Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-12-04


 would sec whom the time came that she could get them. And should also see, if It were indeed trut that I did not know. what violet tea was. She wanted 1t to be surprise for me. She thought I would like it.
 1 hadn't long to wait before learn- ing the true inwardness of a violet tea, for Mrs. Ess Kay was determined to get me s"out" as soon as possible, and 1t seems that in America the time to bring girl out is at a tea, At least that Is one way, and as Mrs. Ess Kay was even then planning to give something very big just before the much talked about "pink ball." so as to "take the shine off that grand af- fair" she wished to get the teacups washed up before she sent out the next invitations.
 I'm sure mother wouldn't take as much trouble for house party to meet the king and queen as Mrs. Ess Kay did for that violet tea, and daren't think even now, though 1t happened weeks ago, of the money she must have spent
 For one thing. she and Sally and had to have violet dresses. She would buy mine q don't see how I should have done 1t if she hadn't, especially as Vic wrote just then that mother felt poorer than ever, and that man hadn't yet proposed), and it was beau tiful; pale violet silk muslin, trimmed with yiolets and their leaves. Then violet and silver livery was ordered in a great hurry for the four footmen to be worn on one afternoon, and no more! But these things were mere sketchy details, compared to other preparations.
 One room, where tea was to be served, was entirely draped with violet silk, from the palest to the darkest shades, and for the smaller of the two drawing rooms-the one where Mrs. Ess Kay would stand 10 receive her guests-wire frames were made from measurements to it and cover all four walls. I couldn't imagine what these their hour came they were padded with moss and covered with fresh violets. The curtains were taken down from the windows, and a net work of yiolets was hung up in their place, with an effect of great lovell- ness when the light streamed through the screen of flowers. And even this was not all, for q soft thick mat of grass and moss was spread over the polished floor, with sprinkling of vio- lets. All of the furniture was taken away and instead, along the wall, were placed banks of artificial moss and vio- lets. No doubt these would have been real, too, but when crushed they would have stained the dresses of those that sat upon them. Altogether, the room was turned into woodsy bower of ] violets, and was given great bunch of the dear flowers to carry.
 There had been only week in which to prepare these sensational effects. but everything was finished In time and without furry. Already knew a great many of Mrs. Ess Kay's friends, and on the day of the tea 1t seemed that each person whose acquaintance I had made had remembered me with a cartwheel of violets. All my flowers were placed in vases on tables in the l big drawing room, adjoining the bower of violets, and as card was attached to each bunch, pinned on the masses of violet satin ribbon which trailed from it. each giver could have the pleasure of seeing how his gift com pared with his neighbours. It was a wonderful display--a violet show. And. as Mrs. Ess Kay had said, Tt was not the right time of the year for violets."
 We stood on our feet for hours. smiled yards of smiles. >and said the same things over and over again so many times that began to feel like phonograph doll which I saw in my | first New York, shop. Only when l ran down nobody wound me up. and I had to go on by myself as best l could, which was fatiguing and made the machinery squeak.
 l But everybody said it was a huge success The New York papers had each more than column about the function" as they called it, and Mrs. Ess Kay was piously happy.
 had thought we were very gay be- fore, but after the violet tea, from get ting up to going to bed. we never had moment that hadn't it's own appoint cd place in the procession of hours, like the bead in long rosary.
 After breakfast we went to the Ca sino to play tennis. to listen to the concert or pretend to and to gabble. There we would meet everybody we knew, and it was odd to see the calm but slightly conscious air of superior ity with which the everybodies, going in or out passed the poor melodies as- sembled to watch the Casino entrance. Just as the middle and lower class people stand till they are ready to drop only to see the queen drive into the park or leave Buckingham palace dreadfully bored to open bridge, so these Americans jostle each other to see their millionaires and especially miilionairesses going to enjoy them selves. Fancy if Londoners reduced themselves to state of collapse for the pleasure of seeing Mir. Belt take