Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-01
NEW FORK FASHIONS.
The New Year and ITS Recepstous
Halliday Toilets-The Antique Ma
pfa-Neveltfes.

ant duties, but leaving the months which
follow them blank and dreary waste. II is
rather unfortunate for the large class whose
brief intervals OF enjoyment only come 60
them by a species of Dissemination, that
Thanksgiving, and Christmas, and "New
Year are set in such close proximity, for it
makes the time and money necessary To do
justice 10 each OF them somewhat difficult OF
achievement; IL fills a few weeks with sweets
TO satisfy, and makes the long winter and
prosaic spring which follows, (in northern
latitude, harder by contrast. Few would be
willing, however, TO relinQuish any parr'
OF the JOY which is associated with the
holiday season, the antici patton, the pre-
paratiOn, the looming home," the gifts
the brilliantly decorated shops, the Christ
mas trees, the wonderful stockings, the bon
bons which for once children are allowed
to eat unreproved; and, as final.ty, the
New Years receptions, not much, and grow
Ing less every year with ultra fashionabIee
but still Cherished by ''old' families, and by
busy people who do not make calls or attend
receptions every day, aud who, in the in
creasing solitude which attends crowds and
the march or modern civilization, gladly
cling TO the beautiful aud hospitable custom
which binds them 20 the past.
NEW YEAR DAY
in the most unruly families, is Mothers
Day the children monopoliZs Christmas.
blow tin trumpets at dawn, and make earth
lubilant with noise 10 their hearts content.
But II is on the condition that they will be
good" at New Year, allow the lace car
clamor for tue mice things" when visitors
are present.
New Year day is a great possession 10
women who exchanged the honors of a small
belle-ship, and the admiration Of a circle
for the range afforded the wife of q poor and
struggling man. For that one day, AT least,
she puts aside care, the anxiety 10 make ends
meet, calls back brightness To her eyes, puts
touch OF coquetry in her dress, and won-
ders as she tries the effect of ribbon that
used TO be becoming, IL she is really growing
xrbn Oh.
hardly sees excepting upon this day, Will
discover il.
THE ORDER OF THE DAY.
Among those society people wno still Oh
serve the custom of first OF January ca is .
is now usual 10 specify the hours of receiv-
Ing. Formerly "open house" was kept all
day, and IL was not unusual for the family To
be surprised at breakfast by the ringing OF
the bell, and q card from an early caller
who had certain amount OF social business
10 get through, and went at IL as he would
the footing up OF his ledger, taking the
figures first that came first, and working his
way through the list OF late years the hours
as before remarked, many ladies announce
their New Year receptions as a levee, COM
menciBg AT u m, or p. m. and ending at
perhaps 10, III or u p M. This gives them
time To dress, and attend TO some OF the in
evitable duties which precede the special
work OF the day, and saves waste of time by
condensing the calls, which would otherwise
have been scattered over a longer period
The frequent changes of residences in
cities, and the difficulty OF remembering
many numbers have also made IL incumbent
upon ladies who wish to receive all their
friends TO send out cards, not special invita-
ton cards, but simple visiting cards. with
AT once a reminder, and evidence of their In
tention to observe the customary ceremo-
NAL. A quarter OF century ago there was
asuperstitiSn IN gegari TO wearing new
dress upon New Years day; il was supposed
Indicative OF good fortune for the coming
year. But women are growing SO wise now,
that they are less superstitions, and there are
lew indeed that would acknowledge that any
fear OF consequences Induced them TO obtain
new dress for the occasion. Or postpone the
making Of one unil close upon the propi-
tiouS day.
The observance OF New Year day would
undoubtedly stand q chance OF longer con
tinuance If little more motive could be put
In II; SomethLns fresh and Original suggested
for the New Year greeting. A Happy New
Year" or compliments OF the season." and
Q remark about the weather become a trife
monotonous after about the fiftieth time,
and one racks ones brains for something diff
ferent But there is no time or opportunity
for extended conversation; remarks must be
general, must be common place, until IL is a
real relief foo some one TO come who says he
Is tired and hungry, and has selected your
house for q lunch, and yourself for a chat
and who does so all unconscious of the very
OF the certainty that he will be remembered
when the crowd are forgotten.
NEW YEAR RECEPTIoNs.
in groups of three or four ladies together one
OF whom, at least, should be young, and un-
married. An air Of brightness and beauty is
communicated conn unit in this way, which adds a
rather lively talk, less difficult. But they
should avoid being all in funereal black, for
this alone exercises depressing influence.
and creates an atmosphere OF gloom, and
monotony which resists every effort to over
come 1t. There are no laws in regard to dress
on New Year day, but black has become SO
"a Of sr.s2
women OF moderate means within the past
ten years, that il preponderates In nearly ali
social assemblies, with the exception OF
os ne W6ie n Ia ne Wpr ,b pus whte iace
and wrists. and little color-pink, blue,
violet or tea-rose-so that the eye may be re-
iieyed, and not come from the light Of day
Refreshments ought to be varied, and con
sist OF such articles as gentlemen prefer.
Cake and wine only, are an insult 10 their
nderstanding and digestion. Few eat at
every house they enter, but when they set
out TO make a number OF calls, they would
md IL convenient TO lunch somewhere. If
their lady friends had their tables furnished
with materials for lunch. Picked oysters
sardines, sandwiches, even little bologna
sausage, and Rochfort cheese will not 60
s amlss With hungry man, but al without
bic cake" and table" sherry.
or course the table must look pretty
Fruit and smilax will make il do that,
Pickles and olives also, but everything O.
the best, for on New Year day, though the
average man cannot tell the cost Of your
lace. or your damask unless he is In the
trade, he knows all the fiavors OF viands
and pronounces upon your housekeeping &C.
cCrdingly.
HOLIDAY TOILETS.
Social festivities have developed q great
deal that is interesting in the way of dress,
and certainly JUSTIFIED all that has been said
in regard TO the severe forms adopted for the
richest fabrics, and the general falling of In
the quantity Of trimming worn. The most
elegant dresses ere out In the princesse style,
or consist OF trained skirt and prtncesoe
tunic. But the pr1noe1oe drooaes are usually
black, silk velvet or heavy faille, and are
trimmed lengthwise With dull passmente-
terfes or dix blatoD, without my admixture
or color or brightness, like that which Jet
ilnparts. All the relief Afforded ID obtainod
from the ornament, whtoh consist Of . solid
silver or cold chateiatne, and appendages, Q
masT ,s nsoceh VIII psodsSs atsschsa
chains, o. ncckleee, being no longer
considered god Style with high dresses
Tho fratDe be- BY no means diaAppeared, bat
thoge are dEoG16 Of velvoe parttod1as1y, with
high, plain, cuirasse basque bodies and long
sleeves close at the wrists, which are CON
pleted By daop Sufh, end collars Of Old lace
turned down nat. and un0rn1mented except