UNIVITED GUESTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 291, 2 September 1908, Page 5

UNIVITED GUESTS.

A.certain impudent sort of hero wis popular in novels a few years ago, a man, usually a nobleman, a'marquis for choice, with delightful manners, any amount. of assurance,. and a fancy for inviting himself as ..a casual' guest to houses where entertainments wero being held. Here he invariably made the acquaintance of some charming unsophisticated girl, and a little. comedy of flirtation would be the result, all of which seemed fascinating and amusing to the writer, though tho reader often formed a different impression. ' '• . , . . The rogue-guest is not so popular in real 'life as lie was in fiction. Hostesses are complaining this season, (says the "Daily Ex- , press") more than ever of the presence of uninvited guests at their parties. This is an increasing nuisance, which it is very difficult to stop. Many young men, who ought to know'better, think it rather a good joke if they seo ; an awning across tho pavement to. enter a perfectly strange house, trusting to be unrecognised. in the crowd. Tho hostess, as a matter of fact, cannot'know all her guests by sight, particularly in these days of "brought' men," and very rarely dares to risk offence by-asking-whether the presumed interloper has received an invitation. _ Aduchess did this once. The guest simply bowed and left, and she found out later that she had practically turned out of her house the husband of one of best friends, who took mortal offenco at,the insult. ■ Tho device has been tried of having detec-, tives present at large parties, but this does not answer, as these uninvited guests.are not of the-,criminal 'classes, but merely smart young men, who do it "for a lark." Besides, it happened recently that two detectives who were present did'not know one another, and each denounced the other, to, the hostess as an undesirable. Explanation was difficult. A particularly flagrant case occurred in 13elgravo Squaro. recently,, when, it is said for a bet, two yojuiig men danced and supped at a well-known house where a very smart ball was going on; and, what is more, met friends there, who naturally imagined that they wero invited guests, which they were not. Things have now como to such a pass that it is practically possible for any well-dressed and presentable man. to walk into almost any big house when a party is going on, and if ho behaves' discreetly "and appears at homo, ho may eat a good s'nppor, have a few glasses ' of champagne, and go away with one of his unknowp host's-cigars in.lus mouth. This is done every night of the season by a number of impudent youths, who aro sometimes foolish enough to boast of their exploits.