, 1877-02-25
Oruandies, Percales, and
Lawns Again Pro-
nounced the
Mode.
The Parisian State Balls Afflicted
with a Political Epidemic.
Ess Ffeath Factie1s 1Yeia Each ether at the
epaa-Spriug Fabrics in Charming Co..
srs md Tafious Combinations.
CHICAGO.
L MELANCHOLY SEASON.

L AELANtAOLI S6AopN@
Beyond few weddings, and the celebration
dthe anniversaries Of former nuptial contracts,
nth here and there club party, society seems
o hare abandoned Its sphere and gone into
nou1nng for It's sins. But even the Lentcn
season cannot entirely kill the matrimonial as
pta,ions Of the younger sinner, or perhaps they
consider the bonds they assumed sufficient pen
.oee for the evil they have done; anyway
miet weddings past and more to follow indicate
that sincere repentance can be found when
hunted in couples, as well as by the solitary sin
net who seeks his or her closet in the agony Of
tortured conscience It is not improbable that
the season is defunct- 1t takes an area OF
extremely low thermometer to awaken society
TO renewed efforts after its forty days and
forty nights OF devotion, and the early spring
pomised BIZ the lame and impotent old
3ge Of the winter will fall like q
gentle but sufocating blanket upon further
soia1 endeayor. The winter has not been cs-
pec;ally active. Signs Of hard times have
clutcted good intentions BY the throat, and
there mas been marked scarcity Of the crushes
md grand entertainments Of former years.
Here and there one has come to the surface Us
il In gentle reminder OF duties neglected and
chances foresone, hut the social world has look
I'd tn with regretful face, and mournfully sigh
ed its inability to cope with more .auspicious
seasons, looking smiling down from happier
th2es- There has been disposition to make
weddings quleter- The result is an absence Of
the grand and merry feasts that used to wel-
come the bridegrooms, and a growth Of club en-
rcrtainments. Houses formerly known for their
blaze OF reyelry have been dark and quiet under
fhp s.9ff1HG that HANG heavily fhau1-
snd their windows arc snadowed and gloomy.
8 city's prosperity is detcr1ninable more from
It's soca! lite than from the market reports OF
is journals, and the plan Of giving to the out
publications affords better insight into the
business activity OF that city than all the col
nmns the ready hand Vi 4 commercial writercan
tdite. For to the market reporter but small
clement Of city's business is exposed, while to
the society scribe it is all laid bare. And he
the seas Of silk md pillows OF lace that THE
TRIBUNE might know the news from even the
ustermost Of society's ports, sits him down now
10 the unpleasant but obdur:ste result Of his
xanderings, not altogether profitable winter.
The financial brcezcs. the trade winds, SO to
describe them, have not been suspicious and,
liter tile custom Of the world, the heavier bur-
den 0f the disaster fell upon those less RESPONSE
he for its cause. 1t is difficult to educate tho
blooming element to an abiding faith in the part
p4}E4 ny AllE tt11h AEADAHt- kt lktAt GtC1lEIk
Tie sordid grecnbacas is like the gentle Eauna
1hst falleth when the faithful pray for it, and
wien it comcth not, it is through the unregell-
eacy Of the grccnback and not the weakness Of
tie inyoker. And SO the dullness OF trade has
brought tribuIation to the dame and demoisellc,
Who miss sadly the handspring Of their soeial
Performance, aud 20 into Lent with fearful re-
isetiou that their society sins have been more OF
omission than commission, aud that bank ac-
counts are literally but hollow mockcries-
few Of the clubs adhere still to the earlier
Programmes which did not contemplate the
teason Of abstinence, and reports show still
some activity in this branch. Announcements
of eyen further efforts will tend to assuage the
grief OF those who mourn the departed glories
q. the big parties, and will serve to let the Sea-
son out gently and crown the corpse with few
1oEers. Several 4 :a!emeats are also noted,
and the weddings anx:ously looked for. So
there Is moi an utter dearth OF amusc:nents,.
though their paucity Is q funerea1 reminder OF
Fhat ought 10 have been.