Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-02-01
"FuIl Dress. In America.

The New York correspondent of the Lon.
don Spectator tells the following pleasant
tale: '.. 90. g. ~ r -F..t
The same woman will be at the opera on
one evening in full dress in a 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 lady whom | knew had rather an un-
pleasant experience in an attempt, some
years, ago, to disregard this tacit under
standing among the sex in regard to dinner
dress at hotels. She belonged to an ultra
fashionable set, and having married South
Carolina planter, soon adopted what We
call plantation manners, and affected no
little scorn of simple hammered, reserved
New England folk. She was at Newport,
our great seaside watering place, and hav-
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 happening to
have no butter knife by it at the moment,
he, instead of calling the waiter and waiting
for one to be brought, used his own perfect
" fresh, bright knife to take bit OF butter.
He was q man of culture and social stand
ing, but a Yankee, and one whose social
pretension she wished to fout. She seized
the opportunity, and calling waiter, said
in an elaborately subdued but decided tone,
.'Take away that butter; that gentleman
has had his knife in it" He took no no.
tice of the remark, which drew all eyes upon
him and upon the lady. But by and by she
stretched out her hand and took from the
plate some chipped dried beef, which stood
between her and her victim. This was well
enough of course; but he turned at once,
and calling waiter, said. only as if he were
asking for more tea, Take away that dried
beef, this lady has had her fingers in it. -
In this encounter, such as it was, he was
thought to have had the best of it, and she
did not forgive or forget. So a few days
atterward Il should have mentioned that
there was the slightest possible ac-
quaintance between them) they being at
dinner, she, conspicuous in the full dress
she had adopted since her tour to Europe,
aHd which was so very "full that it would
have attracted attention under any circum-
stances, took one from dish Of fresh figs
before her, and handed it to him with an
expression Of oomplaisanoe, but saying in
a tone of unmistakable significance, which
could be heard all around her, A fig for
you, Sir. He accepted it graciously, aud
taking,in his turn . leaf from the garniture
of tho dish, offered it to her. with q A fg
leaf for you madam. She fed the table,
and kept her room until her intended victim
left the hotel 1t was generally agreed that
he had done what gentleman would shrink
from doing; but tho provocation was such
that he was held guitless of offsnse, and
applauded for his wit; and nobody, excep,
perhaps few of her slayeholding friends
! pitied her. This is the last instance that
know Of, of a lady a appearance in full dress
at public table. But am told that within
the last three or fouryears it is coming more
in fashion among the = fastest sets at tn,
hight Of the season at Saratoga, and one o.
! two sthers Of our sayest Watering places /,