Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-11-01

IFSon Or O,rn OOrrespo~dr,sl
nav YORK, October 80.
New York dealers In bottoms ana fancy
goods must have thanked their centennial
stars many times during the past two months
Al the happy fortune which has delivered
them OF 90 much OF the rubbish which aeon
mulates In the form OF ornamental novelties,
and which kas been purchased deligntedly al
any price by thousands OF centennial visitors.
Few had much money to spend over Snd
above expenses, but still fewer young women
at least but bad saved and boarded for the
purchase Of o "cha telaine, |" or q set OF French
tewely, and some pretty neckties In New
ing colors, or the cream oolors, and the belt
pockets are all out OF date among fashions
able people, who could tell them so? Or
would they have thanked any one for the
Information? IL these things are pretty any
time, why are they not always pretty? And
ls not their acquisition the fulfillment OF a
ones illusions destroyed even II they con-
Germ nothing more i'm portant than necfties
and the soft puts and DO VS. and ends or cream
Solorea SIX and lace were innniteiy more
becoming than the dark, and the absolute
uniformity OF the Lew styles which match
The dress, and indeed are made a part OF it,
But The centennial exhibition viii soon be
over, visitors will have returned TO their
homes, and we shall settle down az ain 10 the
routine OF our every day life.
what has the Centennial done for usS is n
Que stion that will be crowded out of men,s
no pds by the new and absorbing question of
the next President, but womeu-who are not
well make this inquiry, and as the close OF
the Centennial year approaches, ask them
selves II the best use has been made OF IT. II
ansht has fs s been done 2 bridge the gull De-
words TO honor work and ennoble workers.
Ii is true that much has been written and
attempts have been made to gran upon work
The seal OF high and ostentatious approval.
But that Is not what the case demands. Way
is work destitute of attractions for young
girls and women? It Is because IL means
isolation, because IL means separate be-
cause II means loss OF caste, because IL
means being shut out OF the world OF books
OF music, OF art, of refinement; and shut In
with slow. drudging monotony which excites
IL intOlerabie.
Large amounts OF money have been raised
oy women during the past twelve months,
but when the fires are out and the smoke
has died away what Will have been done?
What shall we have gained for q possession
that we had not before? Some little stimu-
lus may have been given TO diderent kinds
OF art and handiwork, but the great, broad
un6eIly Ing principles OF co operative action
remain 10 us that will have any permanent
effect upon the future OF women In their re-
lations to the question which is OF such vital
interest 10 them, viz: How paid labor can be
made as desirable and honorab Die for women
as IL is for men?
THE GOSPEL OF FRATERNITY AMONG
Rich women, protected women, cared for
women, have grand work TO do, IL they
have the will 10 do it, In esta blishing a bond
OF sympathy between themsel YES aud their
isolated, working sisters. Working women
need just this sort OF help, not gifts of money
or old clothes, but somewhere To 60 TO In the
them what they have not the power or
strength or time 70 express for themselves.
Last winter very good thing was done
by getting up some free entertainments for
fnt hr,f
1t was lot enough; IL did not provide a
means for social Interchange, nor was IL suf-
nclenty oomprehepsive II was all that the
selves workers, dependen upon work for a
livelihood could make 1t, but IL needs the
hearty cooperation OF others more favored
The Cooper Institute 10 always ready
thank Heaven! for any charitable work, and
In II could be lectures adapted specially TO
working women-helpful talks, not preachy
sermons which they would resent-telling
them about books, and the world outside of
them, and the world within them, the world
above and the world below, In such language
as they could understand. Telling them also
how to dress, how 10 eat, how D get the best
out OF their lives. But we want a working
womans guild, sustained by the faithful,
earnest, true effort and cooperation OF wo
men who are not workers In the sense OF
having 10 earn their livelihood, but woo are
WILT Wlai1ng 70 work ior other women and send
ms tead OF waiting until she has become
vicious. Such Q guild might and should
have been the result OF Centennial effort;
the opportunity was afforded In the common
interest In a common work, but IL was ne
elected, and this work remains TO be done.
Who will do IL? so,
This terrible bugbear has been credited
with the waste Of much valuable time winch
hereafter will be at the disposal OF those VINO
beginning 10 dispense much OF the hospital
1ty that was formerly q feature OF home and
family life, and IL is at hotels and restaur-
are given which twenty years ago tested d. SO %
severely the resources OF the housekeeper.
A little more and women Will be as COM
pletely relieved OF the duties OF hospitality
a. they have been OF sewing and pickling
and preserving, and then what is to become
OF some OF them? Their occupation will Iu-
deed be gone. Society at present for ladies
dry receptions, where the same people are
seen, the same subjects talked about, and
the same routine is observed aud inc xpress-
IDLY dleary II gets TO De. How women can
lead such lives and not become insane, or
commit murder, is one OF those mysteries
OF organization which no man can ever ind
out
or day receptions there are several differ
ent kinds. There are days set apart so that
friends will know exactly when to fiud their
friends at home, and these last through the
season from November until April aud are
informal but specific, for they save time
which would be wanted ia calling when
lduloS are not al nome. IQey require no
refreshments, but there are charming women
who on their reception days have the lunch
table somewhat more prettIy and elao-
orately set than usual, and Invite whoever
OF their friends may be present TO eat with
them. or course there are no lack OF guests,
for once this custom becomes known IL be-
comes very convenient to drop In first at the
right time, and even gentlemen do not dis
dain TO share an impromptu ladies lunch
and in fact like IL.
A home dinner dress, OF navy blue silk or
two shades OF handsome brown with rich
laces, is the proper toilet for the hostess,
and for the guests pretty walking or visit
ing costumes. A plain demi trained skirt
of velvet for sample and polonaise of Rus
sian armure cloth, with velvet collar, cuffs
and bonnet, and velvet hat with feathers.
Or II may be combination OF silk aud vel
vet, or Of silver and wool and dam asked, or
OF any other OF the modest types which this
prolific season has supplied 70 us, and which
these occasions specially serve 70 display.
For the woman OF high fashion never wears
dress or novelty In dress for the first time
in q crowd; she knows IL would not be dis
tinctly observed, and that it might be
spoiled. For such an occasion she would
manage some pretty drapery over an old
dress, or fall back upon "staud-by." II is
Tor the critical inspection OF tue dear one,
fEO n dozen, that the pr0ttf0Gt thing