Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-26
I'll Sorrows of the Society Editors During the Days of the Ball

she comes in good faith. A few words over the phone
from Sampson or some of his aids would prove a simple
solution, but it is a matter Of common knowledge that
these gentlemen are rarely available when most wanted.
The Bees society editor was one year confronted
with an embarrassing and difficult situation. 1t was soon
after luncheon that she called at the home of the queen
and was received by that young womans mother to
whom she stated her errand. In apparently frank sur
prise that lady replied: You must have made a mis-
take. My daughter is not to be queen; she is one of the
maids" For the moment the interview seemed closed.
To detain the woman to argue the question would be
presuming as we'll as embarrassing, but the case was
desperate-to the society editor at least. 1t was the
kindly courtesy Of the woman that encouraged her to
persist, that courtesy that is the unfailing mark Of the
truly well bred woman.
And with this recognition came a plan. Asking per-
mission to use the telephone and requesting that her un-
willing hostess hold the receiver Of its extension in
another part Of the house. the society editor called up
the mother Of the queen OF the year before, whom she
knew and who was a personal friend of the lady to be
convinced. To her she recalled how the year before she
had been permitted to inspect the coronation gown the
day before the ball and the fact that the confidence had
not been abused of all Of which that lady readily ad-
mitted recollection. Then the society editor explained
she was talking for the benefit of the mother Of this
years queen who was also on the line.
The little plan had worked, the secret had not been
let out and in a moment the hostess appeared in the door
and smilingly bid her come upstairs where the gown lay
stretched upon the bed of a room carefully locked away
from all prying eyes.
u Ill Ol JulS Hb m6I6ly Tue " B6lIluB up
the gowns"
With all these preliminary vexations behind her,
weary with the whole thing and armed with a proof Of
all the descriptions already in type, the society editor is
among the very first to enter when the dressing room
door at the den is opened. Hastily she makes memoran-
dunn of all the costumes she has not already gotten,
makes sure that the doubtful ones have on what they
said they would wear-as far as possible-and does the
best she can at making out colors, materials and get
other information from the more or less reluctant
wOmaD Rnt thew are not all reluCtant-nOt by any
means. There are those who so persistantly parade be-
fore her that it is with difficulty she evades them. All.
the costumes are not desired; there is not room for them
and the choice must be made from those really worthy
of mention.
The great rush comes just before the march of the
knights. The women hurry in and hurry out and must
literally be caught on the fly. The society reporter gets
mercilessly snubbed, but finds ample consolation If she
possesses any sense of humor at all and she usually does.
At last the crowd has all flocked out to the floor and
then perhaps she finds room on some chair at the rear
to look over the heads and see the king and queen and
the maids come in. There is little time. however, to
spend with the onlookers. Her list must be gotten back
to the office and into type as Boon as possible so she
hurries on.