Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-08-23
The Beauties OF Long Branch.


Stretching society at Long Branch for
the Boston Post, correspondent photo
graphs feminine seaside character thus
Among the gay crowd, but not of it,
was the occupant of quiet, brown-lined
landaulettee-a most beautiful woman,
not in the prevailing style of blonde pref
tiness, but distinct in her beauty. Tall
and graceful, with well-shaped head,
set regally on superb shoulders; clear,
regular-cut features, as perfect and as cold
as cameo-cut face; dark hair carried
siNply down over the ears, and knotted
at the back; gray silken draperies, with
soft lace ruffies around the neck and
wrists. Her only companion was an ell
Derby lady, who might have been, and
probably was, her mother. Curious eyes
watched her, and eager faces watched for
the recognition, which she gave careless
ly, when she could not avoid it without
actual rudeness. Her only interest was
in the horses, and she gave them more
earnest attention than she deigned to be-
stow upon any one around her. Every
one knew her as the young widow OF
wealthy New Yorker who at his death in
herited all his immense fortune. Her ex-
ceeding grace and beauty attracted the
notice of very wealthy man, many years
her senior, and she married him. In
few years he died, leaving her absolute
mistress of all his wealth, her beauty
heightened, and still young. A brilliant
social career was predicted for her but,
much to the surprise Of every one of her
friends, she Withdrew from society, not
even emerging when her period of MOURN
ing was over. Extremely Cevout, she
seemed to have little interest in anything
outside her church. Male visitors are de-
MED admittance to her house, with the
exception of the clergymen. Most men
she looks upon as fortune hunters, and
will not place herself in their way,
thinking, very wisely, that the only
way to avoid anything is to keep out
of the reach of the temptation. She is
enough of woman to dread her own
heart, and consequently she exposes it to
no danger. OF course her GOODNESS piques
many a man to make the trial of overcom-
ing her resolution, but none of them have
ever succeeded in so much as obtaining
an invitation to call upon her. Various
stratagems have been tried by interested
female friends TO smuggle some relative
inside the jealously-guarded doors /; but
such attempts at strategy are always un-
successful. Very laughable stories are
told of some of the make-shifts employed /;
but the wary widow, her servants, and
clerical advisers are too much for all soci-
ETY., and keep the treasure out of reach.
The love that must be given to some
thing, since somebody cannot have it, is
lavished on flowers and horses. Every
day fresh flowers are brought to the
house; the windows are filled with them;
they adorn every room; their gay, bright
faces smile provokingly out at the passer-
by, who can get no nearer than the side
walk to thedivinity that presides within.
She has the fastest and most valuable
horses i'm her stables, and she is said to be
the finest horse-woman in the country.
She is well known by all frequenters OF
Central Park, where she rides every Gay,
attended by groom, who rides so far be-
hind her as to be absolutely no protection;
but, then, she is quite able to protect her
self, for the matt of that, and only takes
the groom along as sort of concession to
Mrs. Grundy. Whether he is at her heels
or half mile away, that worthy lady is
bound to be satisfied, because that is all
the satisfaction she will get from this in
dependent woman, who usually follows
her own sweet will, with utter disregard
for that social monitress. Whether she
Will always III I'LL ACcOANCS.
or whether Cupid will some time come in
ahead and change her mind for her, time
alone can decide. She is a woman-beau-
tiful, and only little past thirty.
In a blue-lined landeau, quite near the
quiet widow whose interest centers in
| horses rather than men, sits another
woman, equally well known and i'm
mensely popular i'm New York society-a
blonde with sparkling prettiness, a
bright fascinating manner, and witty
tongue. She, too, has gray silken dra-
peries, but they are of blush tinge and
covered with laces; jewels sparkle in her
ears and at her throat and wrists. She
holds miniature court, and queens it right
royalty, with her carriage for a throne.
She has wealth, social position, literary
and artistic aspirations, with considerable
ability to back them up. Seeing her here
reminds one of the Charity Ball last win
ter, where she shone with almost regal
magnificence. New York, who is used
to elegant toilettes, has seldom seen any
thing equaling the dress in which this
lady appeared. A white silk train heavily
brOcaded with tulle, tunic of gold cloth
and old point lace, diamond clasped from
the throat down to the entire front.
Diamonds shone on the neck and arms,
cleaned in the ears, and sparkled from
their hiding places in her hair. 1t was
the costliest dress worn by any one last
winter, and perhaps the most elegant.
Gorgeous as she was then, she was quite
as attractively elegant the other day in
her carriage dress of blushing gray.
There were other women, almost as
well known, but these two formed the
greatest contrast, patterned as they were
Il. Z. LII
distinctive in her way"