The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-03

TEE GAY Observation-Disclosures PAklIEs.-
After the holidays comes the saturnaaia Of the
Fashionable world, which goes up to Lent The
great prosperity Of the country and the compare
tive ease with which Sharp business men obtain
weal1h--or the show of wealth-which is just as
coed as long as il lasts-hes it's natural effect
upon the women, who are more extravagant
than ever. Crinoline expands and extends its
borders until two ladico ill up the width OF
drawing room, and robes are Heightened
until the pTe is daily swept with the riches.
and stifltst xIorc an;sque. Ia the gay world
jeWe)ry ses gradually been going out for three
or four eessoDs, bat the money once invested ia
diamonds is new expended in dress goods,
which are growing more rich, more eia-
borate and more expensive every year.
con sslntly taxed to the atmost TO know what
she. shall wear, while her husbands bust
NJ ne capabilities find full scope in his effor q
ts,Haise the money to crafty her extravaganza
Ter ambition is to out do somc one else-to we Ar
- dress or set of laces which cost a great deal
more money than those Of her dearest friend
who is thrown into commissions OF envy when the
/. deure is mentioned, and to give party which SO
crOwdsher house that everybody is continually
!reading on everybody eIse's toes.
The fashionable party is Of several kinds.
TheIess the soyee da,ascak, with supper, which is
generally considered the correct thing. Cards
must be issued at least one week befOr
hand They must DE engraved On cop
pesflate, and nothing but full dress, both for
gentlemen and ladies, will do The gentleman
mrs. be black from his shirt collar to the tip CT
his toes. The lady mest have very expensive
Izess, which che is not permitted to wear but
cDce ; it mus! DC very much spread out in the
esrt, very low in the neck, and very short in the
.leeves. She must haze. ten dollar 6ouq1et,
roses and camelias are scion les regle jus. nov.
Her duties are TO dance a. great deal, firt great
deal, and eat a great.dsal OF supper. The gentle
man can 60 At eleveE-make hs salaam to the
lady prioress Of the establishment, and then pitck
into the supper. hiding bottle of champagne
under chair, so that he may refresh himself
after tie German, which is @, dance that has only
beginning, with no middle or end, until the
dancers are exhausted. To be able to lead the
German is the highest effort OF society man,
and it is the sole object OF his life
There has lately been good deal OF com
plain. among the ladies' that the young men only
come for supper, which makes the parties dread
inIy slow till one or tive o'clock in the morning
dancing men being very scarce Talking men |
and intellectual ladies are unpopular, but some
times literary man is invited as a show. There |
is great deal Of money spent on these parties, |
and people wonder where it comes from. They |
LIN
ports.
Next to the sorGe dGEs0ae is the bal COSTUME or !
tdl mdsege, both Of which are generally melan |
choly failures Very few people have taste in |
The selection C. fancy dress or power 20 sustein 1
the character they assume. Thus you will |
near Charles The Second saying that be |
thinks Waiting lie very immoral, or Sir John |
Falstaf talking about two per cent per month,
OF the price OF thu. corner lot on Murray Hill. |
Then there are private theatrical parties, anna
ieur concerts, whist parties, dinner parties.
stag" OF bachelor parties, surprise parties
aud various other devices TO spend money and sit
MP late at night.
Nor are al the diversions Of our fashionable
people 20 innocent as those above noted Gam
bling has become fashionable vice, and has OK
.endtd 20 the ladies' In all the clubs, play.
though forbidden by rule, runs high; and We
have heard Of one where the sristosrauc
amusement Of poker being tabooed, TIE ana.
teugs al that athletic exercise met in secre!
place detached from the main establish
men; There are, !, is said. very cx,la.
sye gambling places whore women
play a. The Fse1cb games which have
ruined sonc Of the ricles, ladies 10 Paris No.
all the efforts to suppress gambliog
in this metropolis, il increases privately and pub
icly; ard ths fac. lie the only answer Pa. cac /,
made TO tte often repeated inquiry as 10 where
does all the money GO to. II goes over the green
cloth and into the pockets Of the sharper, who
may DC found almost as often in the Fifth ave
nue. as or the Five Points The present genera
ion bids fair to exceed in frivolity aud ey,rava
gapce any thai has ever preceded It since W
Of the republic. Lei 1t not be Cor
gotten That the ehtninasy Of people is the |
snrest fore1uDner Of the decay Of nation
4
IBE DUTY on SCGGE.-Our venerable cltem- |
porary, the JosyHol cf Caxmerce, had a violent
on New Years day against the
removal Of the duty on sugar, 10 the cau~sa Of