Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-26

Poor lady! She deserves, all our sympathy, for Cor
onation week and the ball are indeed a tax upon any
womans strength and nerves, and no one knows It better
than the society editor, for she, too, is a woman, and her
brain is weary with concern for a thousand gowns and a
thonsand other things incidental to that big social func-
tion Of the year that for weeks every autumn hangs over
her like a nightmare. Although she, too, was at the ball
last night, she has been at her desk this morning since
a little after g., for, although the gowns are all in print,
her trouble is far from being over; In fact, one Of its
most exasperating phases has Just begun. The telephone
rings necessarily and many Of the calls have to do with
that gown list. Mrs. X. has discovered that one Of the
other papers has her gown wrongly described and would
like the society editor to see that it is in her paper right.
Mrs. B. is mortified to death that her guests imported
gown should receive such scant recognition and would
like to give the detailed description she so CURLY de-
clined to do the day before. Mrs. M. has two nieces Wis
iting here from out in the state; It is their first time at
the ball, and though their dresses were only simple white
muslins, 1t would please them to have them in the paper,
and the society editor might Just call them "mousseline,"
for it sounds a little better and the girls want to send a
copy Of the paper home. Mrs. Y, who 80 carelessly
turned away from the reporter last night, when her
friends were standing by, with the observation that she
really hadn't the slightest idea what the material Of her
gown was" has acquired very definite information on
that subject this morning. She can even spell its French
name and knows exactly what shade of the new color it
is, and she would like the society editor to change that
description for the afternoon paper, as she does not care
to have people think she would attend the ball in any
thing but a suitable costume. Mrs, L. calls to inquire
If the society editor left a call for her this morning, and
when told that she had not replies that she understood
the maid to say the paper wanted a description of her
gown which was not in the morning paper, but as long
as she has time now the society editor might just take
her description, as she, too, wants to send the paper TO
out-of-town friends. Mr.. 2. is the next to call and he
asks that the society editor please say In the afternoon
paper that Mrs. Z wore so-and-so. He is a knight
and the other papers had sent him a self-addressed card
more than a week ago asking for the description. Mrs.
V, who had mailed in the description of one gown and
worn another and much less preentious costume at the
ball, and who finds herself "in" twice, remarks sarcasti-
cally that she mailed that note to prevent Just such a
repetition, and can't see how the society editor could
have gotten her so mixed up with someone else. And so
1t keeps up all day until the afternoon paper is out, and
even then there are many who would like Corrections
made for the following morning in spite of the assurance
that no more gowns are to be used.
But in spite of the inaccuracies that appear in the
gown list next day the society editor is in reality least
to blame of anyone; the wonder is that her descriptions
are as accurate as they are. The work of getting up this
list is not easy or simple, and 1t extends over more than
a week. First the postals with the return cards must
be gotten off to the Ladies Of the Court, and Maids of
Honor" who are to come from out-ottown. These re-
quest an immediate reply. with the descriptin of the
gown expected to be worn. For a week the society mail