The sun., 1909-02-07

in assuring him safety from the pursuer
Even while he was lost in the mazes OF
a waltz he would suddenly feela hand on
the small of his back and know that the
costume was in danger.
Finally he discovered that 1t was safe
only when he was sitting down and re-
manned in that posture most Of the time.
He grew weary Of that, however, as the
eyes of the relentless guest, still more
firmly fixed by the administration OF
more champagne. rested on him wherever
he was.
He rose to cross the room 10 complain
to his host. II seemed as If the journey
could easily be made without chance
Of the successful execution Of his enemy's
mischievous plans,
But the alert one was after him in
second. He fell into the. arms Of his host
Just as the others fingers closed around
the button. The pursuer was foiled,
however, as the victim turned his back
suddenly TO the wall.
Il say, old man." said the possessor
of the suit that depended on the button.
"Iwont stand for this any longer Smiths
got bun on and is spelling all my fun.
You've got to speak TO him yourself or
I'll fix him.
Smith had enough champagne by this
time to look contritely at the host. who
turned away with no further interest in
their quarrel,
Eight il out yourselves he answered.
I've nothing to say about your private
fights"
So are such brief episodes settled in the
new Bohemia. There was peace after
ward, however. as the man who wanted
TO undo the button was soon compelled to
go home.
There are few such sprightly incidents
to enliven a party, There is not much
sparkle in the conversation, which is
likely TO be very personal and occupied
chiefly with the doings Of Maize or Fay
or Nanny or Bob or Maxy. The veneer
of elegance which has become the new
of the world in which one
does not bore himself has not made the
sparkle Of the talk any brighter.
Not all of these assemblies are held
in restaurants. One Of the smartest
because it was more private took place
last week in a large house in one of the
Fifties. The owner happened TO be out of
town, but that did not prevent her son
from inviting some half hundred Of his
friends. including his former partner
and the possessor of the disputed au-
that he gave her. The gran
deur Of the house was rather too novel
TO most OF the guests for the party to
start of with as much sprightlness az
Il needed.
The administ ration Of sufficient cham |
psgne helped to Danish the reserve that !
resulted from so much formality. IL
IL one thing to get used TO n waiter in a
dress suit. To learn to contemplate with /
Ease a row of hunkeys in short clothes I
takes time or an education on the stage. I
Finally this party got going.
Another party was in a studio in West I
street. A beefsteak cellar I
uptown housed another gathering that /
lasted over into the next day without /
difficulty because there was no way of 1
learning in the depths Of the beefsteak |
ave what time it was.
The lists Of guests at these parties are
II monotonous as those at more dignifed
functions. The same names appear, for
arge as New York's gilded bohemia is
o-day there are its first families. just as
here are in other branches of society.
So il il were customary to say who were
among those present there would always
-ecur the same names.
There has been a change in the last
hree or four years" one OF the regular
attendants at these parties told THE Sun
'eporter, "and the wine agent functions
hat used To be the only thing of the kind
low find it difficult TO attract crowd of
he right kind
The new bohemia is 30 smart that il
ooks askance at the wine agent and
Iccepts his invitations only when there
3 nothing on for that night and has not
,een for several evenings before OF
curse there would be anything done
ather than stay home in fat that is the
MY thing that saves the wine agents
,arties nowadays
Its hard to think that only three or
our years ago it was only possible TO
1--WE a party like the kind so common
low by the men getting up a subscription
md getting a wine agent 10 supply the
'ooze cheap and then inviting the women
1iests. Think of having to do that now
days when there is scarcely night that
oes not bring forward one of these par
les! New York has It's swell bohemia
II right"