The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-12
MRS. SMITH OF NEW YORK
SHE LIKES TO HAVE A GOOD TIME,
AND GENERALLY HAsIr.

She Has Her Idiosyncrecies- De-
scription of What is Called a Clever
Woman and Her Many Fads.
From Neuo York Letter to the San Francisco
Argondut.
Let US call her Mrs. Smith. Her right
name is much more impressive and has a
have everything charming about them,
from their small slippers to the jeweled pin
in the top of their heads. ANY one who
goes frequently to Delmonico's, TO the matt
nee, 10 Fifth avenue, between 3 and 6
o'clock, to the opening days of fashionable
milliners, to the spring exhibitions of paint
ings, to any place where the gay world
ngregates-without invitation-may see
her and form his or her own estimate of
what kind of a person she is.
In appearance she is pretty and rather
quiet; in age, little over 80. She never
has any money at all; in fact, she will tell
you quite seriously that they are going to
be turned out for rent, and that the chill
dren are going barefooted-yet she has
everything of the very latest and most
expensive. When violets are 25 cents
apiece, Mrs. Smith always wears bunch
in her coat; when boas of feathers first came
over from Paris, Mrs. Smith had the pref
test to be bought IN town; wien marquise
rings adorned the fingers of the only -Four
Hundred, Mrs. Smith. had beauty nearly
an inch long; when rich young ladies wear
silk stockings only when arrayed in their
war-paint. Mrs. Smith never wears any
other kind. And all this when it is known
abroad that the butcher talks fercely of
suing the Smiths for his bill.
Mrs. Smith is always extensively dressed,
nd Il IL,
thing she wears. | first saw her at a sort of
lawn fete in summer time, where ladies are
generally supposed to dress gayly and in
light collars. Mrs Smith wore pale green
crepe skirts, green velvet bodice cut out in
the neck, a huge straw hat with wreath Of
green flowers round it and a pointed crown
fully eight inches high, immensely long yell
low gloves, and yards of gauze yelling
twisted round her neck. She looked as if
she had come out of LA Vie Parisienne,"
or water-color sketch by Leon Moran. The
mind Of man cannot picture anything more
piquant, striking, almost grotesque, than the
figure of Mrs. Smith in this costume There
were young girl and a man with her, and
they walked about looking at the people, and
the people looking at them as if they were
escaped lunatics.
After that | saw her often. She con-
stantly lunched and dined at Delmonico's.
went to everything in the way Of theaters
worth seeing; she was always on hand at
reception days of clubs and charity balls.
The peculiar thing about her was that she
was never without the young girl and the
man. 1t was not always the same girl and
the same man; but in style they were all so
similar that they might just as we'll have
been the same. The girl was invariably
very pretty, young and fresh-looking. The
man-no longer in his first youth-gentle-
manly, reserved and well-dressed. When
they sat together over their meal or the
play, the girl was always lively, full
of a sort of graceful vivacity, laugh
ing and sparkling, and making little
funny sallles which caused the gentleman to
laugh. She always seemed a charming
girl, with her fresh cheeks and attractive
smiles. Mrs Smith herself was not partic-
ularly laxative, but she took in everything
She knew just who was about her, and she
saw every detail of every costume within
sight of her keen black eyes. She ate her
dinner with the relish of a gourmande, loi-
tering over choice dishes, moving her fork
slowly in a small hand blazing with rings.
slipping her wine with a knowing air, and
between the courses leaning back in her
chair and surveying the people from the
shade of her large curly brimmed hat.
Many people who saw Mrs. Smith had
misgivings regarding her. They did not
know anything about her and they thought
that, after all, that was not to be regretted
Ignorance, in this case, though not precisely
bliss, was a thing to be cultivated. Mrs.
Smith did not seem to care in the least.
When she had her pink-cheeked maiden
and her middle-aged admirer with her she
seemed to be perfectly content There was
Mr.. Smith, everybody knew, who kept in
the background, and there were little
Smiths, VINO were coming up like flowers,
any way they wanted. Mrs. Smith in her
prodigious hats her violets. and her mar
quise rings, did not seem to think about these
| membranes, but with her faithful two
had good time
One morning at Del's, a short while ago,
/, lifting of heads and sudden concen-
| trating of glances toward the entrance, a
| frou-frou of silk skirts, and delicate per-
| fume of violet extract, proclaimed the ad-
| vent of something charming. 1t was Mrs.
| Smith, fresh as the spring, with a huge
bunch of violets in three shades in her
| jacket, and two Parma violet pins in
euamel combining her collar at the neck
| There was the usual small wasted damsel
| with her and bald-headed man, with stiff
| joints and pointed beard. They sat down
| by the window, and while Mrs. Smith studied
the carte, the young lady talked in q
| sprightly fashion and the man listened,
| smiling condesceudingly.
| 1t SO happened that the ever present b
| was there-B-, who knows everything
and every one in New York. There were
bows between him and Mrs. Smith, and
then he left his seat and crossed over tc
| speak with her. For some moments he
stood beside her talking. She was very
lively and pretty and gracious, introduced
him to the young lady but not to the man,
and the three had few minutes talk which
seemed very jolly and bright. w hen B -
left them his face was decorated with d
pleased smile. 1t was the most natural
thing in life to hurry out after him and
request him to unravel the mystery of Mrs.
| Smith.
| "Oh, Mrs. Smith," he said laughing
"sne's all right. She has her little idiosyn-
GRASSES. that's all. She likes good time
that's all that's the matter with Mrs. Smith
| Old Smith gives her lot OF rein, but the
minute she is too lively he'll draw it tight
| again.
"And what will happen to the good
time"
| "She'll take care of that. Smitby, as ]
said, has her idosyncrasieS. Her good time
is not every ones good time She loves
| gaiety like a debutante. SHE'S perfectly
| happy if she can eat a good dinner, or see a
| play, or go anywhere where there's a swell
within eyeshot. She doesn't care for any
man living. She hasn't got the first instincts
| of f1irt or a coquette, She's nothing but
an empty shell. There is not single thing