The Washington herald., 1908-02-02
Nv THE ARBITER.

By THE ARBITER.
The Arbiter was asked at a dinner the
other night why lie paid 50 little atten-
ton to the "fast set" when they played
so conspicuous role in the fashionable
world. but, since If one becomes serious
one is apt TO grow dull. he refused TO
argue the subject at table and reserved
it for discussion in this column To be-
gin with, does the fast set' play a con-
spicuous role in society? Conspicuous
they are, TO be sure; the chief object OF
their existence is to be conspicuous. so
wanting in wit, so lacking in brains 70
be conspicuous Is the only way in which
they can attract the attention they covet.
This passion for nOtoriety is what in
spired a certain New York pseudo swell
TO take up knitting and crocheting as a
pastime at Newport; he must do some
thing. he said, and as his strength did
not permit him to play golf and tennis,
he bHssfully knitted fascinators, neckties,
garters, baby blankets, Whatnot, while
slmperingly gossiping with the young
ladies by whom she was surrounded and
who found his ahectatiOns as amusing
LAS a tame bear
Later on thls same Gllded youiH gave
q party for his brother monkeys, and
not so very long ago he succeeded in hav-
ing himself presented 10 the Emperor
OF Germany in clothes that were COM
bination of a foOtmaus uniform and the
garb of a harlequin. He has succeeded
in making himself supremely ridiculous
and people pity him for his lack OF Wit
while they should applaud him, rather
since by attaining noIoriety he has ac-
cOmplished exactly what me set out 70
accomplish; and how few of us do that:
Rut this is not the only tvpe OF youth in
. tba fast sat. There ara other MANY 9th
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LOT q ioee lo GET hlhisei 'alheu ABOUT
there is the foo. with his cap and bells,
the ChiC0t among his fellows, who DELHI
erate'v elects his role because even his
small mind is carabe of realizing that
as an ordinary. stupid man he would
mass uunoric-d. There is th. dude. whose
clothes urorIaiun his profession. rho dgr-
ing horseman. who fakes tremendous
risks and makes bairbraadrh escaDes. the
gourmet The gossfpfr. the Airs. Sheer
well OF his set. always welcome there
because OF the delicious bits of scandal
he brings with him. there are. in q word.
countless different varieties of the fast
Young man and as many of the fast
Young woman. OF the two the fast young
woman is the most offensive. for what is
merely absurd and laughable I'm "a man
becomes gIaring fault In "a woman
The fast young woman is a pitifUl OBJ
fect 10 behold burlesque of her sex
She usually dyes her hair. no matter how
beautiful the color nature made If- she
uaints. uses Dowder to excess. blacks her
ewes. talks such slang thar those not
versed in this lingo find it hard 90 under
stand her, she smokes. although smok-
ing is most distastefuI TO her; drinks
cocktails. which are hard TO swaIlow-at
first; calls her men friends no matter
how recent, by their first names, and Is
in evidence wherever she goes At the
the attraction rather than the play as
she chats thiougn the whole performance,
e. a.. ne, , ,l5l.y.s III '..5 '.u'slie, 5. fill
,-irf It, ro,-
The fast old men and the fast old vor-
en- are antiquated copies of their juniors
Il Is hard for them TO give up being in
IT, and their attempts 10 be just as
young as they used 90 be are pathetic
IN the extreme. but there IS no other
course open to them, having led a fast
, life from the time they began 20 take
NOTICE. there is no comfortable seat wait
ing for them on the hearthstone Of So
ciety, for tie young and old men and
women v-uo form the fast set are by
no means Of society, they are, rather
actors and actresses who play for the
amusement Of those more fortunately
placed. These gentry spring generally
from families of low Origin who, fearing
their true character viii become known
and they be snubbed in consequence as
sumo a loud and aggressive tone and force
attention by their eccentricfrics of dress
ana manner. Now the ShibbOleth of So
ciety is good form. and those who cannot
give this password are by no means in
society though they are sometimes aI-
lowed to take part In certain of its reveIs.
THE foreigner who uaate tIl. faet ,.,,,,,,
s,7a-f,.r Girls g.. r7,,,,-. .f.- ..4.r- -
-5 .5 l.o
s'-'-'','i d. ou' are IL"
IeI good uiie' 10 obtain which they
commit every sort OF an indiscretion. IS
America TO find here women quite as well
bred. refined, and cultivated as those who
hLa'e lla own set al nome not that this
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conduct and acgressiveIv had form, Who
attract attention ana this class is oftep
accented I'm F.frona tbair b77 rDar,are
and yuIgar.tv evruea5 nm tho o-o,,75 of
eccentrfcfry and man tbe, ar, Aroarire,g
1t has mo- sure footino il, tho v,.orT7 ~
society with us. however no matter what
Tho groffarg u1a,. ss, saoist, a. +La
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