"
As the first notes carrying the almost audible words, "Mid pleasures and
palaces" arose from the piano the folding doors at the end of the ballroom
parted and there appeared Queen Bess, followed by fifteen of the girls who
sold drinks for her. Queen Bess was dressed in black, her white hair
coiffured like a hospital superintendent's. Her girls were dressed in
simple afternoon frocks. Neither rouge nor beads were to be seen on them.
And as the professor played "Home, Sweet Home" Queen Bess marched her
companions solemnly down the length of the ballroom and seated them at the
table.
I remember that before the numerous servitors started functioning Queen
Bess made a speech. She stood up at the head of the table, her red face
beaming under her white hair and her black eyes commanding the attention
of the men and women before her.
"All of you know who I am, blankety blank," said Queen Bess, "and,
blankety blank, what a reputation I got. All of you know. But I've invited
you to this blankety blank dinner, hoping you will humor me for the
afternoon and pretend you forget. I would like to see you enjoy yourselves
at the banquet board, eat and drink what wine there is and laugh and be
thankful, but without pulling any blankety blank rough stuff.
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