Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-01
THE WORLD OF FASHION.
THE STYLES ron FEBRUARY.
New Years Day Threatened With
Extinction Past and presenS Eri.
quette-YOung Ladies' az Home aud
I'm SOriety-TOfIetteA.

| Extinction Past and 1present Els.
Quette-YOung Ladies' az Home and
I'm SOrtety--TOflettes.
| lEdshioR Coysspoadenoe IF TLe Ereaiss Star
NEW YORK, January 81, 1873.
Asthe season wsnes great public balls begin
% take the place Of the private receptions and
other entertainments which have occupied the
day and part OF the nights since winter CON-
mencod. There are certain balls for benevolent
purposes, with an extended list of lady patron
esses, which, IL is permitted, people of society
attend, and though the grand dawes do not them
selSes make their appearance i'm their freshest
tolettes, yet vast number of people buy ticket
for the boxes at high rates for the purpose of
paaonizing the great ladies ard getting a nod
low, or smile IN return. Some one SAYS that
'instltutions' were invented TO get rid OF Door
relations, but certainly the benevolent institu-
lions OF New York are largely used as a means
OF getting into society" Now. rich women
sg ene , @.xes o. ..cn m. men viii pay large sum
Biue-blood or Mrs. David Sauer-Kraat. liz l.
something Ia meet them on committees or nj as
semblages OF the managerial force, or the di-
rectory, even II they are never invited TO their
houses; and all the same, the children obtain the
entree into the charmed circle IL their parents
do not. The great charity ball is however
very fine as spectacle. The lady managers
are part OF the show-part OF what people paw
their ten dollars per ticket TO see, and they know
1t; and OF late years have accepted the situation
TO the extent OF forming in line and opening the
festivities with march in procession round
the floor of the Academy of Music. They are
Away. accompanied by very high bred young
daughters and nieces, who remain in the seclu-
sion of boxes with male friends until the proper
time arrives, when they descend TO the hoor.
PP perform iangnidly the proper number of duty
anime and criticse through their pearl opera
glasses the oyerdressed crowd who have come "a
pur and pant, and surge and swell, aud drag
after them enormously long trains for then
amusfmept,
A FANCY bREss BAft AND An OLD FASHIONED
PARTY.
Few fancy dress balls have taken place this
season. but there Il a rum0r of one ON a grand
scale, to be given by lady who has a msgnifi-
cent house for the purpose, which will probably
be considered one of the events OF this somewhat
slow and sober winter. To this house a large
conservatory is attached and a music room-the
latter a really grand saloon. with parqueterie
floor and dome-like ceiling, which upon coca
sion does duty as a spacious ballroom. This
saloon communicates with the supper-room By
a wide, circular hallway, in the middle of which
is a fountain, and the sides OF which are 10 b.
lined with banks and stands of flowers. The
mansion Is in fact two houses turned into one
with an interior adapted to the largest social
requirements. Among the dresses which it H.
decided must figure on the occasion the follow
ing are worth mentioning:
Tciiight-composed OF graduated shades Of
grey tarlatan with founces To the waist. Across
the body shade of the darkest shade fastened
on the shoulders with black bat. A light grew
yeikupOn the head over the fi0w ing hair studded
with moths and other insects. A wand in the
hand with black top and an owl perched upon
it.
Forget-me-fsot consists of white tulle over blue
| crepe, trimmed with garlands of pretty flowers.
| wreath Is also worn upon the head aud a
i bunch carried in the hand. Ii good gaslight
blue is selected the effect of this dress is charm
i ing; otherwise il fails.
