Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-03-01
ltdsaioa ~"rdeHce Of II, ErsRiso S.dr.l
February -, 1872.
inc "oi very quiet
in the metro,.

l'S'" - F"eHoc 81 IN frfRi7Q Mar.
February -, 1872.
The nor |>rervo,,a,
in the metrOi- a
put a stop to all ceremv...
tainments, for though the majort,
society are neither Catholics, nor strict EpI,,
palians, yet there are sufficient number OF both
to render il difficult to give parties balls OF re-
certons, during Lent without the certainty OF
excluding ones dearest friends or most desirable
acquaintance. This accounts for the univer-
sal style in which the kardi- Grds (Shrove
Tuesday, festivities are observed by persons
whose conseiences are untroubled by Teasing
or fasting, and explains how convictions and
principles in some become matters Of fashion,
and etiquette with others. A violent rain storm
assisted at the celebration OF Kdrdi Grds this
year, but did not seem 10 interfere greatly with
the scenes OF gsyety in progress Every other
house in the fashionable and some of the un-
fashionable quartersot the city were lit up from
basementto attic. and by p. m. not a Carriage
was 10 be had for less than double the usual
prices and at these only for the briefest possible
space OF time. Dancing. music, charades, pri-
yate theatricals, masquerades, and leap wear
frolicking constituted the order Of the night.
''the last" every one said, 'sof the Carnival"
and TO see the ardor with which even staid and
elderly; as well as young people, entered into
were going home TO sack-cloth and ashes. in
stead OF good beds and comfortable breakfasts
LENTRN OCCUPATIONS.
The lull IL not, OF course unacceptable even
TO persons OF the gayest tastes they have still
dinners, lunches and quiet weekly reunions, in
terspersed with English opera and other amuse-
ments to console themselves with. and are afford
ed An opportunity TO inspect spring fashions and
decide upon Easter toiiettes. At present they
are neither systematised nor understood. ANY
vulgar, narrow, purse proud woman who can
bring together a number of people imagines her
self society" but such are not, aud never can
be, true leaders Wisdom, tact, Judgment, for
bearance. self sacrifice, devotion, are as as nee
essary TO success in this department as any other
and above all, a power of appreciation and re-
cogDition possessed by very few men women.
This is the secret of the failure of many intel
hgent women in their attempts to establish
social centers OF thought and intellectual cul-
ture, as well as grace and refinement ina the
want of the proper material to work with. Alice
Cary created the nearest approach TO one that
has ever existed in New York city, and this not
by extraordinary effort, for she was physically
incapable OF ii; but by her rare appreciation and
unselhsbness, and absolute freedom from jeal-
ousy. Few women with a special gift of their
own could succeed in attracting around her,
Others OF 80 many and such varied faculties and
sttainments. But she did il, because she re-
Joiced in them all, even more than she did in her
own.
DRESS AT THE OPERA.
The English opera season 50 far has been a
brilliant success. The audiences are singularly
different in their personnel and general make
up from the audiences Of the Italian opera, but
their numbers are great, and their enth usiasIn
more demonstratiye There is very little full dress
seen even In the boxes, but there are evidences
Of a breaking up of winter attire, and the near
approach of spring, i'm eabroidering a. a substi-
tute for fur, and the occasional appearance of a
light silk or crepe de CLINE hat, or bonnet.
Mr.. Charles Santley, wonderful singer though
he is, has failed to make the impression in OPP
era which was expected from his reputation aud
success in concert and oratorio. His chief merit
in fact. lies in bis truth and fidelity TO his art,
bis great genius in his extraordinary versatility
and range of voice. He can sing tenor parts as
well as basso and baritone, and is absolutely
fauitless in the expression OF every note in his
extensive range, but he is no actor; he has no
dramatic ire, NO passion, no intensity, and con-
tents himself with singing the music of his part
without any attempt to characterize the role
Wachtel has been added 10 the corps for the
Easter performances and Parepa. Warhtel aud
Santley will compose trio that ought TO be
memorable.
SPRING FASHIONS.
III The fine February weather is not followed
by an unusually chilly and severe March, the
place at an early date. Already preparations
are being made on a large scale for the spring
openings of bonnets and costumes, while the
stores are full of pretty spring fabrics and ad
vance styles, which leave little for future events
to disclose.
OF genuine novelty there is, Of course, very
little. There is now here for it to come from.
Paris has had restored To it some of its old trade
but no fashion, and its broken and depressed
condition affords little hope for the immediate
future. Germany, left 20 itself, sticks to its
Oftener than once in a century. Whatever we
havohad, therefore, or are likely 10 get for the
present, Of distinctive difference, must take its
rise in English or American skill and enter
prise and not in foreign effort or genius
In truth, women are now very much at the
mercy of designing dresemakers and extrays-
CANT modistes. Without any ideas or purpose Of
their own, the majority OF them fall an easy
prey to the whims or personal objects OF those
in whom they have been accustomed TO place
confidence. ObedieRt to their autocratic man
.IaNA 49, es~...z a..
OF material in one suit, and, before IL is worn,
alter it over, at additional expense and trouble
into something else.
SPRING FABRICS.
Whatever may be said as to designs, it is easy
to see that English taste has inspired our early
spring materials, the patterns being almost
uniformly large figured and many colored. II
market, that New York, like Paris, requires. or
at least prefers, self colors, or quiet patterns,
but the " Dolly Warden" furore offers q tempta,
ton which could not be resisted, and if Ameri-
can women wear all the chintz prints, and cam
brics. silks, and delaines that have been i'm
for their benefit, the entire sex will look as il
they had gone incorporating In the curtains
There are some pretty striped cambrics and
some soft finished with twill I'm the new dead
leaf cameo, "Mikado" bun, and delicate prin-
Temps (light grew shades of color; but they are
oyershadowed, put out OF countenance for the
time being, by the gaily-howered cottons, wool
ems and silk foulards with black or white grounds
WHICH ODtruuc tucmsclNce everywhere In
which that pretty and coquettish, but still mod
est and well behaved, young damsel would
never have sanctioned.
rev txilled cotton goods is imported in dress
patterns, accompanied BY plated trimming,
all ready to make mp into suits. II Is soft, fin
tshed without gloss, and not af oil expensive;
but II has had the bad name given to it of Ja-
Paneee pique, and one trial of the so-caled
Japanese goods with which the market has been
flooded during the past two years, n generally
sufficient TO last lifetime. or course they ap-
pear in force this season A}sO in hair stripes In
erisoille stripes and checks; In mottled aud
eAene psfters IN 81 the delusvs styles in short,
which can De borrousd 30 make then seem the
good thing they afe not. Prices ase the same
from seventy I'VE cents TO one dollar aud
quaEtsr per yaEd; indeed prices Do not seem to
vary any from last year Tor dress naserias Of
New American siIu Of The ylanchesSsr man
ufheture, are attracting much attention from
thek gRent superiority o. color and textare, and
their edaptAbtIity % the purpoees Of handsome
street suits. TIE Americas srss graias have
herefnfbre bean black, or grey; they are now
produced In several Of the noet fsshiepsble
tinfs and colorS, md also In hair glrip, uniting
two shades Of the same color with exceedinxly
good EFFECT. They have net much gioss, but
silk, while their rich texture gives them the a.
pearan0e Of silk Of high cost, and they soAses.
the unusual quality Of rather improving than
otherwise by wear.
HAIR-efRPKD SILKS