, 1888-04-26

American society-the providing OF
husbands for girls--has been only to a
limited extent observed.
The winter has been what pretty
girls call "sticky"-that is, many OF
them have been stuck, in older par
lance, left, at many OF the entertain
ments.
1t has not been an uncommon spec
tacle to see slender, bright-eyed
creature, in whose honor a coming.ou
breakfast or an Introductory tea or u
dinner dance had been given within y
fortnight, go home the second time
she was invited out before the cotillion,
or sit disconsolate in u cornor. the
roses on her cheeks drooi ing. The
young man has vanished out OF socie-
ty to an extent which makes his for.
mer scarcity look like plentitude. One
OF the most popular patriarchs offered
his invitations for the last ball to ten
marriageable young men. He was re-
fused in every instance, and finally
sent them to come cradle recruits who
alone appreciated social favors. At
the first patriarchs' there were by
count five women present to one man,
and the proportion did not decrease
throughout the season.
1t would have been comical If IL had
not been, from the damsels' point OF
view, pathetic to see the girls huddled
in melan ncholy groups discussing the
situation in downcast fashion, while
the stray young men who had wandered
in, fully realizing their own value and
their perfect command of the situation,
either cody picked out the maidens
they were disposed to favor and car
ried them off fer tete-a-tetes or bolted
their suppers and departed, making
the last end OF the ball desert where
the first part had been drought. For
the most part, the young man when
he honored any assemblage with his
presence, held up the door post in
stead of dancing, and when he danced
he chose u matronly partner, making,
as one satiric belle observed, a corps do
ballet as mature as Mapleson's. Hard
ly u noticeable dance this winter has
BET n led by girl in her teens.
The dearth Of eligible men was
never more significantly marked than
by IL recen. trifling change in social
usuages. Except at the big public
balls there are now no dance orders
As things have been, a girl who was in
any way popular was obliged to dance
with babies, whether better parties
might be had or not. The extremely
young fry who had enthusiasm enough
left to be glad to devote themselves to
belle passed her programme about
among themselves, putting names
down for the best dances, while her
belleship lost her chance of angling
for the grown-up partner she wanted
who WAS too much on his dignity to
entreat, but must needs be cautiously
entreated. The new scheme without
written evidence over against q pet
waltz leaves her free to capture her
prize or fall back on the infant brigade,
If she fails.
Does all this mean that men
are growing less susceptible or
women less attractive; that SEN
iment has had it's day and
that Corydon and Phyllis pratt
tie only of settlements
and bank accounts; that this is the
golden age OF extravaganza; that the
pace is set by incomes not much un-
der million and that marrying men
find it too hot? Perhaps it means
these things; but the poor people get
married; it is people not poor who
don't; certainly it means to society
people something even more prosaic.
New York keeps too late hours. So
ciety has been more unreasonable in
this respect this winter than ever be-
fore and has brought upon itself
revolt OF man. Women whose busi
| II l.,
customs on community which has,
practically, no men with whom busi-
ness and pleasure are not separate
terms.
Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt tried to
start ii reform. For the most import
ant private ball of the season in her
house invitations were sent out with a
request for early hours emphasized.
The hall dozen guests who complied
by putting in an appearance before i
O'Clock, found the house, save for the
hostess and family, empty. Midnight
il striking before the carriages set
down their loads at Delmonico's door,
supper il not over before 2 80 in the
morning, and after the dance music
has yet to strike up and keep the feet
busy till we'll past 4. There are fairy
tales afioat of the care taken Of the
girls; of families which employ trained
nurses by the winter to supervise the
health OF the debutante, u bathe her
and give her massage treatment. to
feed her, to see that nobody disturbs
her beauty sleep before noon. The
bud is blown to the point OF willing by
Lent in spite Of all. How about the
| young manY
1t is u physical impossibility for
man who has his way to make in the