The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-29
OUR PILLowED HosrEssEs.
A Glimpse of Feminine Celebrities In
Their Boudoirs.
From the Net0 York World.


rooml
When Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett
lived at the Westminster she was always
cat home" the day she took her steam bath.
This regular reception of society, syco-
plants and people with letters was
obligatory rather than conciliatorv. Her
physician would not allow her TO 60 out Of
doors before the expiration of twelve
hours, and, as she was too much exhausted
10 do any work, she went from the cooling
room directly to her Louis de-some-number-
couch, douched herself with cologne
feathered her lips and eyebrows with altar
of roses, pulled her fluffy hair about her
temples a La Byron, donned a baby blue
surah dress girdled under the arms with a
belt of pearl, and got into bed.
All the ladies who called during the day
were ushered into the chamber and seated
about the luxurlously appointed couch after
messing the lips and finger-tips of Dear
est.m Fauntleroy's mother delighted in
parchment quilts, and scattered over the
Counterpart were all manner of pretty
DoernS sketches and studies in rough card
board or satin paper binding, many of
them gift books, with the autograph
of the author, and all fresh from
the publisher. Captivated by couplet
or paragraph, it was not an uncom-
IuEQeLJS
and find three or four young ladies living
or kneeling about the literary bed, with
bonnet and gloves on, intently reading. To
add to her picturesque surrounding the
dramatic novelist had fantastic wdy of
arranging a thread-lace shawl, a Spanish
scarf, or half of an Irish lace curtain across
her bolster, and as a sort of after-thought
there were beautiful paper-knives within
reach, and character heads of Bernhardt,
Anderson, Hading, Salvini, Barrymore ct
al along the side of the couch On her
back, with the sunlight sifted and softened
by the multiple of window draperies, she
was an ideal Dearest" sand charming
hostess.
Mrs. Hicks-Lord in her boudoir is as
grand as Russian empress. The old Moor
ish couch, with its splendid carving and
star-chamber canopy, is placed in a dark
ened alcove, where lantern of mock Jewels
shines in refulgent beauty. Draping the
bed is O crimson brocade, against which a
harpy would be handsome and q bag youth
full. Over this silken coverlet is a lace spread,
hand wrought the flowers of which are Wis
IDLY stained by the tears and perspiring
fingers of some pale nuns long since
gathered to their fathers. The top sheet.
which is made of the sheerest linen, is
finished with founce of lace a vast deal
more precious than the bridal trousseau |
dream of wearing This frill of matches
weaving turns back over the top of the bed
clothes and serves as background for the
vinaigrette hand mirror, toilet articles and
beautiful hands Of the reclining occupant
Mrs Lord inclines to dimity robes, the
sleeves and yoke of which are iligreed with
Valenciennes lace.
Over this is worn a silk night-coat Of
some delicate tint, finished about the neck
and wrists with boa fringe. The robe has
wide sleeves, train as long as a princess
gown, and, like the garments of the Chinese
nobility, is lined with a contrasting silk as
rich as the texture OF the coat. Don't think
for an instant that all this material goes
under the bed clothes to be mussed and
wrinkled, for sucl is not the case. The
maid who attends to her comforts has a
trick of donning the robe diagonally, as it
We're, laying the skirt in fiat plaits, bring
ing the train out from between the sheets
and arranging it along the sideboard in
some such graceful way as a scarf is thrown
across the balcony in Venetian landscape.
Her boudolr, like her tea-parlor has a
mahogany wainscoting finished with
three-inch ledge, along which slender vases,
violet cups and miniature rose bowls are set
and which, when!filled with blossoms, form
sort of floral zone for the splendid apart
ment. These flowers vary with the draperv
and toilet of the ease-loving dowager
Sometimes only crimson carnations are used,
and then the air is scented with their spicy
fragrance; again, there is rose border, in
pink, yellow or damask, and when the
Longing colors are yellow a hundred dozen
marigolds, those vivid things of molten
gold, encircle the shadowy room like fiIlet
IL the dusky tresses of Greek girl.
Only the chosen few are admitted to
these morning pillows, as they are called
and during the visit those naughty old
colored servants who have been with Mrs.
Lord since they were young and giddy, and
can become stone deaf to the inquiry of an
lmpertinent stranger, pass in and out with
cordlals of sweet wine, thimble-like cups of
Turkish coffee, and individual ices that
only dtrecteuT gastronomiQue could de-
wise. In no house about Washington
square is it possible to find a
comparison for the night stand that
supplements this lady's chamber suit.
Similar to the dressing-table in size, it is
boxed like a washstand, inlaid with lapis
lazuh and pearl, and the interior lined with
satln-fancy thatI Tho candle-drawer is
reserved for the matches, shutters and can
die supply, and on the table is low branch
ing candelabra with small satin shades that
can be adjusted like miniature parasolettes
10 my lady's eyes; water service; a tray
with decanter and glasses; a night watch {;
a ian; bottle of smelling salts and an
incense jar of Persian bronze The wine
tray, be it said, is a mere ornament in
TepouSSe work, for in all society there is
not more abstemious liver than Mrs
Hicks-Lord
Isabelle Urquhart's morning guests are
received in a mirror-paneled chamber, up
1oistered in pomegranate pink silk, with a
1aoo OF nut-brown plush and narrow
irleze, having for the unit of design pome-
granate flower. The drapery of the side
walls is smooth, but the ceiling is plated
wheel 1nvisibly hung above the slender
FURNISHED bedstead is an octagonal canopy,
from which lace curtains fall in graceful
ioids. The French bolster, which is a shade
lighter than the hangings, is finished at
poth ends with brown plush, and when the
,anguld brunette has it in use veil of en-
proidered net covers it and the rose-pink
spread. Miss Urquharts slumber robes are
AIRY, fluffy, creamy things, with sleeves a
yard wide and three yards long, slashed to
The shoulder.
she wears her hair which is blue-biack
Al color and as fragrant as any wig in
poetry or romance, tossed about the bolster,
S Suo 10 complete the oriental effect chains
ner neck and wrists together with antique
Jewels. A rack of books, a tete-a- tete
service, a basket Of photographs, a folio of
prints and toilet table are all within reach,
ana she reads, or listens while others do so,
nlanlcures her nails, brews tea, pours coffee
and putfs a sweet cigarette.
~ was IN this pretty bed that the Casino