Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-21

N5HEO0l e.
Rubber boots! We have all been wearing
them this week, or if we haven't, we should
have been, providing we ventured ont in the
streets, for the walking has been such that
"to express a private opinion in public" as
one prominent, pious gentleman remarked,
would hardly be advisable" But, wretched
as it has been, the ladies have not permitted
1t to interfere with their plans to any great
degree. They couldn't, you see, for it was
the week before Christmas, and where Is
there q woman so wise and provident that
she is not at the very last moment head over
heels in the Christmas present perplexity?
The shopping must be attended to, the
decorations and the tree must be ordered,
the caterer must be seen; consequently,
the rubber boots came into requistion, and
TO a larger extent than was ever before
known in the city, according 10 fashion
able shoe merchant, whose place of business
was besieged with purchasers until the stock
was reduced to but several pairs of a size re-
quired only by Chicago damsels. But even
I
length sdvisedly) taken in perfect despera-
tion by ladies who needs must have rubber
boots, for the wholesalers could no longer
come to the rescue of the retailers.
Reign of the Macintosh.
With feet warm and dry, and the COM
Portable assurance that they would remain
nd
sibly macintosh, the weather had no ter
rors, and its threats OF rheumatism, neural
gia, cold in the head, and sore throat could
be treated with contempt. Though the
ladies DO not take nearly as kindly to the
macintosh as the gentlemen do, yet it is
rapidly coming into favor and is being
adopted quite largely, especially the Eng
lish fashion, with ulster and cape made of
pretty plaids. This is exceedingly stylish,
and when donned gives one a substantial,
weli-cared-for look, as well as a chic ap-
pearance greatly to be desired.
Marie Stone paid Piusburg modiste skill
quite a compliment when the company was
at the Duquesne recently bv leaving an
order at Fifth avenue emporium for two
gowns that, when finished last week, were
marvelously beautiful. One was a bridal
gown made of crepe du chene over a stiff
around the edge with seven graduated rows
of silver braid. 1t was made deni-train,
and the corsage was cut with a deep V both
front and back, finished with pearl pendants
The sleeves were a network of pearls. and
marguerite pocket of the same was sus-
pended from the waist on the right side. where
the drapery was caught up to display the petit
coat. 1t was simply dazzling in its beauty and
when worn by the fair Marie will be much more
dazzling.
The Other gown was of salmon pink crepe du
chene, trimmed with black velvet ribbon and
worn over the white peJticoat of the bridal
gown, for in the opera she has but one minute
an a half to change her costume. The bodice
was square in front and in the back, with the
dTaDery caught up on it. The drapery was also
caught high up on the left side and fastened
with an immense cabbage bow Of the velvet
ribbon. The effect bcwitching.
Other pretty gowns be worn by Pittsburg
bellies at the coming Subscription dance. Christ
mas evening, and on various festive occasions
we're seen. admired and wished for, particularly
one of garnet to be worn over black velvet
skirt by dashing little brunette from the East
End.
Tie College Folk at Home.
The college boys and girls are all coming
home for the holidays. as there is no football
match to take them to New York. and homes
comparatively quiet and sedate for the past
four months VIII hardly recognize themselves
in their iOility ana possible nOisiness. Numer-
Gus parties tor these transient mirthmakers
are or the tapis, and. what with the two big
Coming-out balls ana a host of minor enter
tainments We Will have no end of gayety for the
next two weeks. And the prospects are it will
be continued on until Lent for the assem- plies
at the Pittsburg Club follow closely the New
Year, and also at the Linden Club invitations
for the latter having Just been issued, with
names as patrnnesSes that insure success. Some
very stylish weddings are to take place early in
the new year. also, though IN one instance, it is
something OF aisurprise to the bride-elect con-
hded 70 me not more tnan two months ago,
THAT the engagement was. but the wedding
wasn't to be for the longest, longest time" and
the way She shook her head over The concluding
part of the sentence argued that a whole eter-
nifty would in all probability elapse before the
union. But the groum-to-be evidently didn't
care TO take his chances on happiness far re-
moved, and consequently he will lead the little
rebel to The altar i'll February.
An innovation in the social realm that has
aroused considerable comment was noticed at
an afternoon reception gwen not so very long
a-n. The hOste-s, an exceedingly wealthy
woman and possessed of an endless array of
costly and beautiful Jewels concluded to allow
her guests the privilege of feasting their eyes
upon them. She accordingly burdened the
dressing case in her room with the elegant
cases containing the sparkling stones and
placed placard above the exhibit bearing the
inscription Visitors will please not handle"
1t is a question whether the innovation will be
accepted or not by socie;y y ladies.
Mr.. Carnegies Gift to the Cathedral.
ments for holiday entertainments of some kind,
and all of them for decorations of one sort or
another. The Cathedral has received in time
for Christmas, and it might he called Christ
mas gift, the magnificent frame that Andrew
Carnegie had made in Dresden, Germany, Tor
Raphaefs Madonna di San Listo' that he pre-
sented TO the Cathedral some time ago. l
dropped in the Cathedral one day last week
after the picture had received its new frame
and was agreeably surprised at the result. The
frame, as Mr.. Carnegie doubtless intended it
Should, screens entirely the window of colored
glass against which the painting is placed ard
shuts out the conflicting rays of light that were
Sucn detTlment 10 the picture, but for which
no remedy seemed at hand, as the Cathedral
offered no better place for the picture. The
frame is of golden effect exceeding beautiful
10 correspond with the value of the painting
and was made in Dresden, where the original
Madonna hangs in the gallery.
BY the way, what strong woman's rights
picture the Madonna isl Raphael desired to
convey the impression that woman at least was
worthy the alteration of not only men and wo-
men, as shown by the figures of St. SiXtus a
martyred Pope, and St. Barbara, a virgin mar
tyr, that appear at the right and the left of the
Madonna but also OF the angels as is shown
by the dear little faces looking up from below.
Women of Finance.
With one woman bestowing IS, OO0. 900 upon a
religious order of women and another one re-
ceIving nearly Sl,OOO,OUO by the bequest of a
relative, right here In Pittsburg, who says
women are not bound to be fnanciers2
The proper study of mankind is man. and the
proper study of womanklnd is woman also: and
there isn't a man III the city who has more of
an opportunity to graduate in that study than
Mr. Bird the ianirOF a Old CITY Hall Rird