Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1866-03-14
all snrts of @uub 8ta0ing,
"Fun Dress" in America.

The New York correspondent of the Lon
don Spectators tells the following pleasant
tale:
The same woman viii be at tie opera on
one evening in fun dress in private box
and if she does not own box, at the next
performance in the stalls or the parquet, with
arms, shoulders and head all covered. A Ia
DIV whom I knew had rather an unpleasant
experience in an attempt, some years ago,
to disregard this tacit understanding among
the sex in regard to dinner dress at hotels
She belonged 10 on ultra fashionable set, and
having maraied South Carolina planter,
soon adopted what we call plantation man.
ners.n and affected no little scorn Of simple
hammered, reserved New England folk She
was at Newport, Our great seaside watering
place, and having Just returned from Europe,
took great airs unon herself One evening,
at the .ea tribe. a gentleman sat down nea7
Ler and the butter plate before him happen
/ ing to have no butter knife by 1t st the mo-
ment. he instead Of calling the waiter and
waiting for one to be brought, used his own
nerrectlv fresh. bright knife 10 take a bit Of
butter. He was man Of culture and social
standing. but Yankee, and one whose So
/ cial nretansion she wished to flout She seiz-
ed the opportunity, and calling waiter, said
in AN elaboratev subdued, but decided tone
a. Take away that butter; that gentleman has
had his knife in IT," He took no notice O
the remark. which drew all eyes upon hin
and upon the lady. But by and by she stretch
ed out her hand and took from the plate some
chipned dried beef. which stood between hel
eou n.
course; but he turned at once, and calling
waiter, said. only as if he were asking tol
more tea, "Tal,e away that dried beet, thi'
lady has had her fingers in it. In this en-
connter, such as it was, he was thought tc
have had the best OF it, and she did not for
give or forget. So a few days afterward q
shonld have mentiSced that there was tht
slightest possible acquaintance between them
they being at dinner, she conspicuous in the
full dress she had adopted since her tour L
Errope. and which was so very " full tina
Il would have attracted attention under any
circumstances took one from dish of fresl
figs before her. and putting it on plate
handed it to him with an expression of com
IpIaisance. but saying in a tone Of unmistak
able Significance, which could be heard al
around her. a fig for you Sir" Il,
accepted it qraciously, and taking in his turI
leaf from the garnilure of the dish, oferet
it to her with "a fig leaf for yen madam
She fed the table. and kept her room unit
her intended victim left the hotel. 1t wa
generally agreed that he had done what
gentleman would shrink from doing; but th
provocation was that he was held guiltless c
offense, and applauded for his wit; and no
body, except perhaps few OF her slavehold
ing friends, pitied her. This is the last in
stance that I know Of, Of lsdy's appearance
in full dress at a public table. But am tol
that within the last hree or four years it
coming more in fashion among the fastest
sets at the hight of the season at Saratog'
and one or two others of our our gayest wal
ering places.