The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-22
Comedies of the Hoosier Capital

to make afternoon calls, unless they are
clergymen or retired business men, and few
afternoon "at homes are made notable
by the presence of members of the sterner
sex Indeed, no man has so much work
piled up at the office requiring his imme-
date and urgent attention as he whose wife
announces hopefully at the breakfast table.
Now. this afternoon John. we must make
those dinner calls. We just cannot put
them off another day." What. says John.
leave his business at time when his pres
ence at the Office is absolutely essential to
the future success Of his enterprises
neverl And so the wife. who knows very
well what an everlasting liar John is. and
who is Disguised at having to go 1t alone.
decides that the only thing to do is to swal-
low Johns story and 20 make the calls her.
self, leaving her husbands cards at all of
the houses she visits. and knowing in her
heart that the hostesses of the dinner par
ties which she and John attended together
will not be at all complimented at the alb
sence OF John and that it is possible that
they will never invite Mr.. and Mrs. John
again.
The other day two young matrons started
out for grand calling bout. They were
thing In cards had just been received
from Tiffanys. The afternoon was perfect
"a glorious Indian summer afternoon. The
hour was correct. So there were no draw
backs. They had been waiting for weeks
so that they could hit upon a day when
they might make up some calls which
they owed jointly. The story of the after
Moons experiences was related by one of
them afterward, and that's how it happens
to be set down here.
Nov, do hope most earnestly that Mrs.
B will not keep US waiting. It's a bit
early, but we have to make a start some
where, and il might as well be with Mrs
B" said the tall, slim one, as they
rang the doorbell. Item: the tall, slim
one wore perfect love Of a creation of
pale gray zibeline," and the short one was
dressed in a handsomely embroidered white
broadcloth.
A prim maid answered the bell and said
Not at home in such a sepulchral voice
and with such scornful eyes that both call
ers remembered instantly that this was
not Mrs. BIS day at home and that
she objected to receiving calls upon any
other day. "Oh, we are so sorry" they
said, though, Of course, they were glad,
and they deposited their cards in the silver
tray held out to them, and took their de-
parture In a perfect shower OF tissue paper
slips that were blown out of their newly
received card cases. They knew well
enough that Mrs. B was at home and
that she was very likely peeping at them
that very moment from an upstairs win
dow.
ITO the residence OF Mrs. N" they
told the coachman as he closed the carriage
door after them. When they arrived at the
next stopping place the maid at the door
said yes. the lady was in. and the callers
were ushered into the hallway and then on
into the large double parlors. The rooms
were very dark and crowded with bric-a-
brac. lounges. lamps and such things. Com
ing out Of the bright sunshine II was al
most impossible for the visitors to one
foot In front of them, but by walking with
their knees braced in defense against sharp
corners, and with hands outstretched, they
managed to steer themselves in safety to
comfortable seats.
It requires a vast knowledge of modern
parlors to find your way about in one of
them in the dark without coming to grief.
A man cannot possibly do 1t successfully.
He will not only break most Of the vases