f-column
long. In preparing lists of names in society reports, the editor should
group like names and titles together. That is, she should group together
the married couples, then the married women whose names appear alone,
then the unmarried women, and finally the men. An illustration is the
following:

|Among the several hundred guests were Mr. and Mrs. |
|S. Bryce Wing, Mr. and Mrs. Felix D. Doubleday, Mr. |
|and Mrs. Lewis Gouvernour Morris.... |
| |
|Among the debutantes and other young women present |
|were Misses Gretchen Blaine Damrosch, Priscilla |
|Peabody, Irene Langhorne Gibson, Rosalie G. |
|Bloodgood.... |
| |
|The young men present included Messrs. Lester |
|Armour, Edward M. McIlvaine, Jr., Edgar Allan Poe, |
|William Carrington Stettinius, Nelson Doubleday, |
|Herbert Pulitzer.... |

=258. Spurious Announcements.=--A word may be said in conclusion about
getting society news. One of the first precautions to a prospective
society editor is not to accept announcements of engagements,
marriages, and births of children from any others than the immediate
persons concerned. In particular, one should beware of such news given
by telephone. Too many so-called practical jokes are attempted in this
way on sensitive lovers and young married couples. Many newspapers have
printed forms for announcements of engagements and weddings. These are
mailed directly to the families concerned and require their signatures.

=259. Sources for Society News.=--In cases of important news, such as
weddings and charity benefits, the editor generally has little
difficulty in obtaining all the facts needed. Some social leaders are
naturally good about giving one details of their parties. Others,
however, shun publicity even to the extent of denying prospective
luncheons, dinners, and card parties--particularly if they are
small--after all plans have been made, and the details may be had only
after they know the reporter has definite facts. To get these first
facts is often one's hardest task. Frequently one can acquire the
friendly acquaintance of some one in society who likes to have her name
appear with the real leaders. Men, too,--even husbands,--often are not
so reticen