New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-27
THE NEW SOCIETY CRAZE.
From The Hour.


Most amusing accounts are given OF the new
craze which has seized certain section OF LONDON
society. 1t seems, for some time past snndry young
men and women have betaken themselves to the
showing Of their shapes" Jack Tar calls 1t, IN the
most fantastcal costumes OF the medl9Val ages ana
playing such tricks before high heaven as make the
angels weep. The women exhibit themselves IN
ting garments devoid OF all shape ana color,
clfngng to the form and showing the contour OF the
figure with quite as much precision as t9e neshlngs
of the baletgr the hair cut short and rlzzed over
the eyes and died OF deep orange brown; tne
throat encircled by double row OF large amber
beads, from which depends medieval ornament
and a lookng-glass hanging 10 the side. IN the
pictures of the Venetian ladies by Paul Feronese
The female aesthetic is in general sallow and hai-
starved woe begOne in expression drylpped and al
WAYS looking thirsty and exhausted She affects the
colorless rament beheld in the -Raphaete pic
tures-oIive-gr green skirt, long and trailing on tue
ground but 80 tight as to show the angles OF the
knee Joints when she is seated the bodice IS OF Deep
dull orange color. laced with the palest blue tue
sleeves, tiGbtftting to the elbow, hang to the
feet and are made of different color and material TO
the rest of the attire. pale, dim fawn color Is III
general most patronized and Is lined with the brown
ish-green seldom beheld III nature save on the back
of a toad.
The beautiful aesthetic has In general dinRy look,
which ia attributed to the efforts made 10 attain to
that dulness OF coorng IN which alone resides per-
fectjon according to her ideas and which IN some
cases has TO be procured by artificial means. one
signs and looks vacantly around from beneath the
shock OF stiff friZZled hair dyed OF reddish brown,
according TO tho law she has made unto herself OF
having no defined color any portion OF her frame
She scarce can open her lips to speak, so tightly are
they pressed together, and never smiles save wnen
the male aesthetic approaches and then they whisper
together, and sometimes disappear locked arm IN
arm toward the supper-room, where they are NOT
more backward than the vulgar herd IN their enjoy
ments of the creature comforts provided.
But while the female @stbete Is simply ridiculous,
the male of the species is absolutely offensive he
lisps and ambes his locks flow uneOm6ed over his
collar but when no one IL by, he 10 not above lnVes
tIgatng the ntents of tankard OF Bass ale OF
which he partakes freely He generally carries an
artificial lily in his haud at which be shifts pa
thetically now and then. He has been carlcatured
numerically in the illustrated papers and even on
the stage but he needs IL not. lie goes on nsplng
aud smiling well aware that his new method OF
getting into notice and emerging from the ranks OF
obsrurIty to which his own incapaclty bas hitherto
confined him il the easiest and cheapest or ALL 10
show the extent TO which the aesthetics have en-
croached upon the domains of common sense and
propTcty il is only necessary 10 mention one or Two
of tie vagaries to which they have gwen vent OF
late.
spected but who has gone in for the aesthetic phase,
determined TO act up to the character she had as
sumed. and at q sOireo gwen at her house, after
having treated her friends to few melodous twangs
upon the ancient Tyre kept III her husbands studio
10 assist him in painting his antique groups, she
disappeared from the room. Presently she returned
with crystal platter on which was an antique GOO
let turned upside down. Going round oeacn guest;
she whispered in a hollow tone, supper Is ready
at which announcement the guest who accepted the
invitation tn descend To the supper room was eX-
pected to turn the goblet. The male aesthetic, on his
side keeps taper burning before the portrait OF the
lady who pleases him best never owns his love. but
goes on signing and moaning and dining
and sUppng at the same time, with the
most selt-saisfed cain imaginable. an effort
is now being made by the leaders OF fashion
TO crush this affectatIOD, which Is enervatlng
the youth of both sexes and converting some OF the
salons of London into the sembance of the mortuary
chapels of the Campo SantO at Pisa.