The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-07-07
Habits and Manners Of Fl0rentine La.
dies Of Fashion.

To the stranger in italian society o
fashionable ball in this city of beauty
and art presents many phases of social
etiquette at once novel and picturesque
The invitation consists of an ordinary
card with cat Home" written or printed
in one corner, with the hour, probably 8
or 10 o'clock. On the guests arrival,
even as late as II o'clock, he is handed
"No. 2" for his carriage. Ladies and
gentleman are alike ushered into great
hall or ante-chamber, sometimes on the
ground floor, sometimes on the first, and
are waited on by the same attendants, and
the feecy delicate wraps of ladies are
ranged beside the rougher garments of
the sterner sex. There is seldom mir
ror before which belle can pose and ex-
asperate her escort by OBTAINING him in
the corridor to take the chances of catch
ing severe cold. Next, ascent is made
way, bordered on either side by wall
Of blooming azalea and japonica trees,
such as are only seen elsewhere at the
great balls in Paris, to the drawing-room
door, where the host and hostess are al
ways in waiting to welcome their guests,
who, on being received, pass along to
explore the line Of brilliantly-lighted sa-
Ions before the crowd fills them, or seat
themselves in a feminine row against
the wall, to observe and criticise the
guests as they arrive. Ices, syrups.
cakes, and tea and sandwiches are dis
pensed from table or buffet in the
dining-room until supper is served,
by throng of gaily-liveried lackeys,
and refreshments are never expected to
be furnished beyond the dining-room,
door. A bottle of champagne is placed
at each plate. as was the custom at the
Tuileries at those grand entertainments
given by Napoleon III. A smoking
room is open the entire evening, and as
much frequented by ladies as gentlemen.
When first saw this it nearly took my
breath away;I don't mean the smoke,
which was dense. however; but was ap.
palled at custom that has become
too familiar in Europe to create sur
prise except among strangers. One
English lady of high social rank even
brought her cigarette out into the draw
ing-room, and pulled away among the
dancers, entirely at ease and exciting
no comment whatever. After the sup
per and during cotillion, refreshments
are passed around and partaken of free
", and at or later in the morning, a
hot breakfast refreshes the guests, whose
carriages have been ordered at
10, or in some cases not until noon.
know an instances of gentleman who
left his wife at l o'clock to dance, went
home to bed, and came back to break
fast with her at 8 on hot coffee, chops,
green peas and other delicacies of the
season. The women who give them
selves up to this life of so-called pleasure
night after night expect to sleep all day
until time to dress and lunch and dine.
and make few late calls just before Z
o'clock dinner, after which they usually
60 to bed again to prepare for another
midnight carousal. A married belle has
usually five admirers who contract to
dance with no one but herself, and her
dancing steps are equally circumscribed.
There are enough men, however, whose
feet are free to fly around with the young
maidens or other married ladies who
wish to give or receive only general at
tention.- n. Y Tribune.