New-York tribune., 1888-03-25
NEW-YORK LIFE.
THE FASHIONABLE MANICURE.


tlst. the fashionable drcssmaber the f1shionaof
imateur actress the fashionable titled foreigner, az
ne fashionable Wit. In this does her fashonabiohes
onsist. II she had engagements but let her nuner
III patrons seek her at their own hours. she wouid
be fashionable ard sink TO the dead Level oi
10 common place. Her mornings arc engaged to the
1 Her tablets display illustFious names which arc
'hs pair and envy OF asplrsns for social honors
she is n fact very much OF person. little nearer
han tho hs,r-drcsscr little dearcr than tho chiropo
DIST and In polite, subdued way tyrannizes over he'
victims. who, in thor souls. are afraid OF her no"
Is Il possible with that demure and selfeacng manner
that she occasion make people feel SO small
Perhaps It Is the queer, quizzcal way she has OF
studying nails which presented to her for the
aet time, OF silently turning them over and holding
thcm OF, of musingly pinchng tho fngcr tips ana
biting her under lip, all In concentrated, Drooons
contemplation, with something In her air which pog-
nantiy suggests that hero indeed are nails which II
will take the Of her genius to reduce to proper
refinement. Through her fingers the sensitive patron
to feel the vibrations Of her suppressed con-
tempt quiverIng for an outlet
Like all professionals shc Is fond Of traducing the
work OF her predecessors Says she. after her survey
of the timdly presented nailsyng In tho palm OF her
hand like four shiny, pink, composition rose leaves
such as wero worn for earrings some years ago
"You havo boen regularly employing manicure"
Then glancss up suddenly with small knowing
tho frivolous impeachment and she says, with sign
for tho foles Of fashionable human nature. and smile
for the vanites into which she has struck ha-rooD
and from which she draws her sap,
They've been very badly done. But enoouras-
ingly, guess ri be able to got them into shape
II the unhappy owner Of these dcridod beauties
has been her own manicure, and badgercd her nails
into tho highest state Of cultiv aoD irritation and In
nammation with pointed stick Of wood. hle, box
OF red gluc which bears the cheap and entcng legend
on fits cover that be used With equal success as
o cosmetic and sprnkling of PINK powder she Is
naturally mortified by tho r. MS sweeping con-
demnation, and would rather cut out her torGue thab
herself tho culprit In fact she is frightened Into
admitting that the F. MS predecessor was profes-
siona expert, whose she has forgotten-fsterng
and hlushnr-and who shc thought at the time was
not proficient in celebrating the rites of her cult
But the r. NJ in spite Of her superiority Is n
pleasant person. Thce Is something quietly COM
panonable about her which captivates and either
this or the confidential nature of her occupation has AT
fines precipitated a confidence upon her over ap-
plIcstlons Of tho accommodating red glue Thcn she
never bothers by forcing her own ideas upon her
patrons. Where is the bid or belle who has not
tasted the bitterness OF thwartng Madame dc Bs re-
)ca ed aterpts TO dress Miles hair la Barbecue Y
And when Mdllc. prompted by tho curiosity which
originally caused slight unpleasantncss In the Garden
OF Eden consented, how horrible to SIT and watch
Madame performing prodlgies OF ugllness with the
long tressos which she hoops and twists with cere
kenesses Of the ntcraccd pastry curs on the top of
q game pie And finally, the tartike chevcure COM
plctcd, how unpleasant the necessity Of opposing
ones icy dlsapprobaton against Madamc's flushed,
French enthusiasm, enriched with juicy choice OF
adectivcs, she stands of, comb In hand' suHused
with admiration In the +. MS narrow sphere there
no chance for exercising individual taste there can be
no spntering OF lances crossing OF swords-al Is
tranquil, peaceful, almost monotonous.
The r. NJ IL a busy person In the morning, an hour
before midday, she sets out very demure and trim,
with veil tied the front Of her hat and down to
tho end of her and skirts neatly caught up out OF
tho mud. She carries small black bag which IS oS
much q part Of her appearance rs was Theophiie
Gautiers rod wastcoat part Of his. She has several
places to visit before lunch. La Cgalc awaits her
in her perfumed dusk, browsing sumptuously and in
q semi -wallesl state listening for the f. MS brisk
knock. It comes a sudden, sharp, decisive, clear.
breaking In upon the blurred fusion OF her ncohcrent
fancies-the fotsam and etsam left by the rccedlng
waves OF seepile the horn Of the chase in fnurmnr-
eus torcet solitude. La Cigac, heavy-eyed, but
rather glad OF a DIVERSION stretches forth warm,
ivory hand toward bowl Of heated water. which In
debris Of faded roses, bonbons. novel opon on It's
face, rumpled handkerchief, stands on table beside
her bed Her finger ends splash in the water, ana
rufis tho surface on which some pink rose petals,
thcky upcured. family fragrant, float idly rounh ard
round When the +. NJ enters, a practical. common
place figure In the dim, rich room she ncs her ra'ent
ready nestled down the pillows. with tho bowl
Of water held, for greater convenience, In Tho
crook of her bent arm. Then she begins, opens her
bag. lays out row Of shining steel implements ard
the boxes OF powder and glue. and sets the rosy,
soaked hand the table. La C'galc lazny IN
terostcd turns her head the pillow, and opening
her eyes a crack watches the quick, deft movements
of the professional and the transformed nails pink,
cleaning, almond-shapcd. The conversation is de-
sutory, the being too sleepy, the other too busy
sor vivscious interchange of thought.
"How fn-asks tho Cigae suddenly, then pauscs,
drops asleep for a moment, wakes by degrees, and
opening her eyes stares vacantly at the F.M
Excuse me- says the latter meeting the ox-like
stare and pausing with suspended file, what wcre you
going to say1'
al can't remember says La Cgals with tender,
sleepy smile, yawning and stirring costly, a grcat
thought has been lost" and her eyelids softly close
and she heaves long, faint sigh of rich content.
The r. NJ has too many engagements not to have
learned to be expeditions From La Cgales sleepy
sanctum she speeds away to Mrs Browns. Mrs.
Brown is up and dressed which Is not odd considering
the hour. Tho r. M finds her loungfng In long chair
in her boudor reading the paper Tho boudor has
an open fire place and Mrs. Browns feet on the
tiled hearth, drawn coUfOrtaDy out OF ncr sHPpVfo,
which stand wide and vacant with the toes turned IN
with that simple foolish look Of unoccupied shoes
With her pudgy stocking feet Mrs. Brown pats gently
and absently the warm brown tiles. where Grange
flames leap and tremble in long reflections. Tho
boudor Is sunny, warm and luxurious; Mrs. Brown
is the same but suffering from ennui and indigestion
the greatest Ills OF this life. With one rnged and
dimplcd hand she holds tho paper the other is lke
La Cigales dabbng In a bowl OF warm water on the
stand beside her. AS her eyes travel down the
columns Of tho paper she rcpresses rising yawns IN
the depths of her inner consciousness II beng as yet
too early to give way She wears charming wrapper
with plenty OF lace frills and loose ends Of ribbons
light and dainty as French chansonete. and she Is
extremely stout, having the appearance round her neck
and wrists of boiling over the edges OF the wrapper.
As the r. NJ IS ushered in she casts aside the paper
and struggles to the edge Of her long chair, pattng
L. h.