Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-20
NEW YORK LETTER.
TOPICS or INTEREST GATHERED IN
GREAT GOTHAM.
rerrespondence Of IN. Richmond p,spsscn.I
NV yogx. April 10, 1890.

bined 10 E very remarkable degree in the
case OF an up-town New York saloon
keeper, who. like Kben Allen. the forging
banking president of the Green nne;
was once car conductor. While IN that
capacity he piled the bell SO successiuliy
that when the company tired. Of his SER
vices he was able TO set up saloon almost
NEXT door no the car-stables. He had been
used for so many years Ia the society OF nus
fellov-conductors that be was 10th 10 yarf
with them. They locked 20 ms place, tRo
n was made the headquarters for the en-
plorcs of several of the city lines The
e1-conductor throve apace, and, strange TO
say. 90 did many of the conductors who
patronized him. Presently he added q lit
tie fire.proof safe TO the saloon furniture,
and, although man always modest in his
own attire. be liked 10 help spruce up his
old associates On of DAYS they would
come 20 the saloon. and after a drink or
two would sally out prepared 10 ENJOY
their brief holiday in their own way. II
was remarked that the majority OF the con-
ductors among the saloon-keepers warin-
est friends and patrons always wore dia-
monds on their outings.
A sAroox.KrrPISa DIAMOND MERCHANT.
In burst of confidence the ex-conduct-
OF one day told his secret. The conduct
oYs' ring bad not been smashed by his dis
charge. a. the company had imagined. III
hvod aud fourished, and was still IN opera
ton. II was merely question OF TAR
percentage for the men," he explained;
for. while the travel on the road had in
creased greatly, and the earnings OF tho
company in proportion. wages bad been az
standstill. The percentage system nso
enabled the conductors TO lay by a httie
money. and they preferred TO have their
savings in the most available shape, next
20 hard cash, and that was IN diamonds
1hereupon he swung open the door OF
his little safe and, unlocking n drawer, dis
played pile OF shining gems OF various
sizes and all degrees OF brilliancs. They
were the property OF the conductors, ana
he was their custodian. -
81 do n little in diamonds myself" he
added, opening another receptacle, where
Law a pile OF loose stones of dazzling lustre.
"There's about S200,0O0 worth IN that
drawer. They ore all fine stones, too, and
not likely TO lose their value in many
wear. If ever. That's better than placing
your money in savings bank, my boy;
and il man wants it IN hurry, why there
il is. and no trouble about 1t, either"
And he swung to the door of the safe and
turned about to serve customer at the
bar.
FORTUNES IN LAcEs.
There are fortunes in laces in New York
rity Those belonging to the several Van
derbilts must be worth nearly half mil
lion aud rival the Prussian and Austrian
crown laces. The Aston family has rich |
lace treasures which connoisse0is value at
no. less than $4,000. The late Mrs Astor
left from $4,000 to $4,000 worth to the
Metropolitan Art Museum. The late Mrs
A. Il. Stewart knew more about laces than
she did about most subjects, and spent $3.50
Der pair Tor curtains at the big. gloomy
mansions windows. Her personal and
dress laces were worth quarter OF mil
lion. Mrs. r. l.. Stewart had COLLECTION
equally valuable. The Belmont laces are
almost priceless. Mrs. Bradley Martin and
Mrs. Marshall Roberts have exqulsitely fine,
choice, and rare LAGOS. Nlcc-Presldent
Morton's wife and Mrs. W. G. whitney
have lGces worth from fifty to sevonty-hYe
thousand dollars. New York buys more
laces than any other city IN the world. IL has
at least score of wealthy women whose |
laces exceed $50. 600 IN value. and probably |
hundred whose collections would sell for |
$4,000 The lace cloaks that have lately |
come into fashion figure IN the wardrobes |
of affuent matrons to the tune OF Sl,VOo |
TO Si2, 900. Lace shawls ions since laid BY |
are being brought cut for dress draperies !
and scarfs in the lace revival, and ono !
dress maker claims TO have had glimpse |
of two not worth less than 5000. The
late Mrs. John Jacob Astor had famous
lace robe that cost $4,000 in Paris but
this il quite outdone by n dress lately
heard of which was brought abroad for
E25, 600 Dress draperies at 81 900, tichus
OF $500. scarfs ct s 900. handKerchiefs and
collars and cuff sets at from 500 to $500
find every day sales in the stores. There
are A few women who can withstand laces.
Even the doughty Susan b. Anthony,
whose thoughts are on the ballot-tox,
wears fine lGces on occasions. Mrs julia
Ward Howe. Mrs. liyermore. and others OF
the platform women delight IN them,
Just as do their frivolous sisters.
COSTLY FABRICS
Not since the palmy days OF Eugene has
lace been so fashionable. We swear by
vandyk, and find that in his portrait OF
Cardinal Bentiveglio the lace lies over the
robe superbly. Welook to the Renaissance
for every thing and We find that Tintoret's
senators and GIrgione's warriors and
Iitan's fair-haired beauties supped and
studied and doubted and varied and
laughed in laces that were most becoming.
Leaders of fashion are discovering that
while tawdry novelties are odlous III
month fine laces are economical invest
ments because they can be used and re-
used and keep their value like diamonds.
livery lace exhibition intensihes the pas
sion Of ooanoisse,Ts, and not only increases
the number Of lace idolaters but develops
apopulAr taste and demand for beautiful
iaces, especially point lsces.
The Venetian and Spanish raised points.
and early point de France-this IA the lace
that the grandson was swaddled in when
khey presented him ON his birth to his
JOul@ Atfs-1lt bAo ihO,t NAPIhNANt
iaces known. An average specimen brings
$40 yard when only an inch wide. As the
width increases the pattern becomes more
elaborate and the prices run up with mar
vellous CELEBRITY.
Point diArgentan comes second in value.
This was Madame de Barry's favorito lace,
but il Is no longer made, and can only be
had by the pure lase and reDurchase OF
valuable pieces. like old Jewels. There Is
quite little of IL In New York city. Some
body was saying the other day that Mrs.
Wanamaker had fine specimens. The most
beautiful and costly modern point lace is
Brussels point gaze. This has been the
fayorite and fashionable lace for fifty
years, and costs. when an inch wide, about
$3.50 yard. When the Dowager Empress
Frederick married the then Crown Prince
of Prussia the King OF the Belgians gave
her a dress of this lace, worth $4,000.
Some exquisite specimens have been shown
in New York recently. A half-shawl was so
light that it could be drawn through
lingering. This web Is of the lghtness
of feather which. in its price, is too
heavy for our purses One set. consisting
Of seven yards of 1ouneing, seven yards of
narrower lace, a bertha handkerchief,
fan and parasol cover, was marked $4,000.
Most women who think they are buying
point gaze really get point gaze applique,
which Is almost as pretty. but has
macbine-made ground, and so comes
cheaper, though not too cheap. You may
be sure. q narrow scarf often costing 500.
SHOULD NEwsrArrR-woNEN MARRY?
And II so, should they marry newspaper
men? This is what the New York Women's
Press Club talked about at its last meeting.
II this be treason. make the most OF il.
Maybe was not meant to tell, but the eve
ming was interesting Nearly all the news
paper-women appeared 10 think that under
favorable circumstances they should mar
~, but "a to whether they should continue
TO be newspaper-women after marriage
opinions were divided.
Miss Elizabeth Bislsnd, who went around
the world for the Cosmopolitan, and who by
the way is even prettier than her pictures,
thought that the married woman should
cease to be the professional woman. To
her mind the chief good OF the opening OF
professional to women was that girls were no
longer obliged to marry for maintenance.