, 1885-02-21
N MAlpsNLY WAITE.


The Trials nt.d Ar iuiationA OF u De-
Observation-Disclosures.
New York tor. Inter cceaaI
Much Ia The attn OF a theatrical debut
Is the introduction Of a young New York
girl into that particular portion Of society in
which the doings arc laboriously formal
Tbs ceremony heats christening all hollow,
and can only be exceeded in Importance by
n marriage. The girl is IS to II. Up TO this
night she has been technically a child now
she suddenly becomes a woman, accord
ing 10 the sag OF fashion 1t may 10
that a reception is given by her parents for
the purpose, but likelisr she comes out. as
the phrase Is, at ons Of the small balls called
assemblies which occur in the halls con-
nected with the great restaurants These
gath erings usually include u clique OF 100
couples, or at most $50, and are managed by
Il bevy Of matrons whose social position
will be a sort OF label guaranteeing genuine
high quality. There may 10 several de-
but antes; but II only one, then she is 70
garded as peculiarly fortunate, for on her
converges about all OF the interest.
She Il dressed in maidenly white. and the
material Is correspondingly simple, though
the making up Of the muslin may nave alb
sorbed more money tn ian Is embodied in
soma OF the gorgeous satin toilets. She
must not wear diamonds, and her arms and
bosom should not DO 10 freely uncovered
as are those OF her elder sisters, especially II
they have the scrawniness common to youth.
But she must be 30 iavishly fronted with
flowers, from chin to waist, that she seems
TO be looking over a garden wall. The the
DRY Is that these are the floral offerings OF
young beaux; but, as with the bouquets
which SO surprise an actress, the cynics
among the spectators are incredulous. With
certain kinds Of rare rosebuds costing 81
nrfaoa a. l. 40 nnu - I1.I , .~f-l ..tth eEnn
worth, counting in the numerous punches
which she In alienation carries in her
hands.
allow do you feelF'
The question was put by a fond mamma to
her debutante daughter as they entered the
hall; and l carried the reply in my mind
only until l could get into an ante-room to
write it down, so we'll did it reveal the sad
artificiality which fashion imposes on a mere
child.
10, Pm awfully afraid Pm not looking my
best, said the young creature, "and Pm so
nervous that l shake like an overbred ter
rier. / am going to be awkwardI know l
am; and / shall make a failure"
That sonss of self-exhibition in a girl who
ought TO have been a careless merry-maker.
| Doubtless she had been In strict training for
the event, like a pugilist for a fight Hard
lessons in dancing and department, arduous
drilling IN the art OF small-talk, much prac-
tice Of facial expression before her mirror,
and tedious experiences with q d~ressmaker
Ind brought her into condition for what, 50
she had been led TO believe, was a most seri-
Gus feat Do you suspect that lam exagger-
atingf Why, l personally know of a case in
which a delicate girl. having been strained
down too fine," and therefore liable TO bs
worn instead Of fresh in appearance, was
sent to a Turkish bath In the afternoon of
the debut, where she was steamed. sprayed,
and rubbed, after which she was put to bed
ut home for a sleep Of two hours, with the
result that she finally showed herself in a
state Of revivification resembling the bright
syed and ~rosy-cheeked health OF a milkmaid.