The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-01
By KATE MASTERSON.
Copyright, 1908. by Kate Masterson.

Handy men are rarely anything else.
Whether it is at leading a german or
making a Welsh rabbit that the handy
man excels, it is his one distinction. He
is invited out because he is clever"
at this, that or the other thing and in
your minds eye you always see him
with his coat of arms-a chatting dish
rampant, or a cotillion favor with rib
bon ends flying.
He is never looked upon as eligible
by mothers with daughters to marry,
nor is he run after by the young ma
irons. He is only cultivated because,
as hostesses say, he fills in" or helps
out. at a dinner or a dance.
He never fails to make good in what
ever line he may shine. Sometimes it
is as lively talker that he shines, and,
if conversation lags, a look from the
eye of his hostess sets him going as
though he were a seVen-day clock. 1t
is his knack to keep things doing some
how, and if a careless waiter spills the
soup down some woman'S spine, he is
the first to offer to assist her and the
first, as well, to dismiss the incident
and start the ball of conversation In
some other direction.
A great number of men who are I'M
able to accomplish anything startling
in the commercial or professional world
gain social prominence and make, In the
end, rich marriages, because they cu1-
tivate some little trick of amusing or
entertaining. They tell a good story,
sing a song, play the banjo or piano
do something, anything to amuse the
guests who may not be equally facile
through their more serious pursuits and
ambitions.
Amusement is the cry Of the age and
the handy man replies to it with his
glib repartee his mimicry, his inven-
tive ingenuity on the subject of deco
rations and dinner menus, his constant
effort to please.
In reality, his erdeavors in these
days of social dullness are worth
large salary, but he is paid solely in
entertainment and a certain distinction.
His only bills are for cabs. He man
ages to be a social pet on nothing a
year.
To be merely handsome does not suf-
flee a man as it does a woman A
| man must sing, dance and stir himself
about, unless he is wealthy and has
social position through his family con-
nections. To keep in touch with the
women whose constant dinners and
| dances, theater and house parties
make background for his social pro-
| gress, the handy man must be busy.
Serious men, who have definite aims
and ambitions in life, are not likely to
| be fond of the fellow who fits in"
| They call these representatives of their
| sex tame cats" and, while they al
| ways find them in women'S drawing
rooms, they are never jealous of them.
Frequently the handy man learns to
| be amusing in the clubs as well as in
! the boudoirs, and in that case men
tolerate him for his entertaining pow
ers. When he has learned to toss up
beefsteak suppers IN chafng dishes,
| brew punches and make rabbits, he is
often sought after for post-theater en-
| tertainments.
| He never affects to be aware that
| the secret of his popularity is his use
| fulness. Other men stand about with
| their hands in their pockets, or f1irt
with pretty girls on the stairs, but the
| handy man glides gracefully into the
| performance of his speciality as though
| it were high art.
Perhaps the salad mixer is the most
vivid type of the handy man. Once
! he attains proficiency in this art, moth
ing can feaze him. In the first place,
the salad maker is newer than the
chatting dish expert and he learns lit
tie tricks like a parlor magician TAX
ing rabbits out of his sleeve and there
| by fascinating beholders. He adds a
little powdered sugar or a glass of
wine to the bowl as though IL We're an
! inspiration of the moment.
He reminds one of an artist, in a
| fine frenzy, adding touches of color to
| a landscape. No one seems to think
him a bore, although, if you analyze
| him. he is a good deal of one, for no
body else gets a chance once the salad
| maker sets to work.
He fairly chains the attention, if 1t