The San Francisco call., 1910-02-20

died up on divan at home eating
chocolates
Next to arrive was party Of three
women. Two were matronly. The
third had not come to that period
but she was on the way. They were
all beautifully dressed. Two were IN
tailor gowns and the other was evil
IDENTIFY on her way to or from a function
of some sort, because she was in dinner
clothes. When she opened her evening
wrap and threw it back she disclosed
a light lace gown beneath. They re-
moved their gloves and I saw that the
hands of all three were sparkling with
diamonds.
Their order proved to be two Mar
tinis and a gin fizz, the fizz for my lady
in the lace gown.
This group seemed thirsty, for they
very soon disposed of their drinks and
ordered more of the same. After the
second round" they became quite jolly
and seemed to be having a good time,
almost a convivial time.
No other ladies came in at once, SO
we didn't stay. 1t was early, of course.
but I was anxious to find the crowd,
If there was one, so we drifted on down
the street.
The next place we visited was the
one I had been told about. 1t was not
so quiet here.
One of the stewards showed US up
the main aisle to a table a little past
the center of the room and we sat
down.
The place is not large. but 1t is made
to seem so by an ingenious arrange
ment of mirrors extending the full
length of the room on each side against
the wall Its interior is particularly
attractive to me because of the abb
sence of pillars. I hate pillars. They
obstruct the view. And when one soes
to cafe 1 think one goes to see and
be seen.
The architecture OF the place is
much like Spanish court or patio.
the upper part or mezzanine gallery
containing the boxes that look down
into the main room. 1t was pleasant
in there, warm and bright and cozy,
with a genial glow over everything,
after the cold outside.
I noticed as we went down the aisle
that the men OF the orchestra were in
their places and remarked to my friend:
why, the orchestra must be play
ing-in the afternoon!"
"Of course" she replied. That's
what brings the women"
The place was about two-thirds full
OF women. There was, I think, when
we first sat down, one man in the
room and he was over against the wall.
far down toward the door.
The women were nice women, too;
not merely because they were well
dressed, but in every sense of the
word You could pick out, here and
there, one who was bit loud as to
clothes and vivid as to hair; but not
more than three did we see in that
whole gathering. The majority were
quietly dressed, absolutely correct
women In every respect. There is an
unmistakable something In the look,
the manner, the expression of woman
that Classics her to the observer. in
spite of herself, and these were Of the
class that are above reproach.
At the table next to us, down the
aisle, sat an old lady with apparently
a couple of her daughters. And she
was the dearest old lady, with sweet,
kindly face and little, old fashioned
black bonnet on her beautiful gray
hair-the kind of a bonnet that your
mother and mine used to wear. / never
see one of them without wanting to go
up and kiss the wearer. And she was
having the most beautiful kind of
time, this dear old lady. When the
orchestra commenced playing, and that
was very soon, her head was nodding
in time to the music. The drink on
the table in front of her was another
of those insidious golden colored
things with an olive in it-a Martini.
The daughters were fresh complex
ioned. good looking women, not very
elaborately gotten up. They were just
nice, clean, wholesome people and they
showed it in every breath they drew.
One of the daughters was drinking
high ball, and the other-"What is in
that girls glass?" 1 inquired of my
friend. II nad a peculiar, milky look.
THAT? Why, that's a suisesse,D said
she.
So, it was absinthe.
When they got up to go, their glasses
were empty, even the olive was gone.
Just back OF US and across the aisle
sat group of three women in mourn
ing. They were of the same class as
the old lady and her daughters, or
perhaps a trifie more worldly All
three were fine looking Thev uera
drinking highballs.
had thought I might, perhaps, get
a few interviews in my tour of the
cafes, but such a thing was not to be
thought of. These were not the kind
of women one could approach without
an introduction.
On a little table far down the room