Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-07

But foremost of them all in point of singu-
larity was Ada Rehan, the pet leading
actress of Days company. Some of the
actresses came in garb and manner so quiet
as to force no attention; but not so with
Ada. From her face had been removed
none of the grease paint which it had worn
during her evenings acting. But it was
shaded by big comprehensive black hat,
| whose contrast with her Dresden china
countenance served simply to render it more
conspicuous. Her eyelids and eyebrows
were heavily blackened and her lips were
brightly redeemed. Her form was enveloped
in long, rich black cloak, and when sLe
threw this back dress of the same color
was revealed, but on her hands were white
kid gloves, so that all the poses and gestures
with those members were in sharp relief
against black background.
A THEATRICAL DARLING.
She sat in the front row OF the orchestra
circle, and therefore was in sight from a
large portion of the auditorium. At one
time set about counting the opera glasses
that were simultaneously aimed at her, and
got above 40 before getting confused, and
without more than half completing the emu
meration. But Ada is the theatrical darl-
ing of our Fifth avenue girls and they ape
her manners just about as much as she
does theirs when she impersonates society
belle.
By the way, Rarper's Weekly had full
page glorifcation of Ada last week, written
to Daly's order by William Winter. In it
dates are given with such an appearance OF
exactitude that it will not do to question
them. They inform us that she was born at
Limerick, Ireland, 29 years ago this month.
Now, it is matter of record that Is years
ago, in 1874, she was playing leading parts
at Woods Museum, and thence went next
season to Mrs. Drew's theater in Philadel-
phia Thus Ada's precocity may be real
lied by trifling amount of arithmetic. If
she was born % years ago, and acted mature
heroines 15 years ago, it will be seen that
|, she was only Is years old when she did it.
There is comfort, as well as a compliment
in that conclusion, because off the stage Ada
looks fully 40.
WOMEN GETTING THEIR RIGHTS.
One after another the advantages hitherto
monopolized by men are obtained by women.
For instance, we NAV now be swindlsd just
like the other sex in mock auction store.
Right in the very heart the shopping dis
trict. a red flag has fut.ered over door this
week, and out through that portal has come
the persuasive voice of an auctioneer.
Almost worthless jewelry is the stock in
trade ofthis establishment, which is operated
after the familiar method of Peter Funk,
with several persons to bid and buy; but
the difference is that these stool-pigeons are
women. Not only are the several clerks
behind the counter girls with an aspect
similar to those employed in the retail
stores, but four or five others, in the guise
of ordinary customers, do duty as inciters of
business. They affect the airs of genuine
shoppers, and altogether are more clever at
their fraud than men. They do all the
work of mock auction cappers, except the
bulldozing. Probably cowdozing wouldn't
be inappropriate.
Anyhow, after an unwary woman has
been led to purchase, through a misunder-
standing, an article at ten or a dozen times
its value, two impressive men come forward
to rush her to the cashiers desk, cajole or
threaten her into paying up. and all but
literally hustle her out of the place. sup
pose We ought to be fattered by this ex-
tension of the mock auction business to US.
EXPENSIVE DREAMS.
There is contracted group of shops up
on Broadway just below Twenty-third street
that exhales the atmosphere of the Rue de
la Paix in Paris. They are small, but their
wares are of the -daintiest description, for
they consist offnest importations of lady's
wearing apparel, from her bonnet to her
stockings. This week the windows have
taken on degree of brilliancy which her
aids the approach of summer most happily.
Huge bouquets of fresh roses dripping with
moisture stand in bright blue and yellow
vases. Perched upon little stands are the
hats. I was going to say dreams, but
dreams don't perch.
It is not often that q man wishes himself
a woman, but heard a very stalwart old
gentleman say to his companion as he stood
gazing into window yesterday that he
felt delicate longing to masquerade just
for the sake of coming in contact with such
exquisite head ornaments. What I was
most struck by in this early display of sum-
mer millinery was the predominant color
of green in everything. ALI the hats were
symphonies in light shades of green.
THE PREVAILING COLOR.
thought perhaps the winter mind was
merely startled by the color of ripe nature,
and that probably these hats were no
greener than they are every year, but in the
next window I was confronted by a great
assortment of gloves, some of them nearly a
yard long. These were of the same shade
of green as the hats. In another window
were stockings just as green as the gloves.
Then there was lovely silk underwear, like
wise pale green parasols, and l assure you
that one window contained hat covered
with light green roses. So, you see, the
beautiful brightness of nature is to adorn
our girls during the coming hot season.
The shops are certainly well-stocked for
the Easter trade, and the sidewalks in front
of the windows are constantly thronged
with eager young women who rapturize over
this dream of bonnet or that love of hat
with an enthusiasm delightful to wit
ness. Knox, under the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
had his window filled yesterday with great
assortment OF those sailor hats that have
been so popular through the several past
seasons. The entire effect was freshly and
deliciously green. The window looked like
a glimpse out on summer meadow with
sun on it. On the block above I met
young woman trying to force the season IN
light straw hat and sealskin jacket.
CLARA BELLE.