National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-12-26
SOCIETY IN NEW YORK,
English styles stiii in vogue-Fashion
Notes and PersonaI CossIp.


phenomenal just now. Mater familias at
this time usually clad in waterproofs aud
"goloshes," as they say In the "Prlvate Sec
rctary,n and, armed with umbrellas, step
through the sloppy street, encounterlng
elush and slcet and every otherevil our New
York winters are capable Of. IL has been
said that New York would be an Eden upon
earth II It were not for her abomlnablo eli
mate. Just now she is retrieving her rcpu-
tatlon, and anything more beautiful than
our days and nights cannot be imagined;
and, as New Workers absolutely live In ne
streets, the preparations for Christmas arc
more brilliant than ever.
The eyer-popular delusion about money
being scarce and timesdull Is ~ rife as ever,
but, unlike children, II Is one OF those things
that arc heard but not sutn-at least at
present. All the great cmporlums are
crowded. In front Of TiGany's the car
riages stand many deep-tor years they have
not been so crowded Mt this season. At
Huylcr's and Maillard's the display OF can
dies Is SO tempting IL is simply impossible
to get inside the door after D or 10 O'Clock
in the morning. In lluyler's factory the
lights for the operatives are cleaning all
night.
In the dry goods establishments the low
prices of useful ms well as ornamental arti-
cles arc unprecedented, and remembering
ones friends is not so expensive as in times
past. Christmas cards are more beautiful
than ever, and from cents up to $50 offers
an opportunity for all purses to invest. The
exquisitely painted plush and satin perfumed
cards, and those for easels, are always
pretty, and the illustrated poems, or short
story, are yet favorites.
Probably there never was q time when
odd pieces of furniture, particularly old
chairs and cabinets, were so fashionable for
presents. All the same these chairs are not
very comfortable, with sharp brass
finished corner TO repose ones back on.
Everything is cherry nowadays-cherry
furniture for drawing room, bed room,
library, and dining room. The woodwork
Is cherry and the front doors are the same.
The fashion is running riot for all II Is
worth, aud will soon be done TO death.
Society has begun It round of gayety, and
breakfasts, lunches, teas, receptions, and
dinners are the order Of the day. The large
private balls have as yet been few. Gayety
has been confined to the introduction Of
debutantes by daylight or "early candle
light.n Tonight Mr.. John Sanford returns
his obligations to society by ball at Del
monico's. Kionder arranges the floral dec
orations, which are to be very English.
Ivy and mistletoe enter largely into its
composition. Speaking of the English, Rev.
aud Mrs Haweis, Of London, who have
been visiting friends here, and sailed for
home last week, have been dined and wined
and fetcd until little rest on the briny
deep must be boon. In fact, the last few
days of their stay the rout was fast and
furious, so much so Mrs. IIawies, who was
then staying at Mrs. President Barnard's, at
Columbia College, was obliged TO 20 up to
the rectory Of the Church of the Holy
Spirit, where she and her husband mad pre-
viously visited Rev. and Mrs. Guilbert, for
little quiet and rest from the gayety of
the world. Quite an amusing, at the same
time an annoying, incident occurred the last
day of their stay in America. Rev. Mr..
Halves lectured at Vassar College, and In
his haste carried OIL the keys of their
boxes and trunks. They were invited to q
breakfast at Mrs. Abram Wakeman's, Il
lunch at Mrs. John BiCelow's, and finished
up with grand reception ut Mrs. Bar
nard's. As the time approached for the
breakfast Rev. MIR. Haweis, who was under
the impression his wife was to meet him al
the Wakemans, went Immediately there
from the train, while she awaited him
to make her toilet before entering
on the festivities Of the day. She
waited SO long II was too late to attend
the recherche breakfast at Mrs. Wakeman's
who, It will be recollected is the second
wife OF Abram Wakoman, an eX-postmastel
OF New YORK, and both great fayorites
Poor Mrs. Ilaweis succeeded In appearing
at Mrs. Bigelow's In her ordinary walking
dress, however, and 1t was not till late IN
the day she was able to reappear at Mrs
Barnard's, and attire herself for the rccep
| ton there, where not only the dignitaries
Of the church and the professors of Columbia
but those prominent In the world of art
and sciences and fashion were present.
The appointment of John Bigelow as as
slstant TO the Secretary of the Treasury hert
has given great satisfaction. Mr.. Bigelow
Is a man greatly liked for his urbane man
ners, and respected for his many virtues
lie has been called Tilden's right hand man
II so Mr. Tilden would not have a NOR,
able or stanch supporter. There has alst
been great intimacy between Mrs. Bige
low and Mrs. Pulitzer, wife Of thu
editor of the World. The Pulitzers
rise and progress has been decided,
moro interesting than that obsolet;
book, "The Pilgrims Progress. They uset
| to live In james w. Gerard's house II
Gramcrcy Park, and paid a rent of $4,000
year. The Gerards have now returned from
Europe, and the other day gave grant
reception as q sort Of house-warming. TIT
Pulitzers have gone in Fifth avenue ant
are in John Hoey's house, paying $1,000 /
month rent. 1t is said they are anxious tc
storm the citadels OF New York society
Society, like fashion, is a tickle dame, ever
the vanderbilts, with all their wealth, wer
not altogether successful in their attempts
William X. has more of q prestige thei
some Of the Others In that way.
1t is now asserted on good authority,wh
most people supposed, that VIM. IL. had sui
fercd with several OF those attacks whic'
finally carried him OIL; For the, Inst two o
three years the family have known this
but Tor obvious reasons 1t was kept quiet
His death has given rise to more or les
curiosity as to the past life and history o
the family. James Is. Townsend, OF tn
World, who Is engaged to Miss Gilbert, sis
ter-in-law OF MT. Oelrichs, and member
the Calumet club, was offered 500 Tor
short article ON the family. w. A. Crotfut
the well'known newspaper correspondent