The Washington herald., 1920-11-21


series OF Impressions Of life today
In, the hilarious French capital. An.
other will appear in an early issue-)
PARIS. Nov. io.-fhe gentiemanly
proprietor himself stood at the
doorway Of fAbbaye, in the Place
Pigaile. II was Friday evening
and Friday evenings at fAbbaye
are Exclusive" All comers not In
evening dress were told to betake
themselves elsewhere-to the Dead
Raj" next door, or to the RAT
That Is Not Dead" just across the
way, Into the cloisters of l'Abbaye
only, the chosen might enter.
They would have us think that
they think that they are respect
abie.F was the comment of the old
timer to the visitor from overseas,
as they qualified for admission by
e-oosing their white 'starched bos--
omas
The. guests struggled in; before
long the place was fairly crowded.
An american negro with a banjo,
and wearing a little hat slanted
over one eye. obliged with a song.
The champagne was popping. The
jazz orchestra assembled, and two
Professionally svelte tango hounds
looked over the assemblage with
critical eyes, deciding upon whom
hrst to bestow favor. They were
paliid. unhealthy specimens. but
they smiled appreciatively as they
caught sight of themselves In the
giidsd mirrors =
0nly Ladies, Alone.
marked that at many OF the tables.
the small tables near the door.
there were only ladies. alone.
Yes. they call 'em that-1adies !"
the old-timer explained; "or just
the girls"
me orchestra became a foxtrot
and one of the professionals negli-
gently gave a half nod toward one
of these tables. The girl immedi-
ately joined him In the center Of
the hoor.
They usually begin by dancing
with the girls" was the old-timers
comment. until the girls find some
one else, and the crowd livens up.
The pair could dance-there was
no doubt about that They were ac-
complished. There was no flaw In
anything that they did. They were
quite perfectly mechanical
She was a pretty creature, with
pale hair surmounted by wide hat.
She wore a lacy gown, with cascade
effect, and her short skirts permit
ted . wide view of graceful, pretty
ankles. She did not look at her
partner. nor he at her. Their races
were calm, masklike.
It's no use for them to pay at
tention to each other" the old
timer said.
A newcomer claimed the Lace
Girl for the next dance. tango.
while the male professional danced
with a little lady in a black velvet
gown that was minus a back.
The newcomer was an Argentinian
and could out-tango the profess
sional There was expression now
in the Lace Girls face. She was
considerably shorter than her part
ner. and she smiled up into his
eyes. Her even, white teeth
CLEANED and dimples came in at
the corners of her mouth. The visi-
tor called the old-timer's attention.
Always Smiles Like That.
Yes" he drawled. but I've seen
her before. She always smiles like
that-a stage smile. She's been
here q long, long time"
But as she passed in the dance
the visitor could not help noticing
how soft and round her arms were.
and how fresh her cheeks. even
though the old-timer laconically
opined that the latter quality was
unnatural"
There were two girls who danced
together frequently. Neither looked
more than Is, but their ngnres
: were full, and there was a world
OF Wisdom in their eyes that did
not harmonic with the bloom OF
their lips, even though the latter
features had the curve of SEN
sualfny. The visitors thought they
should be packed on home to their
parents. but the old-timer ex-
pIafned, patiently, that they had
formerly hung out at the Royal,
a Joint down the street, and only
recently had they worked their
way up to the exclusive circle Oh
fAbbaye.
narrowed the dancing space. The
visitor watched with intense curl
osity. .
There are those who look as II
Whey enjoy it." came his final judg-
nent. "and some seem thoroughly
distllusioned. But they are all pretty
-at a distance. Only some change
SO, when they come close up"
The old-timer laughed, bit dis
agreeably.
Closeup q Disillusion.
IT'S all disillusion on the close
up," he said: I'm an old-timer ana
know. They are the same old lot
DOING the same old thing with the
same old enchantment; same old new
clothes, dancing the same old dance
with the samsNold smiles-an false.
They must like II though-to do It.
'Do they all?" the. visitor asked.
'I wonderI Have you ever seen one
that sdidn't?"
The old-timer reflected. and
shrugged his shoulders
Nope" he inelegantly decided.
These French girls all do a lot Of
thinking-that's the danger with
them. But as a result they've only
got better manners. Also society
over here doesn't frown at them 50
harshly.
They've q chance to climb out. but
/ can't say that they ever do. To me
they're all alike - certainly these
girls Of fAbbaye. why, man, they're
lust faces-that'si ADJUST faces"
After this oration the old-timer
poured for himself a glass Of cham
payne.
vfsftors from England.
q