The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-13

that the minuet is to be made fashionable
again, he will doubtless have TO hire some
more mansions to accommodate his overflow
OF customers.
One of the most painful transformations
that / have lately been aware of is that
which has Overtaken q woman who, a few
years ago, was as physically luxurious as
any actress on our stage, whose spherical
gorgeOusness of body was impossible to sur
pass, so pink, so lovely was she. 1 remem-
Der Selma Dolaro when she represented all
that was gorgeously sensuousin in comic opera,
and afterward all that was plump and de-
Gcious in comedy. She looked then as if an
illness was as much out of her line as a
gloomy expression Of cOuntenance. The
other evening at theatermy escort desired
to leave the house between the acts.
His seat was the fourth one from the
aisle, and 1t was with considerable heslta-
ton that he began to disturb the people IN
those three end seats. His immediate
nelghbOr was sour and fat old man. VINO
made it as disagreeable as possible for him
W: when ne passed, by digging his knees into
him for putting him to such a bother. The
other seats in the row were occupied by a
very much emaciated and sOrrOwful-IoOk-
ing woman, whom my friend really dis
liked to disturb, and young, osy-cheeked
fellow, who showed an evident desire to
make the journey past him as pleasant as
possible. My companion expressed regret
to disturb these two. The woman, in a
gentle voice and with sweet smile, said:
panion stood up in the aisle, and made some
courteous remark. Then looked at the
two gOOd-natured people. One was the
faint but pleasant shadow of Selma Dolaro,
while palm reader. / am not acquainted
with either of them, but their evident good
nature, especially in circumstance which
seems to worry most people In most re-
markab!e way, deserves a word OF COM
mendatiOn in these times of short tempers
so glad rs they to be pleasant amid trlfilng
veXatiOns, this big city of ours would be
sweeter center of existence.
Mrs. James Brown Potter is "rankr bad
actress, no doubt, but, off the stage. is as
sweet as breath of violets. Her very hair
is redolent, and not only laces, handker-
chief, gloves and girdle, but her sleeves,
drapery, skirts, and even the flowing cloak
fill the senses with the delicious perfume
of that flower every time fold changes or
the wearer moves. Every woman of
refinement for ages has worshiped the
incense of odors, and in these days of
originality and invention, each has q
scheme of her own for secretly appropriat-
ing the favOrite scent. Mrs POtter's hobby
is sachet pillows, of which she has as many
as there are dresses in her trOusseau: The
pillows are a yard long and eighteen inches
wide. made of light silk, and filled with a
layer of wadGing and two pounds of violet
powder When dress is folded the sachet
is laid between the skirt and waist, and
when it is worn the fragrance is percepti-
BILE at every motion; Ihe same care is
and linen, and in place of the customary
shampoo of bay rum or Florida water, the
reddish brown tresseS are rlnsed IN extracts
of viOlets for which she pays 80 pint. At
a little company In Mrs. Potters parlor the
celebrated beauty and two intimate friends,
were RECALLED with cold lemonade, Oaten
meal biscuits and violets-candied,
distilled, and natural. The fair
hostess hss was aS asGa
and playfully sailed about the room to
show off some of the jewels and costly
wraps just received from Pans; About the
hustle there is absolutely nothing TO say,
other than to confirm her aversion. Not
one of her gowns is, projected or extended
by reed or steel, sack or tournure, OF winch
fact she is very proud, for her back is SUI
perb. Nothing like 1T is to be found In So
ciety, photography or the playhouse. 1t is
so beautifully curved that grace no0p
could be placed in the turn at the belt.
Besides being the first woman to lay aside
the tOurnure on all occasions, she has set
the fashion of wearing no collar. Ihe necks
of her dresses are cut low enough to show
the clavicle, and an inch frill OF crepe llsse
is the finish.
Mrs. Potter has done it again. Whatf
WHY. shocked that high stratum OF society
which she scandalized originally by going
on the stage at all. Her appearance this
week as the dangerously loving Cleopatra
has already reached my readers IN descrlp-
tilmy skirts with their revelations or pink
tights, OF her realism in the suicide scene.
OF the former it is, perhaps, enough to
write that no ballet girl or burlesquer In
tights ever made more alluring or artful
display. There was no novelty III thatCeX-
cent in seeing it done by former darling
of ''Our best society," But 1t was
when Cleopatra killed herself with the
poisonous asp that the new exploit came.
Mr.. Potter tore her already low corsage
open, with an imitation Of recklessnesS, to
place the reptile where 1T could do the most
harm 1t was here that Shakspeare's text
and the usages of civilized modern society
were opposed to each other, and Mrs.
Potter frankly gave her adherence to
Shakespeare. Anything like her achieve
| ment In realism has not been seen, so far
as this writer remembers. 1t was q fair ac-
| uuaintance of Mrs. POtters who sat In one
| of the boxes on the first night, and who
| bore the unexpected exhibition with we'll
bred calm; but this is what she re-
| marked to a cOmpanlon: wen, IL they
| Cleopatra, l should say they'd find that the
| TO narlfOnltlS.V