The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1910-05-27

sex to indulge in the same beverage.
But worse was to come. At the
end Of the rubbers the hostess came
round with her money box and de-
manded a third of everyone's winnings
for her pet charity Everyone yield
ed up something with an Ill grace.
When ! inquired to what charity We
were thus contributing ! was amazed
at the buzz of conversation which i'm
mediately drowned my question.
Charity begins at home, Lady s.
whispered a young man in my ear.
You can't expect Lady B. to have us
here and feed us for nothing
"coin Contest" Degrading Spectacle.
TOO astounded to reply. l was still
further shocked by a most indecent
and degrading spectacle which en-
sued. The men placed coins OF vari-
Gus value upon the floor. Instantly
every oma in the room, excepting
myself, was lying on her stomach en-
deavoring to pick up the coins with
her mouth. A scene Of wild disorder
ensned; shrieks, cries, applause. en-
c~ouragement from the men. who were
betting freely upon the different wom-
en-, while the contortions of the COM
p%etitors were alike disgraceful and un-
dignified.
TOO Disguised and Mortified for
adieus. i hurried from the house. be-
ing in a state Of mental whirl. That
evening from IN old friend who had
lived in London all her life / heard
that this behavior was the rule rather
than the exception, and | resolved to
find out II this was indeed a general
condition of society.
MY opportunities were many. A
dinner party the next evening intro
duced me to still further horrors.
Utter unrestraint vas the keynote at
the dinner table. Elbows on the table
and the fiinging of pieces Of bread and
sweetmeats were frequent sights, but
1t was afterwards that the worst tool
place.
For amusement In the drawing
before the inevitable bridge the
young men and women-and not al
ways the young women. but elderly
ones, too-indulged In the pastime |
had always imagined was only for the
recreation of street arabs-the turning
of what are called ~'cartwheels,' a form
OF somersault which is even more de-
void of decency than the ordinary
head over heels. A space was cleared
in the middle Of the drawing room,
and over and over and over again
went these girls and women. a per.
Torrance certainly not without some
skill. but utterly devoid OF anything
to commend it. and INDUCED In by
some bearers OF INT which have
made history-names honored and
looked up to. but now dragged down
to the lowest Of levels by perform.
C such as these. to which the most
u~neducated and unrefined would only
occasionally give vent
Standing on Head Accomplishment
Another drawing room accomplish.
ment OF today ID to stand on the head
al long as possible. This was intro
duced by a woman Of title who has
gained herself a degree Of notoriety
hitherto foreign to bearers of hel
ancient and honored name.
"A week end party at q ducal man,
sion completed my establishment. In
the country thought things would be
as they used to be. But, no, IL pos
sible there was more abandonment
more vulgar horse play. more practical
jokes. and ruder innuendoes than even
in London. The great feat OF the eve
ming was the mixing up Of the night
attire Of the house party. Bedrooms
were ruthlessly invaded and a young
mans night attire put into the digni
fed apartment where q queen had
/! slept, while the dowager duchess
found her robe de mutt In the dressing
room Of a debutante.
Sunday passed like a music hal
entertainment prolonged ad nauseam
and it was with the greatest relief thai
! turned my back upon the mansion
whose historical association. antique
magnkficence. and picturesque sur
roundings could not remove the stair
OF the modern inhabitants whose pres
ence desecrated It's hallowed surround
ings.
Il have paid other week end visit.
since this memorable one. but thu