Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-10
LOOKING LIKE A FRIGHT.
The Young Girls Duty to the Young Man
Who BUYS the Tickets for the Opera.

/ one week OF opera gone, another on the
/ Wane, and one more coming. What shall
/ l wear? inquiries the girl who has not
/ been there, and what can / wear now? is
/ the interrogation made by the damsel who
has already heard more operas than she
can dress. OF course the freest thing in
this free land is the American girl who
! just about does as she pleases and will
! allow no man to dictate to her, especially
in matters pertaining to dress. If she is
chaperOned by her great aunt, or her non
musical papa, or if, with party of other
girls, she climbs up in the gallery, she is
at liberty to wear what she likes, and
blanket shawl, With red mittens and
feather turban will detract nothing from
I her enjoyment of the music. But if, on
the other hand, she accepts the invitation
of a gentleman it is her duty to look her
very best. The gentleman expects it, and
in mild way has right to do so. He is
there to see and be seen, and it goes
against the grain when he has to apologize
for her appearance and charge the grace
less toilet of his lady to intellectually,
eccentricity, blue blood, or what not. No
! man under 40 is going to pay IS or S12 for
two opera chairs, 50 for a carriage, and
about the same sum for gloves, librettO,
ETC., and then trOt down the brilliantly
lighted and gaudily dressed auditorium
with girl on his arm who looks enough
/ AAAC q II AF@Hb " NC iSCQ ouCOESolUl1N AOl a
scarecrOW. PrepOsterOus to think of such
a thing.
If you have an invitation to the opera
from gentleman Of acknowledged taste,
go in good shape, or stay at home and
spare him the modification of being
laughed at, as he certainly will be with a
Miss Dowdy. Girls who are dubious
about these statements should read the
| following bits OF conversation overheard
/ w p6npGnAV evening at tho al
HuguenOts." In the east corner of the
lobby stood three young gentlemen-one
an Illinois Club man, the other a member
Of the Union, and the third a clerk in the
First National Bank.
w nom have you got, Jim?"
''''Oh, Miss D.; and 1 hope the horses
VIII run away with me if l ever take her
/ out again, for she looks like old Harry
ana the tastidiOuS Jim put his white
kh.ded thumbs in his trOuser pockets and
began to kick the tacks out of one corner
of the rug.
well, what did you ask her for; you
knew her reputation for style?"
''Oh, well, | am under obligations So
clally, but l thought the Importance of the
singers would have weight. But there
she is N the same old red rig she wore at
Marines three winters ago. But this
Will be lesson. Next time I'll pay up
with candy and flowers, and let some
other fellows have her for the theatre and
opera. But you have Miss b, haven't
you? She always looks nice. Makes a
fellow proud to escort her. She is not
troubled with asuperabundance Ofbrains,
but she certainly does know how to dress.
She told me her 5ete ROir was soiled
gloves. | doubted her at the time, but |
declare l never have seen her shabbily
gloyed and L have known her now for two
years."
1t is not the intention of the writer to
shock the gentle readers, but to his GER
tain knowledge nine white satin court
dresses displayed at the opera of ''Cris-
pino' Monday night had been rented from
cOstumer. 1t is almost impossible to
| hire dress that will tit in the waist, but
nearly every lady can either make new
! one or pad out the borrowed bodices and
| cover it with a scarf Of lace or some light
opera wrap. The skirt is only seen at the
entree, and if there are any requirements
of a social or visiting character during the
opera or afterward, a few yards of new
paper cambria or some old lace or fringe
will not only impart new life and fresh
ness to the gown, but conceal any glazing
defect, either in material or appearance.
If not altogether detunct, an old walking
or party dress may be touched up with
rutfies or panels, and by the addition of
full or demitraln OF similar or contrast
ing color transformed into full evening
dress.