St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-05-11
FASHION A HARD TYRANT.
Some of the Exactions 1t Compels
of Its VOtaries.

Some Of the Exactions 1t Compels
of Its Votaries.
New York Sun.
.'You may think it an easy thing to
be fashionable girl" commented one
of them recently. ''but can assure you
it is greatness which has its penalties.
Fashion is memorable and omnipresent.
There is a rule for almost every mo-
ment of existence la mode.
stance. The fashionable girl conforms
constantly to accepted customs in such
exercise. Having taken her position
and adjusted her toilet with great care,
she tits her parasol at the proper angle
and is driven off. This attitude of
studied languOr must not be disturbed.
1t is not good form to turn your head or
look about you Ell route. A runaway
dashing by your carriage would hardly
justify allook behind. Stiffly stolid is the
watchword OF polite society on wheels,
and the fashionable cOachman ably aids
and abetS his mistress to preserve the
correct demeanOr. When she has
driven enough a touch of her carriage
bell signifies her desire to return,
WhereupOn the statue ON the box holds
his whip straight up like a musket and
wheels his horses about, leveling the
lash again when they are headed home
ward.
land of course there is fashionable
way to leave the carriage, You must
never lean forward getting your head
out first. The properly trained woman
retains her seat till one foot is above the
carriage step, then. slightly rising, sinks
her weight upon it, and glides easily
and gracefully to the curb.
''And besides the fixed laws" went on
the tailOr-made. "there are thousand
and one little ways to do things, from
thrusting your gloves into your glass at
dinner when you don't want wine to
using your lorgnette with just
the proper ease when you are
not a bit nearsighted, which change
constantly. The fashionable walk
is different every season.
can tell in moment just how much
girl is in the swim by watching her gait.
You remember the Alexandra limp of a
few seasons ago? | was not out then,
but know my elder sister had one OF
er than the other to give her the proper
lop as she stepped. There is varying
and distinct fashionable information to
your voice, the way you carry your
muff, your paraSOl, or your umbrella,
the tilt of the head in recognizing an
acquaintance-why,I believe there is a
fashionable way to sleep.
''You wouldn't believe it, but this"
and one pretty, plump hand crept lit
tie up the forearm of its fellow, hiding
the tips of the tapering fingers under
the lace of the slightly flowing sleeve,
''just now is the swell way to hold your
hands while talking, and they are un-
gloyed. A little while ago we clasped
them loosely in our laps la Eyangeline,
and little before that it was swell to
finger one button of your corsage with
the left hand.
"Yon would be surprised, too, at the
way these little caprices are started.
Not long ago half the girls at the opera
were holding one hand, the right. up to
their heads as if to shade the eye. That
came about in this wise: A rich girl
and quite leader has defective right
hand. She was injured when a child.
Ungloved she always keeps her hand
out OF sight; but gloved the defect is
not only hidden, but rather heightens the
slim, pretty look. and she used to sit in
her box at the opera with her hand on
exhibition up, lightly touching her tenn
pie. Other girls discovered and imita-
ted her example, land soon 1t was wide
spread custom. Oh, we really are
dreadfully absurd-but then we are
fashionable.
''What is really exhausting. however,
is what l call the mental fashion. Such
belong to the changeable ones. too.
Fashionable knowledge is quite unlike
any other-don't smile, please-it is so
Sometimes, it is art that
you have to know all about, or enough
about to conceal your ignorance; some
times it is orchids: sometimes it is old
bronzes; always something different.
You have to skim through the last
novel; be up in every fresh collection Of
paintings exhibited. Oh, tell you it is
fatiguing to keep up with the process
sion. ID
81 was positively glad Of Lent this
year, otherwise I don't see how could
have got creditably through the inangu-
ration centennial. Why, l have spent
hours over my history the last fortnight,
and had the cilildren's COVER ness coach
me besides. 1t is such catalogue of
events, such iong-drawn agony, that it
was really tax to master it all. But
have. and got a lovely toilet for the ball
besides, everything of unassailable an
tiquity, too: so now shall be clothed
mentally and physically with perfect
colonial accuracy"