet in the guise OF
friendship. out of reach OF the sound of the
ticker. they are honest with each other.
The atmosphere that exists in mems clubs
is one or the strongest proofs of this.
We must be more sincere when we break
bread with one another. II has been said
that women would lose their charm and
their coquetry. all the allurements that
constitute the femininity Of many of us, if
IL became the IA shion to be true. But there
is no danger that we shall ever become
quite sincere. We know our world and the
tyrant man that We must subtugate with
tears and smiles IN order TO get our bon
nets.
But now that we have advanced from the
era OF false hair and false hips II is time
for sunlight instead Of candles at our aft
ernoon ceptions. Tea talk r. notorfously
yapid The same phrase Is repeated mar
rotlike from lip to lip. Guests come and
go. timing their stay TO the prescribed
limit and watching for an opening for
graceful escapes. as though they were
hunted animals. But IL Is the social duty
Some societx woman will become famous