Smyrna times., 1868-06-24
New York Children.

So many famlic, leave New York CITY. that
1t would seem a. ii sufficient room might be
left for those who stay behind. But this is
not the case, however, since for one that leaves
twenty stand ready to take the place, and the
same pushing and struggling is constantly be-
ing re-enactcd
1t is indeed great pity that all the children
are not taken away. There is 80 little room
for them, they are so crowded into holes and
corners, or forced out Of all good and natural
child-Iile, that when or how they can >tlL,y or
grow is Il mystery. Ma,qucralcS and parties
are as frequent with them as with their elders.
| their hours nearly as late, their toilcttcS "a.
elaborate Their food consist, Of French
dishes, chocolate and rich confectionery. and
| they talk about the ''huuquct of their favurit,
wines with the gravity of experienced connis-
ScurS.
There are no longer any such things as the
"chIdrcn parties with their simple game,
and amuScmcntS, their cu>tard and sponge
cakes for refreshments, their pretty dresses OF
red mcrno, or at most white muslin, and then
sensible hours which allow d the little ones to
be home and in bed at the usual time
Instead of these we have full dress entertain
mcntS the fac-simile Of those given for Older
persons. The folly is, if anything, carried tC
Il still greater extreme. The dresses are coStly
and complete down to the smallest detail The
tullc or lace is loopcd at the side with ribbon
| or flowers over silk or satin necklaces; and tiny
| lockctS with monogram diamond earrings, min
lature bouquet holders, lace handEerchirtS, the
quaintest of little DuchcSSc kid gloves, and the
dainticSt of white satin boots over white silk
stockings complete their apparel. Got up in
such style as this of course the little creatures
can think of little besides their clothes, and
their enjoyment is restricted to dancing the
| IIanccrS the RtdOWa or the IrIman with some
small gentleman, gorgeous y arraycd also. and
to the supper which would be considered
lrighttully mean if it did not include plenty OF
creams and ices, chocolate cakes, meringucS,
gIaccs, confectionery, Lou-JouS and champagne.
For IA chidrens party given lately, the straw
berries aud white grapes alone cost $500. Not
untrcqucnty the little ones are put into u car
rlage perfectly exhausted at two or three
o clock in the morning and Of course are unfit
for study for several days afterwards.
There are children who have been to over a
dozen masqueradcs during the past winter, for
each one of which different dress was provid-
ed which took days in its preparation These
children have already exhausted life. They dis
cuss Grand DuchCSSe and Lu Belle UdoAc and
with a hnguid air declare there is nothing in
America worth seeing, and that they shall
die " if pa docsn' t take them to Paris.
Oh! for the old panatOre and bread and
butter days, when children were children and
not miserable little LLtSc men and women.
1t would be quite as great an act of mercy
for some philanthrOpiSt to pick up these little
creatures Of wealth and distribute them among
the farmers houses Of New England and the
great West, as if they were the outcast and
vagabonds of our streets. One extreme is as
rulnous III its effects as the other.
JrNNIp II-NC