The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-12
THE MISUNDERSTANDING HAT.

In EnglSn novels ana IN all accounts Oh
social life in England, ladies Of the upper
classes are represented as doing vast amount
of visiting among the poor No well-regulat-
ed family of any pretensions is without
member who makes periodical calls upon "cot-
tagers' and jewellers in tenements, distributing
jelly and other delicacies at proper places along
the route. The nature of the other viands
is usually left to the reader to surmise, but
there is no doubt as to the jelly-that sweet
meat being regarded, for some reason, as pecu-
liarly adapted to the needs of the poor.
Armed with basket of jelly, and such other
refreshments as may seem proper, the English
maiden goes on her benevolent way with the
calm satisfaction which accompanies the per-
Torrance of duty not only sacred but also
fashionable, and occasionally profitable to her.
self as we'll as the poor. 1t has been observed
by the careful reader Of descriptive literature
Of this sort that the young woman who
persists in carrying tea to retired coal beavers
and flowers and jelly to hungry washerwomen
is sure, in due time, to meet with the sympa-
thetic curate or the young and rising physi-
charms of soul and becomes a sutton for her
hand. Sometimes, indeed, she does better
than this, and encounters in some back alley
benevolent and susceptible millionaire on
charitable deeds intent, who at once becomes
desperately enamored of her. A very moder-
ate investmentin jelly and tea has been known
to bring about very important matrimonial re-
suits
This being the case, and the custom being
$50 English" it is not surprising to learn that
the young ladies of New York society are be-
ginning to consider their obligations to the
poor, and the duty of bestowing charity upon
them in the form of jelly and the mild and
not inebriating tea To do this properly, and
SO as to bring about the desired results, it fol
lows, as matter of course, that the visitor
must be arrayed in manner at once suitable
and becoming Jelly could be distributed, it
is true, by woman in shabby garments,
and would, perhaps, taste just as sweet; but
the final consequences would be far different.
No curate, or doctor, or millionaire would look
a second time at a dispenser Of charity thus
lothed. In view of this fact, the minute de-
scription given in a New York society journal,
of the garments to be worn by women in
quest of the poor to do them good, must be
regarded merely as natural development of
the fashionably charitable spirit. The cos
tune, this journal declares, must be simple
which it may be necessary to explain, is by
no means synonymous with the inexpensive
garb. 1t must not be snowy. The average
clerical or medical young man is usually en-
dowed with sufficiently cultivated taste to
know that frills and furbelows, and diamonds
are out Of place in attics and alley residences,
and the impression he might otherwise re-
ceive of the visitor doing errands of mercy
would be marred by the lack of harmony.
She may wear dark colors, corduroy being
favorite material; the dress must fit like
glove; she must be neatly shod, of course, but
above ALL she must be sure to give great care
to the selection Of hat The severe sim
plicity of the dress requires that
the head covering be of unusual be-
comingness, and no young woman who
understands what is due to herself will neg
lect this important article of apparel Other
directions are given which space does not per-
NIT to repeat here, utthere is reason to believe
that with the impetus thus given to charity by
the patronage of fashion this most valuable of
Christian graces will flourish in the metrop-
oils during the coming season as it has never
done before; and that if any individual in
the class known as "the poor" fails to have
jelly on his bread all winter it will be be-
cause he stubbornly hides in the remotest
attic.