Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-01-26
Debmtantgs.

rookabout. gossipIDg OF Now
his .o;e.s n the Boston Herald, has
lo'. 49, 49, concerning debutantes:
w s = h the nature of a theatrical
as ! the introduction Of young
ssOus york Girl into thas particular por-
y" = society in which the doings are
hqn : formal. The ceremony beats
s .u.',eo;ng all hollow, and can only be
'Dl laaSsa n importance by marriage.
Tss girl is sixteen to seventeen. Up to
~ night she has been technically q
~ IA now she suddenly becomes a
-. Ian according to the usages Of fash
II NAV be that reception IS given
\ her parents for the purpose, but like
Y, sbe "comes out, as the phrase is,
,ae n the small balls called assem-
80 y" ,,bieh occur in the halls connected
IN the erect restaurants. These gath
.5aes usually include:a clique of 100
a .na5les or at most l50,l and are managed
|, beyy OF matrons whose social POSI-
;on will be a sort of label, guarantee
Is genuine high quality. There may
= s.syeral debutantes, but If only one,
,hen she is regarded as peculiarly fortu-
,,te for on her converges about all Of
~ interest. She is dressed in maidenly
vhite and the material is correspond
rrly simple. though the making up of
NJ muslin may have absorbed more
money than is embodied in some of the
gorgeous satin toilets She must not
sesr diamonds, and her arms and bosom
should not be so freely uncovered as are
those of her elder sisters especially
II they have the scrawniness
common to youth. But she must
BE- so layishly fronted with
towers. from chin to: waist, that she
gems TO be looking over a garden wall.
The theory is that thesa are the floral of
isrngs of young beaax; but, as with
the bouquets which so surprise an ac-
tress the cynics among the spectators
are incredulous. With certain kinds of
rare rosebuds costing one dollar piece,
Il Is easy to load a girl with $500 worth,
counting in the numerous punches which
she in alienation carries in her hands.
" How do you feel9" The question was
put by fond mother to her debutante
daughter as they entered the hall, and |
carried the rcrly in My mind only until
could ret into an ante-room to write 1t
down, so we'll did it reveal the sad ar
t6ciality which fashion imposes on .
mere child. "Oh, I'm lawfully afraid I'm
bot looking my best, said the young
creature, "and I'm 50 nervous that |
shake like an overbred terrier. | am
going to be awkward, i know am, and
! shall make failure" That sense of
@li-exhibition in a Girl who ought to
have been careless merrymaker!
Doubtless she had been in strict training
for the event. like a Tlugilist for fight.
Hard lessons in dancing and department,
arduous drilling in the art of small talk,
much practice of facia, expression before
her mirror, and tedious experience with
adressmaker, had brought her into con-
citon for what-so she had been led to
believe O most serious feat. Do YOU
suspect that | am exaggerating9 Why.
personally know of i case in which q
delicate girl, having Seen trained down
too fine, and therefore liable to be worn
instead Of fresh in appearance. was sent
2 Turkish bath in the afternoon of
nc debut, where she was steamed,
sprayed and rubbed after which she
vas put to bed at home for a sleep of
Two hours, with the result that she finally
moved herself in state of revivication
resembling the bright-eyed and rosy-
'Oeeked health of a milkrnaid.