Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-01
Chapter VII.

1t SO happened that the entertainment
given by the Priscillas fell on the evening
of the day that Prof Van Hulk Tyn was
received and displayed to an eager throng
by the Nota Benes, and as l was on both
committees, and perhaps the most willing
worker, every moment of the day was taken.
Nine o'clock in the morning saw me start
On my way to the hall where the entertain
ment VS. to be given.
My mother had been unwilling, for the
first time. to have me leave home. She
said the baby seemed Ill and feverish, and
that it was my duty to stay with him. l
felt that the success of the day for both
clubs depended largely on me.
Mother, just can't stay" / said. "There
Is so much depending on me. and it's too
late now to draw out. Baby doesn't seem
sick to me. Look he's Laughing now" and
1 hurried off.
Neither did 1 go home to luncheon. hav-
ing sent my reception gown to the hotel
by express. If l had been obliged to take
SO many steps or to perform SO many ac-
tual services for my own household in three
hours as l did for my clubs that day.
should have felt that 1 was an overworked
and abused woman-the victim of an un-
feeling husband. And I was never more
tired, physically, in my life than when l
sat down, respondent in a Nile-green and
chiffon creation" to assume my duties as
chief pourer at the Van Hulk Tyn reception.
But there was music, and gay chatter, and
laughter, and the excitement of strong cof-
fee, and the fragrant punch from another
dainty stand near by, and / scarcely
thought Of my baby or the mother who
was faithfully filling my place at home.
The room was lined with mirrors and when
the crowd around my table parted suffi-
GENTLY caught an occasional glimpse of a
handsome woman, all rosy and smiling
from out her sea-green draperies, and
told myself over and over again: This is
L O. /
that society could afford anything better
than this, and thought conversation be-
tween two gray-haired women, which 1
overheard, most ill-natured.
Very few men here remarked one,
and the man one meets, usually. at a
Woman's club reception is of the sort that
only Dickens could adequately describe
Looking at them, one cannot fail to under
stand why the women who know them
and are married to them join clubs
True" assented the other. Yet this
celebrity at it's receptions. and
these occasions have an impetus that the
strictly feminine gatherings lack; for club
women adore a celebrity"
Queer how the club habit seems to take
hold on these women" said the first. I'm
not member, thank heavens-only a guest.
But it seems to me that thousands of wo-
men have the club habit without rhyme or
reason. They are club-craZy The club is
rapidly becoming a violent intoxicant
among women" Then they moved on, leav-
ing me to pity them for having outlived
their day and generation.
You were a perfect picture, my dear"
whispered Mrs. Parsons after the affair was
over and few of us fingered around my
table to discuss the afternoon. There isn't
handsomer woman in the club. You must
come home to dinner with me. Theodore
will be delighted to meet you. He is just
your kind"
Now. this was honor hitherto withheld
by the fates. Still. maternal instinct was
not wholly dormant within me. / dallied
with temptation then bethought me of the
telephone we had just put In. And so I
offered a sop to my conscience.
Baby seems about the same" said my
mother in answer to my call. Hes been
fretting all day; STILL If you must be there
this evening you'd better accept Mrs. Par
sons invitation, and SO not come all the
way out home" (She. too, was susceptible
to the charms of the rich and great) mo,
Joe hasn't come in yet; if he does I'll ex-
plain matters to him"
And so l entered Mrs. Parsons beauti-
fully upholstered coupe and rode behind liv-
cried coachman and footman for the first
time in my life We alighted under a mag
nificent porte-cochere, and entered one of
the truly palatial dwellings of the windy
city.
The great mahogany door swung noise
lessly inward at our approach, and l soon
found myself in a spacious hall, lined with
costly paintings and priceless rugs and fra
grant with burning incense; for it was
one Of Mrs. Parsons fads to be always sur
rounded by delicate perfumes. The house
was a revelation to me. l had seen the
mansion from the street as Joe and l had
speeded past in our buggy; but the interior
with its rich, artistic furnishings and its
distinct individuality, set every pulse of my