Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-26
THELIGHTER SIDE OF ARMYLIFE

cleyerness In sufficient degree to keep
the real idea under cover.
Query ran around as to the date
when the party was to occur and in
some way the question was answered
and the date was announced as early
In the new year. Later January 10
was set by those who knew. Then
the question was asked by those inter-
ested. each of the other as they met
on the walk or at The club, Are you
asked to the Perry mess reception?"
and In every case the answer was an
emphatic, No; are you?" So 1t went
Everybody knew that there was to be
a party and no one knew whom was
invited. The situation may easily be
imagined. Mrs. Blank assured all of
her friends that It was inexplicable
and that to a degree. why" she
said, II have had all those boys at
my house a half dozen times this win.
liter. Allie Perry himself took Thanks.
giving dinner with us and I declare I
do not understand the thing" Other
matrons were in an equally dark men.
tai situation. Even the most popular
girls along the line declared that they
too had received no Invitation. Oh,
| Il was pretty -how-do-ypu-do and the
strain was terrific. So no one was
surprised that word got about that a
certain Mrs. X had declared that she
had known Aleck Perry ever since his
babyhood and that she intended to ask
him why she was not invited But
| try as she would Mr.. Perry could not
be found and q note sent to his quar-
tiers brought only q reply that he was
confined to his quarters and did not
dare venture out In the frosty air and
the determined lady was foiled.
In this state of affairs the day of
January 10 arrived, Early on the day
set, wagons from the nearby town ar
rived In the post and went to the mess
some brought awnings that workmeh
set up over the walk out to the street.
others were laden with caterers bias
kets containing most evidently silver,
glass and other needfuls; while in the
afternoon florists delivery traps were
seen to bring palms in tubs, boxes
with flowers and then, too, many chairs
were brought out by otners vans. The
activity so plainly in evidence denoted
q function of magnitude and magni-
ficence. Evening came on and shortly
after lights blazed up all over the
suspected house and then shades were
drawn: but, as the nearby dwellers
observed, corps of servants was Wis
ible as doors occasionally opened to
admit member of the. mess hurrying
from his own quarters to the rendez-
yous. Army ladies are proverbially
fond Of exercise and wintry weather
did not deter them on that evening
from taking brisk walks-just for ex-
ercise, each told the other as they met
lon the walk Of the main parade. And
those walks revealed the fact by sound
/ that an orchestra was in that corner
house for the musicians were distinct
ly heard as they scraped fiddle strings
or sounded clarinet in preliminary tun.
Tings. The climax came when eight of
the clock or a bit later came around
for then carriage after carriage with
! proper flourish drew up and the ladies
well bundled In wraps and accompa.
MED by tall-hatted escorts were seen
to leave those carriages and with live
| " chatter enter the "bachelors' mess.
As the doors OF the mess opened hos
pitably to receive the parties of guests
music swelled out on the night air,
and the lights from within streamed
out over the parade. Glimpses of the
interior that were gathered by late
passers-by were reported 4 home as
showing many guests and most evi.
dent enjoyment In fact, Everything
to be seen or heard or im3gined pro.
nounced the party to be whit is usual
~ termed -tle event IL tie season. :
But when mifhight caTie md the ear.
. riage wheels POLLING away told of the