Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1886 — A Society Item. [ARTICLE]

A Society Item.

The reader will please bear in mind that the following true tale was told by one of the brightest little ladies in the West End: “If you ever print it,” she said, “I’ll never speak to you again, sure, but it is too good to keep. Some time ago there was a lady came up from Texas to visit some friends here, very nice people, the ,” naming a very well known family. “The young lady had not been in the city long before the girls of our set got down on her. I never saw anything wrong with her, except that she was just a little—well, you know —not exactly one of us, don’t you see? Well, some of the girls heard that Miss X. was to be invited to a very swell party in the West End, the invitation being, of course, on account of her hosts. The young ladies talked the thing over and decided to cut the Texas girl. I would not agree, because I didn’t see why the poor thing should be insulted when she was going home in a few days. “Miss Z. went to the party with Mr. C., one of the best fellows in the town, and on the way she told him that all the girls meant to cut Miss X. and teach her her place in society. C. didn’t say anything. He went through his first dance with Miss Z., and then leaving her at a seat, walked up to the poor Texas girl, who was sitting apart from the rest, awfully lonely and disconsolate. He introduced himself to Miss X. and just laid himself out to make her enjoy the party. Of course he succeeded. You know he’s one of the wholesouled sort of fellows that all the girls arc half in love with, and when he does try to be good he is very good indeed. He danced with the Texas girl again and again, promenaded with her, flirted most outrageously with her. I heard the scamp begging for one of the ugly artificial flowers she had on her dress, and I felt like hugging him because he was doing a brave, manly thing. Of course, Miss Z. was furious. At last, when she wouldn’t stand it any longer, she walked up to Mr. C. and Miss X.— it was still very early in the evening—and said: ‘Mr. C., I want to go home.’ “ ‘Oh, its early yet, Miss Z., he replied. ‘Let’s not go for a little while, anyhow.’ “ ‘I want to go now,’ she said, stamping her foot; ‘do you mean to take me home or not?’ “ ‘Well, if you really wish it. But let me introduce my friend. Miss X., Miss Z.’ “ ‘Thank you. I don’t care to know your friend, Miss X.,’ was the reply. “Of course, this was a mistake for Mr. C. to make. He went too far. Miss X. turned very hotly, and said: ‘Don’t think, Miss Z., that I don’t understand all that has happened to-night, and I just want to tell you if you and those other girls who have joined in cutting me are samples of the best St. Louis society, we have servant girls in Galveston who are more lady-like than you.’ “The reply that Miss Z. made was to slap the other girl in the face with all her might. It was so suddenly done, and so unexpected, that there was no chance for any of the persons who had gathered around, attracted by the loud talking, to interfere. Well, you can imagine the rest of it. There was an awful scene. Miss Z. was bundled off in one direction and Miss X., crying bitterly, in another. A crowd of the girls gathered about Miss X. and apologized profusely for what they had done, but what good was apologizing? Miss X. started home to Texas the next clay, and the rest of us have been trying to keep the story out of the papers ever since.” — St. 'Louis Republican. A foreign device for cutting stone consists of a cord of three steel wires rather loosely twisted together, running round pulleys like a band-saw. The swift succession of blows from the ridges of the cord delivered along a narrow line disintegrates the stone rapidly.