OCR Text |
Show Society Finds New Amcstcacnt.. Society as it is constituted is an amusing institution, insti-tution, in the fact that it needs must be amused, and the form that amusement takes. This observation .-,. . . , - applies particularly to "society in the jaded East, where the smart set is supposed to flourish. -: Something "new" must be devised to keep up the lagging" spirits of tired devotees of idleness. Monkey dinners pall on their accustomed taste. Phantasms of gorgeous display lose their novelty. The nimble wits of society "entertainers" are put to the test to devise some new sensation, some palliative palli-ative for ennui, " . A. new genius has Arisen, who thus far has kept his identity a secret, but nevertheless has caused a gpasm of delight in the ranks of society's 400 more or less. ' j When all other means of arousing enthusiasm had failed, this scintillating star of social amusement amuse-ment devised a shirt race, in which each gallant knight' had his lady. This was a thrilling contest, both for the men 'and for the girlst Its terms made it necesarily exciting, from society's standpoint Each ; contestant had to take his shirt in hand, mount his horse, ride 200 yards to his lady, wait until un-til she sewed a button on the shirt, then put on his shirt, remount, "and gallop back to the starting point. Each contestant had to provide his own sewing sew-ing lady.) . . When all was ready and the fair button-sewers stood ready with needles and thread at the other end, of. the line, the starter, shouted "Go!'? and the knights of the shirt went clattering away. 1 As soon as the contestant got his button sewed on he had to put on the shirt right there before his button-sewer and the crowd. The shirts had to be buttoned before the contestants could remount and start for "home ' . Such transcending genius for the' creation of amusement for society deserves fitting recognition. We suggest that Obi. Henry Watterson embalm the fame of this inventor in vitriol. |