The San Francisco call., 1905-01-08

Be this juice the growth of God, who dare
Blaspheme the twisted tendril as a snare?
A blessing. should it, should we not?
And if curse. why, then. who set it there2
Many a maid, through the chill nights
of the waning winter, hath called to
mind the lines of the Persian poet. For
know ye all that the tabbies have ele
waited a forbidding paw at the poor
little debutantes and solemnly warned
them that the sparkling wine is not
for them, nor yet for the buds of yes
teryear, but for the men-the men and
themselves, the chaperons. And the
poor little maids sit all a-shiver during
the long hours of a dull dinner or sup
per after the ball. Now, that's mani
testify unfair-when the weather's cold,
the dinner dull or the supper slow, as
they ofttimes are, at eminently smart"
affairs Why, pray, should not a maid
have glass or two of wine, should
she desire it, provided she is properly
chaperoned? To be sure, the most
radical social reformer wouldn't advo-
cate the indiscriminate imbibing by
youthful lips but under proper chap
eronage and at desirable times it passes
me to know why the tabbies say nay
when the cold bottle comes around
and the frightened little bud turns
down her glass in external obedience
but internal rebellion at what she
knows is sham and a matter of rank
injustice, for she knows full well that
at home she takes just what she
pleases in the line of beverages, with
the full knowledge and consent of her
mother.
Besides, as a member of the Assem-
bly, or the Friday Night Club, she pays
her pro rata for the wine and the men
and the chaperons drink it, Now, that's
where she rebels, and do you blame
her? Not l. Besides, this compulsory
turning down of glasses by the de-
butantes-whether they wish to or no
is placing a premium upon deception.
For it wouldn't take a Sherlock Holmes
to find group of maids at a ball, chill
and weary, wandering to the dressing
rooms in the tow of their chaperons.
for a, highball or something warmer.
Just why this prudish, stupid blue-law
Of down turned glasses has been pro-
mulgated this winter is not clear
for it is not of record, verbal or written,
that the maids ever were o'erfond of
the flowing goblet. Chaperons. unbendl
If the girls desire a glass of wine at
supper, let them have it and don't look
at them as if they had robbed hem.
roost. That which is done openly and
frankly is not a demoralizing agent,
but beware of the surreptitious act
that degrades.
A CHEEKY new year is with us. year
that opens with good fun and little
formality. The following is a brief
roster of the smart affairs of the week:
MONDAY.
Mrs. Schroeder and her debutante
daughter, Miss Eugene Hawes, "at
home at the Pleasanton.
Mrs. Ynez Shorb White and Miss
Ethel White, hostesses at an '.eggnog''
party.
Wedding of Miss May Colman and
Henry u. Brandenstein.
Sorosis Club. reception in honor of
Mrs. Bender de Wolf
Mrs. William Fl. Smith. "at home in
the delightful fashion of the old DAYS.
during which time the following guests
called: Miss Florence Cole. Frank
Goad, Miss Jane Wiltshire. Mr.. and Mrs
Emile Bruguiere, Miss Laura Bates.
Miss Gertrude Bates, Mrs. Barry Bald
win Jr., Miss. Belle Smith, Miss Helen
Wagner, Thomas Eastland, Edward M.
Greenway, Enrique Grau. Porter Gar
nett. Miss Pearl Landers. Mr. and Mrs
Jack Spreckels, Miss Helen de fohng.