As the story goes, a New York columnist who had to attend many cocktail parties each season had come to believe a certain socialite was a less than perfect listener. It was said that this socialite was so preoccupied with making a wonderful impression on her guests that she was unable to hear anything that they were saying. To test this theory, the columnist came late to one of her parties. When he was greeted at the door by the hostess he said, “I am sorry to be so late, but I witnessed a murde.