The Washington herald., 1913-03-20
a Beautiful Exhibition
OF Pure FriendLineSS
by FRANCES sHAFFER.

1t was, so the newspapers tell II, dur
ing an intermission in the beautiful
grand opera, Aida" that spectators
were treated to a unique exhibition of
pure NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. because SO
rarely manifested in such a way.
1t was at the Metropolitan Opera
House in New York. and among the four
hundred "standees,'' who patiently had
chung to the best vantage point they
could get during the first act. was .
group Of four young women. They had
listened to the glorious opera trilled
along during the first act, and at its
close had sat down in a snug group be-
hind the brass rail, thankful to be among
the -four hundred granted standing room.
rather than of the five hundred turned
away. -.
While they sat there gazing out upon
the dazzling assemblage. in it but not
exactly Of it. a woman approached and
she was gowned as if from another
world than theirs. As she drew nearer
it was quite evident that they were the
magnet. but when she asked them IL
they were standing they did not guess
what was in her mind One of the little
group stood up and assured her that
they were standing-during acts; and
then her deep-rooted graciousness shone
forth.
4 Gracious Act.
There were two vacant seats in her box.
and IL they cared to take turns in occu-
pying them, they would be quite welcome,
she said. OF course the young women
gasped in sheer amazement. but equally.
of course, they would be delighted, that
is, if. But there was no 'if'' about 1t.
for they were assured that the pleasure
would be hers. And as she left the crowd
ed space where the '.standees'' were gath
cred, the expectant quartet followed on
and soon found themselves intering one
of the choicest boxes in the big opera
house For one courtesy is porn or an
other. you know, and when an usher
noted the gracious act he promptly found
TWO additional chairs. and the little group
that began standing well behind the brass
rail enjoyed the rare pleasure of listening
to the remaining acts from the most ex-
elusive portion Of a very exclusive house.
And they We're four very delighted young
women who drank in Verdrs exquisite
music and for one happy night wandered
in beautiful dreamland, because the whole
thing was so much of a novelty.
Patience Rewarded.
Who knows. They may have been the
most enthusia site Of all the eager crowds
that began TO gather at o'clock in the
afternoon for. the bare opportunity of
standing through the singing of Aida"
later. II the gracious box-owner guessed
that they were. she was all the more
gracious. for patience so great as that
ought TO be granted some fine recompense, !
whether the lure was the art of the sing
ers or the pictorial brilliance of the whole
dazzling scene. For even folks who are
far and away from music lovers find
real lure in the personnel of the audience.
where the great and the near great are
gathered and where society shines with a
glitter all its own.
ideally. it ought not to he matter
for comment when woman of wealth
and assured social position steps aside
from her own familiar luxury to give
less fortunate folk a peep over the fence
into fairyland. But as matter of fact,
it is; that is. i'll ways of pure friend
illness. like this.
They do the big things, sometimes do
them very royalty, but are not often
minded to extend natural. simple cour-
tesy; from their own happy heights to
those farther down. Because when one
has ones daughter and few friends i'll
box OF ones own-well if it is not So
very alluring to ask, stranger-folk right |
an ones midst.
But it is exceedingly gracious and very
revealing. |
Strange We Hesitate.
Strange, is it not. that we SO often |
hesitate to do the very thing that in the |
doing would stamp US as real gentlemen |
and real gentle-women.
What great matter if folk call it a Bit |
unconventional-deep down in their
hearts they know it is the real thing" |
Just in passing. it is only the folk in |
one way another right sure of them |
selves who venture from old. beaten
tracks to follow promptings that are
not ready-made. And when they lead
to kindly little exhibitions of true
courtesy. stranger to stranger, the on
locker knows right well that there Is
quality that reaches below the sur
face.