Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-09
Unattended Ladies i'm London,

OuaStcnuca AIxS0Ie0 1n LOu0Oms
Ladies' naturally prefer, says the London
queen, being accompanied BY gentlemen to
places OF public resort to gning by themselves
unattended; and many would rather relinqutsh
an evenings amusement than appear without
the countenance OF some member OF the Ster uer
sex. whether husband, brother or friend. SUN
there are large number OF married ladies who
for one reason or another dispense With gentle
mt n attendants. and avail themselves OF the
privilege OF being considered capable OF taking
care OF themselves. 1t Is not unusual to see
three ladies enter the stalls OF a theater I'M
accompanied py q gentleman the married lady
or ladies leading the way, followed By the young
claliy one notices rows Of ladies seated in the
stalls unacc0mpanied by gentlemen. These
ladies depend upon the eXerttons OF an intell-
gent man servant to get away quickly from the
crowded vestibule OF the opera house, and they
generally make their way quietly out OF the
stalls before the close OF the last act, so as to
avoid the general crush.
Married ladies', when making up party for
the play. often give q stall or seat In a box to
gentleman, and thus secure his attendance.
put the price OF stalls at the theater being half
guinea, few ladies care to incur this additional
EXPENSE: while with regard to opera stalls,
which range from guinea to thirty shNlngs
their high price precludes most ladies taking
the attendance OF gentleman. Rich uleI,
When asked to join e party OF ladies at
the theater or opera. naturally pay for
their own stalls. Ladies, as rule do not ask
IL
their box, or stall next to theirS-an attention
Which generally meets with very ready ac-
ceptance; II Is needless to say that young ua-
married ladies have not the Independence en-
}oyed by married ladies. and that 1t would be
breach OF etiquet were they to go to the thea .er
or opera unaccompanied by chaperon or &C
very near relative, father, brother, brother in
law, or uncle. UnmarrieS ladies, however of q
certain age, With establishments of their own
GO not come within this rule OF etiquet. but are
ia
r1ed ladies'
With regard to outdoor gatherings, such as
birmingham, Ranelagh or Orleans or any such
places or amusement to which tickets of ad-
mission are issued by members Of these cluos
1t Is very usual for ladies to drive down to-
gether and meet their friends at the club by
Encouragement, as barouche Is sometimes
hardly large enough to convey the ladies' OF
family, while a small brougham or victoria Is
out OF the question. Thus, though ladies' pro-
ceed to these places of amusement unaccompa:
MED by gentlemen, they are Invariably joined
by them on arriving; and, though they do not
remain In attendance upon them, and though
ladies' stroll about in each others company or
their friends are engaged at polo, lawn-tennis
or geon-shoottng, etc, or 10 watching the
play OF others, stili they are there to
going and all the on dts OF the place, and to
see Them to their carriages when they de-
sire to leave. And though 1t would be per-
fectly correct for married ladies to go to any
OF these gatherings. or for a married lady to
take yol ng ladies with her, with an almost Ger
tainty OF not knowing gentleman present;
still, the feeling OF isolation that would result
would probably deter a lady from repeating the
experiment second time. On the other hand,
ladies' whose husbands or brothers are mem
bers OF club OF this description are generally
acquainted With a number OF the members
who are more Or less certain to be present, and
thus it Is not necessary In their case to make
any previous arrangement with any
member. or to ask non member to obtain
A 4 q oil al;1H
meeting, such as SandoWh, ladies would not
arrive unattended, whether they proceeded by
train or by road, and would be invariaol accom-
panied by one or two gentlemen, by whom they
would be taken into the members inclosure.
At large race meetings, such as Ascot, Good
wood, DOncaster and Newmarket, ladies would
no not think OF being present. unless accompanied
Public afternoon concerts, bazaars, and flower
shows are essentially places frequented by
LADIES en- n,asse, and 1t Is the exception, rather
upon them. Again, at private afternoon
gatherings ladies usually appear unattended by
gentlemen, Jdute dc 1nteur At private balls
and parties given in town. ladies make their
entrance unattended unless by husband, father,
or brother; but In the country party of ladies'
would take as many men as they could muster
whether the bail were puolic or private one.
Married ladies, as rule, dine out with their
husbands. and do not accept Invitations to
large dinners when their husbands are unable
to accompany them. There are, of course, eX-
CCptlOuo W IuIo uClECuLuSOduCcS SOtUp-
times arise when 1t is greatly relaxed; but even
In this case 1t would be in favor OF small and
friendly dinners rather than OF large ones. On
the occasion OF q husband being absent from
the country lady would accept Invitations to
dine with her relatives and Intimate friends,
though she might refuse Invitations to large
dinners given by acquaintance; but. as rule,
when IL is well known that the head OF a
house is away for any length OF time, invita-
tons are not sent to the Wife by glver5 o. large
dinners.
When young ladies are Invited to dinner they
accompany their father, mother or brother;
but occasionally, when young ladies' party is
given by friend OF their parents. the young
ladies are invited alone, and they either go
with their maid in q cab or by them selves In
their fathers carriage. In the afternoon yolrg
ladies seldom or never drive alone ia the pub
lie thoroughfares, and are Invariably acc 1ul-
panied by a married lady. 1t Is not considered
good style for very young lady to drive In a
victoria or brougham In the park or in the
crowded streets, although she might drive from
one house to another In quiet neighoorhood
to join her mother or chaperon, or to execute
some little commission. young married
lady, on the contrary. can drive wherever she
pieases, and drive alone.