The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-12
HARD-WORKING DEBUTANTE

Marguerite Martyr in the St Louis Post
Dispatch.
Tit is all very we'll to picture society
spelled with a big s as scene rife
/ with merriment ceremony, splendor,
set like a formal garden in fancifui
groups, big, decorative splashes of color,
rooted in rich earth, and the social Twhirl
as a continuous ring around the rosy.
1t is a very pretty allegory and it Is
shame to destroy 1t, especially as the
firmest believers in it are those daugh-
ters of Martha, who, face to face with
the sternest of realities, have the few
est fairy tales left to believe in.
But have the evidence that the ten
derest of those buds. as yet unlSissed
by a seasons suns. are far from being
above employing the same means and
methods and are subject to some of the
same rules and regulations by which
skilled factory hands or toilers in other
fields of labor earn their bread and jam
| Popularity in the social language Is a
literal translation of prosperity in Its
commercial sense. There are such things
as assets and liabilities and bankruptcy
and certain specie accepted as coin Of
the realm, in society. Which terms have
an utterly different social application.
There are combines and unions, too, you
shall see. Competition is keen and trade
active during this busy season.
In fact, my little socialistic factory
girl friend would soon go on a strike
against the long hours with no Saturday
afternoons and Sundays Off and condi-
lions 80 conducive to dyspepsia and
headaches and other ailments, which my
debutante friend endures unfiinchinsly
And no chorus girl ever had harder
life of long runs and sone-night stands
to tell about But let the debutante
tell her own story of her struggle for
popularity.
And behold meantime, this is the only
newspaper interview ever captured from
| a. debutante. Just as when you march
into important institutions downtown.
navigating, you are referred to the
head of the house as the one in author
ity, SO does the debutante refer you to
the head of the mouse, who turns out to
be mama. But where the wise business
man mightsee the advantages OF an OPP
portunity to get into print, mama, panic
stricken with the notion that the whole
world is waiting breathlessln for darling
daughter to speak, and That darling
daughters career is at stake with her
slightest utterance, decides after family
consultations at great length that 1T is
best to preserve an air of exclusiveness
and mystery than that darling daughter
should appear just as she is. That is
one of the combines.
Popularity is elusive and as much tt
be desired as Midas gold, have learned
since entered society" began Mis-
Sweet Youngthing. at isn't easy to tel
how to acquire It nor what should con
stitute ones stock In trade. Novelties
Novelties so soon cease to be novel II
society that you almost must be aborig
inal to appear original. You must hav
the proverbial cast iron constitution o
the society girl to keep up even to tn
general standard maintained by the de
butantes. Many !, sir1 goes to the wall
with nervous prostration The hours ant
YOUR obligations are SO exacting.
81 believe a large fund OF chat is tn
most valuable asset.
"If you can appear most difficult an
alluring as you pass the stag line at tn
ballroom door. someone is certain t
cut in, and, of course, the oftener you
dances are cut into the more popular yo
are. 1t il, in fact, the worst sort Of set
back to get stuck for whole dance wit
! one man.
y .sThen IL you manage to Eet three Q