Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-19
New York Social Shalns.

Few OF the guests who attended the large re-
cepton at Mrs. G. 8 last week know Of that lady's
struggles to keep up appearances and the de-
vices she resorts to at the entertainment But
Miss G. must absolutely make her debut this
season, and SO that very enterprising woman,
her mother. resolved to give a fine reception
The dresses. coming directly from the fashion
able mOdistes, did not have to be paid for at
once. Those settled for, the collation. was the
next subject of anxiety. and this was managed
at no great expense, although of course it
had to come from one of the most famous cater
ers. Four hundred invitations had been issued;
1t was safe to assume that 200 would be likely to
attend, and refreshments were ordered for 100
On such occasions the caterer or course must
make liberal calculations on the subject of appe-
titles. What the caterer felt on the subject will
never be known; but perhaps long custom had
Infatuated him to such tricks, for they are by no
means confined to the poorer of society people
Carpet, dry-goods and china dealers also suffer
at the hands OF these socially ambitious peOple
Last week a lady entered the store OF large
china and glass importer and selected hand
some set OF dessert-plates, to be sent home on
appreciation. She wanted. she said, to see them
on the table by gaslight. They were each orna-
mented with different hand painting and were
valued at 800 per dozen.
That evening dinner party was given at the
ladys 9th avenue residence, and the guests
looked admiringly at the dainty porcelain which
held their grapes, but the next day the plates
were returned to the store.
They did not suit" the bow was told who
called for them, and. strange to say, on the
brown-stOne steps he met boy from another
china establishment who had just had large
pyramid and a set of highly ornamented candle
labra returned to him.
That afternoon when the aggrieyed man met
his friend. the well-known carpet dealer whose
establishment is but few blocks distant and
recOunted his experience of the fraud practiced
upon him, the carpet-man laughed and declared
that he had had innumerabe tricks Of the kind
played on him.
why, only last month";" he said "as many as
eight of my finest oriental rugs, several of
which were worth 81 600 and more figured at a
fashionable reception. In the morning a lady
drove up to the store and entering made a
choice of all these beautiful carpets which she
thought would just about suit her rooms They
were to be sent at once and the following day
could ascertain If they all suited. Well, the
next day they were all returned. but that even
Ing they were very much admired by the guests,
more than one Of whom felt no little envy for
the owner OF such treasures. Once l sent a
number OF fine pOrtiereS to a house to see which
best suited the parlOr and dining room furni-
ture. Those, too, were returned after the re-
ception. SO you see your experience is quite
common one"
Dealers in bronzes and other works of art are
sometimes similarly victimiZed, but perhaps the
dry goods men have the worst time of all Often
have rich imported costumes been sent to the
house and worn before being returned and i'm
the case of bonnets and fine lace shawls this is
no uncommon occurrence Many are the per
feet loves OF bonnets" which are worn to after
noon receptions or teas and afterwards return
ed. One woman who dealt at downtown
store used to have suits for her boys sent home.
as well as cloaks and bonnets for herself. FL
nally clerk had his suspicious aroused by the
@
soled. The case was reported and the woman
was made to pay for the clothes. and no more
things were sent ION APPRECIATION to her house.
This. however was perhaps an extreme case.
and she did not hold the same exalted social mo-
sition of the other ladies referred to.
Mrs. l., who lives in 45th street, near 5th ave-
nue., greatly admired $3.50 imported wrap she
saw at large dry goods establishment She
could not afford to buy it, but had it sent to her
home the boy receiving instructions to wait
until she made up her mind about it. While he
amused himself making faces in the hall look
ins-gass she cut paper pattern of the cloak.
then sent 1t down. She bought some material
very much the same and her imported" gar
ment attracted more than slight attention.
The very fact that these women are able to do
such things proves their credit to be excellent
for of course otherwise the goods would not be
sent TO them. Some Of them are very wealthy
and, one would imagine, had no excuse for
such actions A good many of these people
who think nothing of such tricks would shrink
from any act of open dishonesty, but that even
this is not always the case is proved by the pre-
vaiing fashion Of having detectives not only to
guard wedding presents, but to keep the guests
from picking up pieces of rare and curious
brjc-a-brac which may adorn the parOrs
An old lady was heard to say the other day
that on her return from each OF her numerous
European tours she had brought home enough
little ornaments to fill all the tables and stands
Of her drawing-rOOm, but gradually they dis
appeared. the pieces taken showing that the