Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-01
FASHIONS AND GOSSIP.
Closing Of the Club season.
lFrom Our cicR Correspondea:.l


for men aud women, for although, as far az the
male clubs are concerned, the houses are to be
kept open all the year round, and members can
come and 20 at their good pleasure, yet the
special occasions, the Saturday night or other
night dinners, the monthly receptions anu
ladies days. are all discontinued and Tho
house committees have time TO breathe AM
count mp the deficit or over plus in their funds
The Lotus Club intends TO signalize the close
OF brilliant season with grand invitation
entertainment st the Academy OF Music. a.
which leading artists have already promised
tn ir assistance, and for which a most sttrsctiv,
programme Is already provided. The housg
occupied by the Lotus Club adjOins the Acad
envy OF Music, and a covered hallway, decorated
and lined with plants ana flowers, will on tint,
occasion unite 1t with the main building, g
that after the performance those who feel in
clined can introduce their lady guests to the
club house and give them a club supper with
out going into the street.
The ladies Day" receptions at the Lotus
have been so largely attended for rome months
past that the club was obliged, for econcmy's
sake, 10 discontinue the simple refreshment VI
offered TO Its fair guests. Even ice-cream anu
sponge cake cost when they must be supplied
TO twenty five hundred women, more or less.
But why do men insist upon feeding women
| upon ice-cream and lady fingers? Tnalbsrg
who invented the matinee in New York, USED
| 10 have this rejection in infnitessimal quaint
ties carrie round in the recess OF the perform
| ance; and as q general thing IL bounds the i'm
agination OF man in reg ard to what a woman
wants TO eat. That she might prefer pickles
minds. Perhaps a little experience may change
Their opinion in regard to that matter, as we'll
as some others.
There is little agitation in the more liberia
clubs just now in regard 10 extending sours o.
these privileges to wOmen-thau is, 70 the wive,
OF members. Some OF these ladies are desIrOu>
OF having the right to entertain "A lady friend
by luncEIDg her or dining her at the club res
taurant, paying, OF course, members prices
| This wonld be great convenience TO profes
sonal ladies who cannot break in upon
their engagements by entertaining friends
| at home upon working days, and in
| measure supply the increasing want of a
| LADIES' CLUB HOUSE.
The existing woman's club il simply a literary
society upon larger scale. IL has 10 meet in the
day time, because women csnnot go home alone
at night, and IL takes all day do II in, because
In all large cities people live at magnificent
Gistances, have 70 prepare for the public gaze
every time they so OUT, and spend good deal
of time on the road. Naturally meeting OF
not much TO do, who want society and something
| TO fill up their time.
But 1t does not answer the purpose OF the
professional woman wG0 wants an occasional
retreat where she will meet women 5asy snd
Interested in pursuits akin 10 her Own. IL does
not meet the wants OF the Intelligent out-of-
town woman, who requires a SOFT OF eXchang.
Whtre she can register her u sme, have her par
Gel. left, obtain quiet lunch Tor b srself or X
friend, and find out where people are and
what is going on"
There are twod ficulties about such an under
taking, one is that it wOald be dubbed 4" strong
min ded" and woman suffrage" And thu
brighten away many good women who need AMI
ought to have the benert of 1t; the other that a.
would be . rum by those who had the ~ D.
time, the most personal ambition, and the least
honesty. All the professional clubs have sui
fered to some extent from this cause, until they
became wise enough to make it oblig story that
the majority in their principal Committees
should consist OF the working members OF the
professions which the clubs represent.
great vocation club
IS needed, apart from its bdsiness character,
would be the hoDoring OF such women as de
serve recognition, be the artists authors work
eIs, or philanthropists. 1t is a shame TO women
that only a club of men could be found lt1e
'Arcadian") to entertain the idea OF a gr4n1
reception TO Miss Charlotte Cushman the cla-
rious artist OF Ealfa century, the noble aud an
suJlied woman. Only short time longer can
we expect to have her With u. Gradually, oas
by one, the gifted and tie good are droppids
away from US. Are they rep aced? No. This
is hot an age in which to grow great men Or
women it is every man for himself, and tue
devil take the hIndmost. Have we replacs1
Fanny Fern, or Alice and Phebe Carey? NJ
and we shall not. They ", re the goodness an
strength and truth and devotion OF many W.
men rolled into one and blended into beautifl
womanhood by elt-torgetfulness and the llbeT.
atty which comes to noble minds from a wid.
experience.
AN ANNIVERSARY.
In the midst of the prevailing seldshness and
indifference 1t IL pleasant to record one little
act of comHemoration, well deserved and al
mirably executed. 1t was on the recent coca
sion of the birthday of Miss Mary Booth, the
accomplished editor OF Harper's Bazaar, whose
"Satur ay evenings curing the past winter
have brought together the best elements OF lit
erary, artistic, and journalistic society; no for
mality, no kid gloves; people came and went
they pleased, bringing culture, Wit, inte!li gence
and ideas to make up the bouquet Of pleasant
membranes.
The "token' was an elegant album, made to
order, mounted with solid, richly engraved
silver clasps and plate, and tlled with pictures
or Saturday evening guests. In addition %
these were sentiments both wise aud te nder anc
exquisite little designs by artist friends, Mrs
Greatorex, Mrs. Betta, Mrs. Tuttle Reinhart
Mrs. Jane Perry and Others al asses OF Easter
was further distinguished by the recital of an
original poem by Misc Kate Hillsrd and d
wealth OF music.
Miss Booth and her friend, Mrs. Wright live
an ideal life, and their example, aided BY the
logic OF circumstances has already induced
many women workers in New York and Boston
to unite together ann make an independent
home. OF those who have done so in New
York, two are teachers, who have purchased a
house in a fashionable part OF the city, tn,
result of their joint labors, and adopted little
girl for whom they seem TO experience maternal
affection and devotion. Do men know wha'
they are doirgby throwing women upon their
OWL resources?
ONE MORE WALL.
One more wall before proceeding TO the pop
er business of this letter and that IS over the
passing away of another OF the Old and honesI
tain Is the Oldest dry goods merchant in Nea
YORK, with the single exception OF Mr.. A. Il.
Stewart, old Mr.. Arnold. the only other claim
ant to half century honors, having retired from
active participation in business. IL Is ffty-one
years since Mr.. FoI nta n com met cei bushes
in New York city, twenty-one since he opened
the India branch Of trade, in which for years Ia
stood alone ard unrivalled. But modern enter
prise has got ahead of him; he has not learned
the art Of making cheap antiques and modern
curicsities; he sticks to the old and the real and
it does not pay. By the first Of May the old In
dia store will have gone into the past, and
though many will regret it-for where can thew
depend upon getting pure olive oil soap from
the island Of Crete, aud bits of old China anc
genuine feather fans DIT for an Indian Princess
to carry?-yet their regrets will not bring il
back; il will be dead to US as % many other
/ good and genuine thin e are which we did NOS
think much OF when we had them-forever-
more.
FASHIONS.
Bright spring and summery styles are ali
ready, but they have nat had much Opportunity
to show themselveh through the cold, gray
weather OF April. Light silk suits and spring
jackets are laid away In closets and trunks
while their owners walk disguised in thicl
shawls over their old winter redinsotes
There 70 nothing capable of making itself %
dtssgreeable a. spring. All the miseries thai