Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1921-05-13

BIZ the millionaire. These good pefs
pie wunld not have admitted 1t, bht
the truth Is J. Patterson Bing held
them all In the hollow of his hafid,
Nobody outside his own family had
any affection for him. Outwardly, he
was as hard as nails. But he owned
the bank and controlled credits. and
was an extravagant buyer. He had
given freely for the Improvement of
the village and the neigl1bOrfng city of
Hazelmead His family was the court
cipcIe of Bingville. Consciously or IN
consciously, the best people, initiated
the Bings.
Judge Croker was. one day. dis
GUESSING with friend the social c0ndi-
tons of Bingville. In regard to picnic
Sundays he made this remark:
George Meredith once wrote to his
son that he would need the help of
religion to get safely beyond the
stormy passions of youth. 1t is very
true!'
The historian was reminded of this
saving by the undertOw of the life
currents in Bingville.
The dances in the Normal school
| and in the homes of the Well-tO-do
were limitations of the great party at
J. Patterson Bing's. The costumes or
certain of the young ladies were, to
quote a clause from the posters OF the
Messrs. Barnum and Bailey, still cling
| ing to the billboard: "the most daring
| and amazing bareback performances
i'm the history of the circus ring.
PHYLLIS Bing, the unrivaled metr0pOl-
tan performer, set the pace. 1t was
! distinctly TOO rapid for her followers.
/ If one may say it kindly, she was as
cold and heartless and beautiful in her
act as piece of bronze or Italian
marble She was not ashamed OF her
self She did it SO easily and grace
fully and unconsciously and obliging-
w. so to speak, as if her license had
never been questioned. 1t was not so
with Vivian Mead and Frances Smith
and Pauline Baker They limped and
struggled in their efforts to keep up.
To begin with, the art of their
modiste had been fussy, initiative and
tmid. 1t lacked the master touch.
Their spirits were also improperly pre-
pared for such publicity. They blushed
and looked apologies and were visibly
uncomfortable when they entered the
dance hall.
IN nd
cred famous opinion. 1t was: Il feel
sorry for those girls. but their mothers
ought to be spanked !"
There is evidence that this sentence
of his was carried out in due time and
in most effectual manner. But the
works of art which these mothers had
put on exhibition at the Normal school
sprang into overwhelming popularity
with the young men and their cards
were quickly filled. In half an hour,
they had ceased to blush. Their eyes
no longer spoke apologies. They were
new women Their initiation was
complete They had become, in the
language of Judge Croker perfect
Phyllistines"
The dancing tried to be as naughty
as that remarkable Phyllistinian pas
time at the mansion of the BingS and
succeeded well, if not handsomely.
The modern dances and dress were
now definitely established in Bing-
vile.
Just before the holidays. the extern
sion of the ample home of the million
aire was decorated, furnished anG
ready to be shown. Mrs. Bing ami
Phyllis. who had been having a fling
in New York, came home for the holi-
days. John arrived the next day from
the great PadelfOrd school to be with
the family through the winter recess.
Mrs Bing gave Il tea to the ladies or
Bngville She wanted them to see
the improvements and become aware
of her good will. She had thought of
an evening party, but there were many
men in the village whom she dldn
care to have in her house. So 1t be
came tea
The women talked of leaking roofs
and water pipes and useless bathrooms
and outrageous costs. Phyllis sat III
the palm room with the village girls
1t happened that they talked mainly
about their fathers Some had com