The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1889-02-02


effete civilization. A glorious combination of
the antique and modern. subtle commingling
OF the French and American types, producing an
artistic and charming although entirely incom-
Prehensible whole. She IL something entran-
cingly new, distinct, apart from ell girldom be-
side whom the Summer" and "tailor-made" girls
sink into obscure nothingness She Ia not a vet
popular, for to thoroughly comprehend her a. she
Is one must be educated mp to . high standard Of
artistic elegance and "tone"
The Direct0ire girl does not dazzle Won with
the brilliant eiulgence of the summer girl. nor
does she chill you with the calm magnifcence of
the "tailor- made" She beams from height m it
were, conscious that she will In time prevail by
the divine right of her thorough newneas and
prettiness OF style and manner. She sleeps late
mornings at least must assume 60 for the
mornings change to the afternoons and she appears
not. About four O'Clock you see her coming not
In the pebeian haunts which the modern everyday
maiden seems to affect, but daintily dreamily
moving along Fifth avenue towards some high-class
art store, and sometimes after the matinee upper
Broadway. Shedoesn't seem to shop, and she never
travels with another of her kind.
You can see her q long way Off on q clear day
And when she first looms on the hazy distance
just far enough off to hide the American glitter
In her eyes and the unconventional New York
curve OF her lips, you would think her one of
Abbey's illustratiOns-a sweet-faced girl in .
stately gown-but as she draws nearer you find
there IL no installing her piquant face and dashing
style. She 10 the same girl that you have seen
smiling from one of Days boxes on a FIRST night
The self-same maiden thst danced at Demonico's
during the winter and drives her cart through the
Lenox lanes during the summer She Ia in a new
role new idea has fastened its fangs upon her
soul, she is Directoire girl
You unconsciously brace yourself for the meet
Ing, and pull on your other glove with Q jerk.
She comes nearer with slow, undulatiDg step.
That Is part of the costume. Imagine her. If
you can, We bewildered Brooklynites and pastoral
Philadelphiane, what we favored New Workers
may see any afternoon when the sun shines.
lovely, dreamy face, from which all memories of
last nights filtration with Charlie are excluded.
Two flashing eyes demurely dashed, beneath q
gathered, lace-edged Hading VEIL with big black
dots cleaning fushsd velvety cheeks and
angelic mouth A poke bonnet with nodding
plumes. And then, the straight, simple folds of
fur trimmed coat with its big apes buttoned over
girlish outline where dewy violets in green
leaves rest lovingly, looking just as sweet and
perjury as they always are In winter, when knot
for my ladies breast costs as much as a supper at
the club. AS she walks, her Louis Quinze shoes
flash ont beneath the Russian sable of her gown,
which follows every movement of her glad free
step. She carries q high oxidized- handled, closely
swathed umbrella, and q torgnefte swings from her
chatelaine. A Whit of wood violet and she has
passed-you look again and she is gone-and then
you pull yourself together and realize what awfully
bad form II Is to stand staring in the street.
! The DirectOire girl is the victim and consequence
/ of the latest fad. She Is not comfortable. She
doesn't like Ii one Bit but 1t lie the correct thing
and she her coat and the other accessories
bravely for the afternoon CALL the tea the musicale
and ii is with sigh of relief that she sinks into
tea gown for an hours rest preparatory to the
evening campaign. You see her at the opera three
hours later robed in eecy tulle with her n-glov
ed hands clasping six bouquets, but the grande
dame air has been lain aside She IL herself again,
and the same eyes which dropped demurely behind
empire gauze in the afternoon now fash wickedly
above her feecy fan. You look in vain for the
vioets. They are gone. Jewels CLEAN her
white neck, and the stately poise Of head crowned
with fluffy coils of bronze gold hair Is all that
reminds you of the sweet vision of the afternoon
the Directoire girl.-Nes0 York Mercury