New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-25
IN ESTHETIC TEA.
Trom The LONDON World.


Let it not he lightly supposed that an aesthetic
tea merely means few friends. little hot water,
and some teacups. IN is "A far more sacred affaIr-a
kind Of agape. or lOve.feast. 10 Is gwen by the
elect to the initiated aud one dscoriant element
would break the magic circle The rooms are al
ways shaded. Sweet scents, also, must pervade tbe
asGheticlsm, the influence of odOrs on the nervous
system being branch of physiology highly inter-
estng to those who have pursued 1t; Then again,
the tones must be low, subdued, and sad harsh,
load laughter and very buOYsnt spirits are VHigac
A kind Ct suffering melancholy hangs over the
guests Us If they were rather assembled to
mourn the dead than rejoice over the Nv
ing. Music. of course, Is permitted. bat 10 must
be Of the modern oTder-passionfui. soul-stiTrlng
incomprehensble the recitIng OF Swinburn's
or Rossettrs poetry. or even that OF some aspiring
long haired. taper-fngered. waxy-compleXiOned
member of the party may be ndulged IN, but the
poetry must never incline 10 galety or even 10 sa-
tire; it must be slow, sweet and solemn, ripphGg
over Of the hearts desire.
And the women What is to be said of them,
with thor marvellous color combinations aud their
picturesque appearance, and the virginia. dOwncast
styie OF look which has come III with tghtcut
flowing garments, and the penthouse-roof style OF
tangled eye-darkenlug locks here - a glrl IN q
chrOmatic scale OF burnt-sIenna drapery. Several
different tInts blend and miugle and cause
her 10 resemble living waking cup OF
Ihubarb and magnesIa, like what the nurses
Of orr childhood inflicted on our shrinking
selv-s as we sat up in bed shiyering IN our night
gowns, and listened TO the gentle tinklIng OF the
teaspoon that heralded the uauseous draught. ms
grand creature IS tue goddess Juno, with suavely
flowing robes of graSs-grecn. bOgdcfed at the edge
with golden tracery, aud a bonnet Us IL DoInei
OF is it not rather tee nimbus OF the gods 2 all
studded with big Ox-eyed daisies. How majest-
cay she moves. Who Is II! She was once little
barefoo.ed motel running uudely in the mud now
she has married great painter, whose ideal Is
Greek so hls wife wears JunO's dress, and looks
monstrous well IN il too by Jovel Here comes
surely our lady of despair, who has eaten OF Dead
Sea fruit and has found cacined with bitterness
and sat-tasting tears. Her brow Is SAD, her eyes
are wide ana dark-rlmmCd; her face is long and
Angular; her garments are sad-colored, and might
be stained, from their appearance, with the dcNs
and tolls Of years Of tayel-greeu that has tGrnod
b,ue pink that has faded into yellow, .whise
that has merged INTO pale gray-these are the tlnts
that she affects her hands are white and worth
one she carries hy for sine Is an adm rer OF Burue-
Jones': and her husband keeps a large diapers
shop IN the city.
To what does all this vapid sentiment tend Why
DO we play part ana dress 10 ut IL Are We
really more unworldly. more spiritual, more up
ward striving; Or is 1t not rather a kind of un-
healthy craving after some mOrhld sensations that
the ordinary grooves of life cannot give US