DEAR IDLER:
I HAVE been reading your articles in The Evening Post.They are really most amusing! You do know such a lot about people and things, that I am tempted to write and ask you a question on a subject that is puzzling me.What is it that is necessary to succeed - socially? There! It is out! Please do not laugh at me.
Such funny people get on and such clever, agreeable ones fail, that I am all at sea.Now do be nice and answer me, and you will have a very gratefulADMIRER.
The above note, in a rather juvenile feminine hand, and breathing a faint perfume of VIOLETTE DE PARME, was part of the morning's mail that I found lying on my desk a few days ago, in delightful contrast to the bills and advertisements which formed the bulk of my correspondence.It would suppose a stoicism greater than Ipossess, not to have felt a thrill of satisfaction in its perusal.
There was, then, some one who read with pleasure what I wrote, and who had been moved to consult me on a question (evidently to her)of importance.I instantly decided to do my best for the edification of my fair correspondent (for no doubt entered my head that she was both young and fair), the more readily because that very question had frequently presented itself to my own mind on observing the very capricious choice of Dame "Fashion" in the distribution of her favors.