The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-03
LADIES' DAY.
HOW the Time Was Passed in
Parlors and Kitchens,
FLOODING THROUGH MUD.
Gayety and Good Humor-Wine, Cakes, Laugh
ter and Music.
A iamsel with a dulcimer
In "a vision once J saw
IL was an Abys, inian maid
And on her dulci.uer she playe

And on her duci uer she played,
singing of Mount Abora
Yesterday was Ladies' Day. and many o.
them were in dulcimer and dancing humor,
judging from those 1t was permitted the ruder SEE
to contemplate abroad. They were not visionary
queens either, but real, substantial damsels, out
for fun and enjoyment. They may be looked al
through visions sometimes. or opera glasses or
ordinary spectacles; but, however one regarded
them yesterday, 1t was pleasant to see them,
pleasant 10 meet and delightful to listen to them
The day was all their own and the ladies appeared
to feel thar, for they made the most OF IT.
change had come over he humor oil the clerk Of
the weather. and he irowned on the LADIES' holA
day; but they were Indifferent to the darkness oil
his countenance, and went about as merrn1
as II the sun were shining. IL was not
polite or gentlemany OF the mythical controller
OF the atmosphere. but it caused little interrupt
ton to the festivities OF the day, and but as
record OF TACT Is scarcely worth attentive recoec-
ton. Danes and damsels hao visits to make and
calls to pay SO they set the weather at defiance
and went among their friends. Some had car
rages to carry them and others had TO go on loot;
but all fitted from house to house, whether In car
riages or afoot. WITH a gayety and hghthearted.
ness that were very contagious.
New Years Day is a day OF duty 10 the ladies.
and they make up for the labors OF the opening
day OF the year on the second which Is conse-
Grated to them. The male nuisance was shut out
yesterday from the delights Of the drawing room,
and as he passed along the street harpschords
and harps and dulcimers struck upon his ear and
made him remember that all the joys Of earth
were not for man. Then his vision started
up and painted pictures Of the scenes
going on within the mansions. Ladies in
elegant attire receiving their lady friends
in parlors. and ladies, In their best clean cacOes,
doing like wise in the kitchens. In lovely, laugh-
ing groups they presented themselves to the mud
covered, dlspirited plodders along the highways,
slipping wine, nibbling cake, talking soft nonsense
and relating the events OF the previous day. The
dulcimers and grands he saw. and to their music
danced and sang and bounded and laughed
the damsels ali the day. To many or them
1t was pleasure that the day was bad outside,
Tor 1t gave them an opportunity to be more
suade taem TO Iinger longer. The kitcnens Were r
less lively than the parlors. and the maids down
sTairs wnetner A6yssnan African aboriginal
ry-making Of the day as their mistresses. Proudly
and determinedly they tramped through the
streets and looked in on their friends and acquatnt
ances. taking small sips OF sustenance by the way
and leaving smiles and good nature and good hu.
played, and laughed SO loud and talked rapidly
that so much oyousness could be started into life
ana sustained without them.
: In the ieafy month Of June,
singeth quiet tune.
The weather, though, had some disadvantages.
Dresses suffered, aud so did the Immaculate odds
and ends OF white that now and then crept out
from beneath the ever-llfted robes. Accidents
were numerous, but nothing more serious than
laundress could recty occurred Several cases Of
ments Of the day, out they were no hindrance TO-
the visiting and calling. the going and coming,
ne s0Ve at pa s a
ringing music the ladies made as they went from
bouse to house aud from friend to friend. Though
the leaves were gone aud June was buried In the
year Just passed, hitherto half hidden broke
upon the air and those VINO had forgotten the
greatest. gaycst, livest, most entertaining festi-
val OF the year was being celebrated. No echoes
OF sleeping woods az night were the noises, but
sounds OF happiness from beauties wno though
they sleep sometimes, are frequently heard from.
quiet times they Kept for pensive lovers on bal
day the comic ditties and jolly airs not infre-
guently picked up from male members of the
family, family Many Of the male persuasion would have
ment the ladies' could make for them.
selves :, and. how thoroughly they could
drawing rooms and kitchens would quickly con-
vince any doubling man that his great presence
rosy cheeks and light up brilliant eyes. Great
numbers OF calls were paid during the early morn.
TONS OF the day at an early hour aaerw e re.
NAMED at home TO dispense hospitality to their
friends in turn. During the afternoon the num-
Der OF carriages In the upper streets Of the city
increased and the cars were crowded. Up and
down the steps Of houses the ladies ran, getting
holster and more Jolly as the day wore on IL was
curious to notice In some instances how daintlness
had become emboldened aud the skirts, that on
other days were so decately touched, were pulled
and swept, unconscousy disclosing more
shapeliness than Is usually permitted. They went
about singly, and IN groups and III crowds, and
they filed the street cars as they filled the par
lors-wlth perfume ana pretty prattle. they mes
the male member OF the population, but passed him
by unheeded, forcing him to pause and ponder
and confess that though the day belonged to the
ladies and he was shut out from It's pleasures, she
fully deserved the distinction; Tor
She form of life and light
That seen, became part of sight;
Ana rose, where'er he turned his eve,
The morning star OF memory.
Yes, she indeed is light from heaven,
A spark of that immortal FIRE,
With angels shared by Allah given
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