The Washington herald., 1906-11-20
WOMAN'S LUNCHEON.
A WOMAN'S VIEW OF 1T.

It is a question whether really attrac-
tive woman ever enjoys a conservative
luncheon at which the members Of her
own sex are the exclusive guests.
The woman's luncheon has been done
to death In Washington. Conducted, as il
has come to be, with all the formality
and elegance of a dinner, and represent
ing a formidable array Of dollars all out
Of proportion to the pleasure derived
from such an entertainment the function
is the least popular among society's
many ways of extending hospitality.
People have been wondering and Ques-
tioning why this is so, and the real an
swer is because men are excluded from
luncheons.
Women do not enjoy herding together
in a strictly formal way. What really
appeals to them is to gather congeridlly.
and over an informal midday repast-for
which they are not dressed 10 the jeal-
ousy polnt-indUlge their appetites for
gossip as well as food and drink. At
formal luncheon too many guests are apt
TO be present TO permit Of a perfect COM
patibNity OF temper. Women touch
elbows at such function, and that
is about ALL The occasion IS too
dgnifed for gossip; too many sets or
cHques are represented to permit of any
pIeasurabIe expansiveness. and the man
the real reason why a woman looks.
dresses, and appears at her best-being
absent, there is no particular reason to
appear. OF to be- happy.
When IL comes right down to facts,
men are the incentives 20 all that Is worth
while in society.
why, for instance, should a woman be
brilliant or entertaining or beautiful at a
luncheon? To make herself admirable .n
The eyes Of other women She could not
do more unpopular thing. Women do
not sit up and admire each other as Il
pleasant pastime. They do it Occa-
sionaIIy, when they happen 10 be chumS
for a while. but in most cases, the admir-
alton is a policy-stroke. or pose, or an
angelic attempt 10 persuade men that eX-
cessive admiration for other women proves
person a perfect angel Of unenvious
virtue. AS If there was such thing in
the world as an unenviOus society woman.
There is just one meaning 10 the word
society" and that is struggle" Now
/ is Il logical 20 suppose that struggle would
exist if it were not for feminine fric-
ton?
There is nothing that SO puts a hostess
out of temper as for a woman guest 10
lay herself out to charm a lot of other
women. The attempt, where men are
present, goes uncounted. for all the
women are then engaged in the same
game, and everybody scores.
The more neutral and gray-tinted q
woman is at a luncheon, the better is her
chance for popularity.
Ask a woman. upon her return from q
luncheon, if she has had a good time.
In nine cases out of ten she Is in q
wretched state Of temper from eating an
inordlnate quantity Of food at an hour
when il does not sit well on her digestive
organs. She IS tired to DEATH and the
first thing she does to shed her clothing,
throw herself on a couch. and-if there
are receptive ears available-proceed to
narrate her general state Of boredom and
generally roast" the luncheon, the hos
tess, and the guests.
OF course, It was a magnificent affair,
the most elegant service, and flowers. and
food. and the more pronounced the gen
eral elegance. In2 more enNlOuS - LulS
''tired-to-death" woman. and the more
iU-natured. Yet, within n couple Of weeks
sne will duplicate the affair in her own
home. not because she enjoys the giving
Of a luncheon any better than attending
one. but only because nobody must get
ahead of her
A formal luncheon absolutely ruins the
average woman's day. II makes her log
ish, and units her for any afternoon
enjoyment in the way Of visit-making,
and It effectualiy spoils her dinner. Chill
dren always know by their mothers state
of temper when she has been TO lunch
con. It is bugbear 10 them as well as
20 her
Merely contrast a luncheon with a din
ner, and how the former suffers. yet 1t is
| quite as costly. Man being the Sauce
piquante" TO any meal, constitutes the
| real enjoyment Of dinner party. He ap-
| preciates n woman's intentional brilliancy
/ of wit and beauty. He is the incentive
! for her subtle play Of charm and witchery
/ He furnishes the good time, which, "a
/ an attractive woman, means an OppoT-
/ tunity to shine. II isn't exactly that she
| Graves his homage or admiration 1t Is
rather that the masculine presence creates
atmosphere that is conducive 10 the gen
/ eral well-being OF a woman. Self-con-
/ fdence, originality. and inspiration -four