The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-06
SUPPRESSED DEBUTANTES
NEVER BROUGHT OUT" AS THEIR
OLDER SISTERS ARE UNMARRIED.

Their Secrets The Avenue and
Dutch Rush-A Craze for Buttons.
(Copyriglf)
WASHINGTON, June among the Gu
rious customs that obtain in Washing
ton society none is more perplexing TO the
young man passing his first season here
than that which relates TO the treatment OF
girls who are not vet ''out." He attends
receptions and is introduced to many young
ladies, but he notices there are a few to
whom he is never presented. He Is per
picked when he sees these young ladies'
frequently the most beautiful ones present
treated as if they did not exist,
and his perplexity amounts to posi-
tive embarrassment when he is
presented to two young ladies. one on either
side of this beautiful girl, and she was
utterly ignored as if she were not there.
He wonders if the lady who is managing
the introductions is trying to put some
spiteful slight upon the charming maiden,
and if it be the hostess herself who ID con-
Quoting the presentations, he asks himself
why this neglected young lady was invited
at all, or if 1t is possible that she came I'M
invited. He speculates ali around the truth
without striking 1t.
If he stays in Washington long enough,
however, and i quires deeply enough, he
will learn that these are the maldens VINO
have not yet been brought out, and that
therefore they really have no existence in
society. He learns, too, that girl does not
enter society gradually, as a poliwog be-
comes a frog-that is 10 say, in smile more
BETTING the subject. there Is no time when
the Washington gil is IN the c1rysallS
She is always either grub or butterfly. she
does not step into society," she bursts into 1t,
and her debut is as distinctive an event as
her confirmation or her marriage would be.
But the Young man in his novitiate can
not make out why, If these girls are not
recognized by society, they are to be found
at receptions and parties, unrecognzaoy
mixed with society and 1t takes some acute
observation aud careful inquiry for him TO
solve this problem.
There are two reasons why they are there
One is that the hostess has use for them, and
the other is that they, or their parents for
them, have use for the hostess. II the girl
is especially beautiful, or prospectively
wealthy, or if she be the daughter of rank,
or have any notably attractive talent, she Is
sought by tie hostess. If she have none of
these advantages her parents have to seek
hostesses for her. A beautiful girl, who has
not yet 'come out" is useful to the hostess
just as a beautiful painting or choice
ceramic bit Is useful She Is
set I'D to please the eve of the
occasion what a borrowed water-color is to
an art loan exhibition. II she be wealthy
and have not beauty, she is useful in another
way to the hostess, in a speculative way,
for the patroness of an heiress holds con-
siderable advantage In society, since 1t Is
supposable that when the time comes she
will have potent influence In bestowlng
the young ladv's heart. II the girl be one
of rank, it is enough for the hostess that
the girls presence indicates the superior re
lations maintained by her patroness.
And, the young man asks, do the parents
of these girls understand thisl Certainly
they do-understand it and accept it as fair
payment for the privilege their daughters
obtain of mingling with and Observing
society, thus acquiring that easy grace
which can be acquired in no other way.
Let us put a hypothetical case-not too hypo-
thetical. but just hypothetical enough.
Suppose a mother has two daughters of
marriageable age, the elder one not yet BE-
trothed. She must hold the younger
one back, keep her out of society.
until the elder one has made
her market. But the younger one must
meantime be preparing to shine in society
when her time shall have come to enter it.
This preparation can be made nowhere but
in society. The girl must become familiar
with society in all its accepted phases; she
must be placed in that practical school,
The mother therefore, establishes the
younger daughter in the good graces of
some of the ladies at whose receptions and
teas and parties the the most accepta ole
society is to be found, and these ladies IN
derstand that they are never to introduce
young gentlemen to the girl.
There are enough persons to deride Wash
ington society without my aid. | have only
to say that SO far as l have been able to OBJ
serve, there is less scandal and fewer scan
dial mongers in Washington than any other
city of its size that | know aught about;
and there are thousands of persons here who
make society their profession. Thus much
] wish TO lnterject as a sort of prelude to
what is to follow.
/ had a chat with neighbours beautiful
daughter the other day.
mo; am not out, " she said $50, of course
] am not regularly introduced, but | know
good many gentleman, nevertheless, and
have perfectly lovely times at the receptions.
You see, when | know a gentleman real
well can ask him to introduce another
gentleman, and in that way | can usually
manage to know just those l wish to and
avoid the rest. Oh, we girls have a good
many advantages over those that have
come out.
"No we never wear evening gowns or
gloves We wear simple white woods or
light tints. 1t is only on very great occa-
sions that we wear silk. We regard girl
that is not yet in society who wears silks
and plu5hes as a very 'tacky' sort of person.
But at the receptions, where we pour tea
and are supposed to sit and see other people
enjoy themselves, we have plenty of fun,
and besides, you know, we don't haye to
keep up calling lists as the society young
ladies do"
This young lady has still younger sister
high school girl of about 16. with snappy
eyes and devil-may-care manner as free,
as refreshing and really as innocent as a
summer breeze. She, too has been invite
out few times this season TO pour tea and
to look on. But she has other pleasures
which are denied TO her elder sister, for she
is still regarded as really child
''Most of our set," she said, ''are given
only one night out in the week. This sea-
son / filed my time beautifully. We have
two clubs-our dancing club and a social
club where we dance Each meets every
other week, so, you see, we have a dancing
party every week. A year ago we had re-
freshments cream and cake at 10 and got
home by u, but this year we had a regular
supper at II and got home at l. These are
our only evening clubs, but besides these we
have our regular high school club. the
Pedestrian Club, the German Club and the
Literary Club. The Pedestrian Club is the
most fun-boys in it, you know. We take
the loveliest walks-about thirty of us
start in the morning, go to Fort Meyers, or
to Arlington, or some other lovely place,
see everything, and come back home in the