The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1866-05-19
NJ cream OF all things free"

N"S 'IO'e"V" tCocCtutoT Ou n ull DrGSS
in America :"
The same woman will be at the opera
on one evening in full dress in private
box, and if she does not own a box. at
the next performance in the stalls of the
parquet, with arms, shoulders and head
all covered. A lady whom 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 to an ultra. fashionable set, and
having married a South Carolina plan
ter, soon adopted what we call ''planta
ton manners" and affected no little
scorn OF simple hammered, reserved New
England folk. She was at Newport, our
great seaside watering place, and hay.
ing just returned from Europe. took
great airs upon herself One evening
at the tea table gentleman sat down
near her and the butter-plate before him
happened to have no butter.knife by il
at the moment; he, instead of calling
the waiter and waiting for one to be
brougha, used his awny perfectly fresh
bright knife to take bit Of butter. He
was man of culture and social stand.
ing, but Yankee, and one whose So.
clal pretension sh wished to hout. She
seized the opportunity, and calling a
waiter, said, in an elaborately subdued
but decided tone, "Take away that but.
ter; that gentleman has had his knife in
l." Hetookno notice ofhe remark, Which
drew all eyes upon him and upon the
lady but by and by she stretched out
her hand aud took from the plate some
chiPpel dried beef which stood between
her aud her victim. This was well
enough, Of course; bnt he turned at
once, and calling waiter, said, only as
he was asking for some tea, Take
away that dried beef; this lady had her
fingers in it," In this encounter, such
asst was, he was thought to have had
the best oft, and she did not forgive
or forget. So a few days afterwards II
should have mentioned that there was
the slightest possible acquaintance be.
tween them, they being at dinner, she,
conspicuous in the full dress she had
adopted since her tour to Europe. and
which was so very full" that it would
have attracted attention under auy cir.
cumstances, took one from dish of
fresh figs before her, and putting it on
plate handed it to him with an expires.
sion of complaisance, but saying in
tone of nnmistaken significance which
could be heard all around her, "a fig
for yon, sir" He accepted it graciously,
and taking in his turn leaf from the
garniture Of the dish, offered it to her,
with "a fig.leaf for you, madam" She
fled the table, and kept her room until
her intended victim left the hotel. II
was generally agreed that he had done
what gentleman would shrink from
doing but the provocation was such
that he was held guiltless Of offense, and
applauded forhis wit; and nobody, ex.
cept perhaps few of her nearest friends
pitied her. This is the last instance
know Of lady's appearance. in full dress
at a public table. But am told that
within the last three or four years it is
coming mole in fashion among the "fast.
est Gets at the height of the season at
Saratoga, and one or two Others Of our
gayest watering places.
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