Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-31

The Gay Season and the Debutantes-
Thcater PartieS-EOilets for Afternoon
Receptions.
IFrom Our Own Correspondent. ]

On- OWN CorreSYSnfent1
NEW YORK, December so.
When the season Is at its height there is not
mnch of novelty to chroncle-vexed questions
have been decided, and the strong current moves
too rapidly 10 permit of stopping to invent
even so much as a new sleeve or hunt up in
order to revive an old boddice. No. whether for
good or ILL., all minor and major questions have
been settled dresses have been made and must
be worn-all the energies and all the resources
being required in other directions.
THE DEBUTANTEs.
There are two or three remarks that are
always made upon every social occasion. One
is in regard to the very large number Of we'd
din.,s which are taking place this season: sec
ond. the equally large number of debutanes;
third. what an exceedingly gay season it is. The
demand for Injuries never so great the
prices paid for them never so high as now An
n'[@T>ITy weddings frequent as real we'd
dlnrs. and at many of them the gifts are even
mere irOtuse and costly. Fl0wprs-roses from
twenty -flyt cents to a dollar each-are used i'm
such prOtusiOn that florists cannot obtain a
sufficiently large supply. and on DAYS when scy-
er'l large balls or receptions take place are OBJ
i"ed To refuse all transient custom. There ar,
always certain faEees which distinguish every
season. This year it is that every debutante
st1l! CITY one or more immense bouquets of
PINK crushed roses. Some have besides a
suspended from the side, and on the occasion of
coming out the reception rooms will be
hllPlwitii magnificent baskets aud bouquets of
pink and white roses, carnations and aZaleas tied
with long loops and ends OF ivory satin ribbon
~" debutante always wears white and looks
hke - bride minus the veil and orange blossoms
Sometimes 1t Is tuile over satin, with satin bod
dic". the drapeTy drawn tightly across the front
ana the SIDES showing cascade of lace. ard
white roses amid long wide loops of ivory satin
Ribbons. But usually it is dress nat will uroyn
more >eTyiceIble, that can be worn mere times
than the easily crushed tulle: an ivory satin bro
eade. combined with plain satin or a satin mer-
yciil.uN trimmed prOtJISely with the pretty mod
ern imitation of old needle point lace The girls
are very lovely. very charming i'm manner, very
bright. and one wonders what is to become of
Them IN world that has little for women but a
Jlb" or sheer AMI in "a country where the click
az the telegraph, a turn of the tide NAV deprive
them of all their roses and leave only the thorns
The mothers of the young ladies not nnfTeo1IentIy
look. however, like the elder sisters of their
own daughters. and are as handsome and atfrac-
tive. Their dress is usually "a combination oftwo
colorS and two fabrics. very often a striking
combination of such colors as one would not
have supposed a few Years ago could be placed
IN juXtapoSition- For example a matron re-
Gently wore with pink satin train and petticoat
coat OF ruby red velvet trimmed with rare old
lace Another a trained dress of garnet velvet
trimmed with satin of a lighter and brighter
shade. enriched with elaborate embroidery of
per color.
THEATER PARTIES AND THEATER DRESS
The theater party Is modern invention and
probably originated in the desire of some bache-
Tor TO pay off his social obligations At any
rate the prime mover of a theater party Is usu-
ally gentleman and he invites only as nany
ladies and gentlemen as large box will COM
fortably hold. and if his party is made I'D of
young ladies he invites a middle aged lady
al IN mn at nuI aha
such an occasion it is not good taste for the
elderly lady to wear light or high cOors Her
most appropriate dress is black - handsome
black satin and brocade. or velvet and satin
trimmed with great deal of let and lace and
showing large collar of white lace at the
throat. so large Is to cover the shoulders The
bonnet Will be black with a bunch of white
feathers at the side. they NAV be of gold
color and the bonnet may be lined with old
gold.
The girls viii wear tight-ftting Jackets of
gold cloth or dark red brOcade with dark or
wine-cOOred silk skirts and artistic hats: or
they will display close short suits of velvet.
trimmed with fur, with feather tOGucs or tooues
OF velvet, trimmed with feathers or fur To fnatch
III ~ always handsome visiting costumes that
are worn. with bOnnPtS or hats to match or
H@ht hats or bOnnets; but the dress even in
nOX AT the theater should never be iiGht thOuph
II may be al the opera the opera being considered
fUn dress occasion: and bOnnets removed in
the boNcS-though they are not or at least
should not he in other parts of the hOuSp-and
never &t the thcater. In a box at the theater
the size Of The head gear is Of very little. CCnSe-
quence, "a ne one is disturbed bv IT. but in tfp
t"Cy part of the house it becomes of immense
Importance for It is capable Of being made an
tiicytuai blockade-an obstacle TO endowment
that il l. impossible 10 see through or ret rid of
IRE press has begun crusade against the Iaroe
haas worn at the thedter or any place of public
amusement where every one present has an
equal night 10 an unUbstructed View of whatever
~ T44F
u ~ perfectly right Ii is violation of all
tie laws of courtesy and good taste
I0r women TO presume on the consider
all0n extended TO them To deprive others
OF share in the pleasure provided for
all. and which every one has paid his
none! TO see and enjoy. Some of these LARGE
hats are very handsome some are very becom-
M. hut they look cut OF place in the theater
The brilliant little feather toQfIeS or small bon
nets. are much more suitable and do no harm to
anybody The Inconvenience of being ALWAYS
Obliged to 90 in fun dress tn a theater that il
without a bonnet. il felt in London severely and
MANY efforts have been made To have this re1Il-
lation done away with. But the argument il
that men are Obliged to remove their hats To
prevent them from being an obstacle and
women ought to toe willing TO do the same with
their bOhnets Here women are subject to no
restrictions They can dress they please
custom and a judiciOuS public sentiment pre-
seriblng that a. a matter Of prOprety and con
venience bOnnets shall be worn. and there ought
to ~ an understanding ON the part OF women
THAT they should Not permit their convenience
10 threaten other peoples comfort or endowment
should II continue 20 do So il would Justify
Managers IN demanding the removal of the BON
net a. well a the (male) hat.
TIE HOLIDAYS IN THE SHOPS
The shops are great feature in the holiday
SEASON. and find their harvest of new ideas from
any source The decorative mania has al
most exhausted itseif-a little paint and plush
go great way in adjoining brackets and rnantel-
pieces. and the heterogeneous fashion in which
lncOn@ruous clements are put together i'm order
L produce novelty Is fast making popular
decorative art a by-word and restoring il 10
~ proper place in the art Industrial world
III The meantime decorative horns and fans
haN" gwen place 10 decorative lamborineS man
d'iinc> aud oriental screens of peacock feathers
Nihho"er> have succeeded swallows and Pond
HtN mats divide the hOnOrs with etched
O5 ieys AMI Kate Greena way cards and station
cry Inc pu@ and the pig have subsidized but
Their place Is taken by the owl and the eat An
owl OF wood. beautifully carved. forms a wise
booking inAstand and brorze cats. with ey-
tended paws. sustain not only handsome ink
holders but are the standards OF the newest
eih'ti'>t'chS Bronze dogs in peaceful
boon