Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28

stage setting display mOneyeQ
Of the particular period of which | am writing-al
most ten years ago-I can also add an ecstatic note
There the splendid hotel with its latticed windows
its myads of blooms in its parterre, its wide pazzas
and its general effect of huge Theatre palace built
arid sands. Surrounding it magic city, also
sprung from the wilderness, wonderful potpourn OF
the real and the artificial. Here sunshine, blue
Skies and of topaz emerald, and sapphire by
day and silver by night, sandy keys lagoons filled
with fish, and likewise the houseboat the alligator
farm, the palm grove and Bradleys Beach Club. 1t
was all fearfuly new fearfuy made, and fearfully
rich 1t was place where there always something
doing and that something mighty ttle where day and
night, night and day. ascending descending, as you
may choose to fix the locality, constant never
interrupted song of praise to the Golden Calf 1t IS
where money rather than talks and, if should
allow my imagination riot, might add that you
can actually hear the rustic of bs-our equivalent for
the clnk of godhigh above the hum and beat of the
waves the sands and the whispering of the winds to
the pines.
Here is the last act gorgeously DONE of musical COM
edy. There is merry chorus In the accepted semi
tropical attire. And here had entertainers the
sons of Ham, not native to the soil, but especially I'M
ported with nearly everything else, from New York, and
that last resort of boredom, the eternal cakewalk
This happily has been swept away by ragtme and tir
KEY trot by the guests at the hotel driven to despair
who last year took entertainment into their hands
In the cause of social promoting Palm Beach plays
most important role. The field is much larger than at
any other place. There pent up Newport aspira
TONS All kinds of games played here, and you have
an ocean from which to land many fish. There
people in shoals from every part OF great country
THAT winter had been asked to be one of party the
hostess of which certain handsome, newly and
immensely rich, newly arrived, and newly bereaved
New York widow. had been useful to her in some of
her castings of the social net.
As for myself, had come to my turning point.
was safely round the and quite well started
the broad road to | had reached my goal.
could afford to be generous and help Others
within limitationsand without an eye to cold calcu
lating business.
Town dull The season was over There was
bank panic imminent. AS long as wants to go
South it is agreeable to travel thither uxuriousy
in private at the expense OF someone else And
then in the party there most delightful GIRL for
whom | had considerable penchant-but that does
not come within this recital Our hostess showed much
wisdom and tact in her selection of guests. We
all friends, and knew another well enough to
do just pleased.
And so one bright February morning, twenty -four
hours from a binding snowstorm Fifth-ave.,
found ourselves clad in light annels, linens, and straw
hats under tropc in this paradise built sand
by one of the greatest railroad promoters of day.
And the people These were the most amusing fea-
ture of Palm Beach. They hailed from everywhere.
The social game theirs to play and they here
to play it. They knew its limitations for the objective
is always New York. To a spectator the maneuvers
are a fascinating study. To a like myself, who
could through every move, it simply delicious.
In fact it exciting Tap Day at Yale, and there
was always the uncertainty of being tapped for New
York or Newport, or for some lesser reward. And
hither focked the army of social promoters seeming
their prey from affair." most interesting gathering
in Congress assembled.
One day is much like another at Palm Beach that
| dismiss the subject in single sentence 1t is
feverish inactivity the consunmaton of the perfect
art of tiroe
AMONG the first nersons SAW the hotel piazza.