A rather tall, slender brunette, with regular
/ features, has chosen the dress of Ceres. Ii IL
| made OF soft fine null muslin, skirt and low
tunic bordered with gold, and the latter held in
l with a gold band at the waist. The hair is ar
| ranged in a simple Grecian knot, few ringlets
| only being allowed to fall upon the neck. A
l wreath Of golden wheat, the ears arranged like
| the leaves Of a Norma wreath, is worn upon the
| head, and small gold sickle is carried in the
| Tae Charlotte corday dress Is trying .. ..,
| severe plainness. Yet charming young girl has
determined TO wear it. short white dress with
| a scant skirt, trimmed round the bottom with
one gathered h0uEce. A plain ficha of muslin
| over the neck, not crossed over the bodice, but
| A cap of white muslin like that which goes by
| her name, having a large, full, round crown
| bordered with lace and a broad green ribbon.
| which falls in loops and ends at the back
Charlotte Corday is said to have been a daz
| zlngly fair blonde.
Two OF the dresses which will appear wefs
| very much admired at a masquerade given last
year. One Of these is BopesP; the other the Hay
| mdker-both require that the wearers should
be young and pretty. The first consists Of q
SIask v eiIe s hlact Ssll1 9%ed VII.
II
laced with red ribbon over a white waist. A
| short scarlet cloak with hood, black high-heeled
shoes with buckles. shepherdess hat OF
| mounted with punches OF paru-colored ribbon
The Hdymoker wears a short skirt Of buff linen
A white linen chemise with short pufieo
| sleeves. black velvet braces with straps acroS
| front and back. An apron of white linen trim
| med with black velvet, and a wide hat Of coarse
straw, trimmed with black velvet ribbons stud
| ded in front with daisies.
An these dresses are simple and easily ar
| ranged. Another-kd1ie Anfoiaette az Triaaos-i,
1 more elaborate. 1t IS composed Of pale yellow
founces. Over the skirt is worn yellow slid
polonaise cut high at the back. low in front
and with antique sleeves bordered with rufie'
trimmed with ruches of Valenciennes lace, ana
| Topped mp at the sides with lace and tea roses
Above the bodice, which is very low in front
there is a small gauZe chemisette, tied wit
black velvet. A bunch OF tea roses Is ON on,
side. Powdered hair and turquoise and dia
mond ornaments accompany this toilette.
POPCORN AND KISSING PARTY.
A mother item OF interest has been created b,
/ the announcement from a somewhat distin
guished source of an old fashioned entertain
ment, according to the invitations, a .'pop-corr
| and kissing party, /" 10 which oyerskirts viii mo-
| be admitted and for which bib-aprons will d,
| required. 1t is understood that ali the arrange
ments are TO be in the very strictest accorda nc.
with tnese proxlsions; colored fiddler is q
| hunted up, and are to be revived under the aus
| pices OF a well known philosopher and scientist
| and the refreshments are to consist excluslvel,
| OF crulers, doughnuts, mince pies, and all those
l horrible old indigestibles which come under the
| head of "good old-fashioned fare" whethe,
the bellies and beaux of the period have strength
and vivacity enough left to enable them to bear
up under prolonged infiction Of sblindmsp',
buff, Copenhagen" spanish dance, .stwirl
the trencher," and s'hunt the slipper there j.
grave reason to doubt; hut should they nroya
| equal to the occasion il viii undoubtedly DE a
| memorable enc.
AN OLD CUSTOM ENDANGERgp.
The old knickerbocker custom of calling upon
New Years day has survived all the attacks
that have heretofore been made upon 1.-THE
viciseitudes Of the war, the changes OF fashion
and the difficulties Of housekeepine-but IN
seems likely to succumb to the inevitable Patrick
hrave1y - II fought the intractable BRIDGET.
For the past few years calls have not been con
nned to the Parlor, but have extended 10 the
Kitchen Is web. The gentlemen employed nv
tho grocer, the butcher, the milkman and the
baker to carry their baskets and distribute their
wares mount astonishing crsvats and call upon
all the "ladies" whom they have become ac-
Quainted with In the course Of their rounds or
nav nave sxchanssd geetings With upon area steps.
Inc coneequences to the families whom thev
honor with these attentions are sometimrs an,
noying. The ladies down stairs must be dressea
up and attend to thei. duties, which are natur-
Any more onerous than Usual, cerlessly And
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