Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-08

Wash your own china, ladies' That is the
very latest fashionable mandate from over the
ocean. Don't think for a moment though
that it is necessary, in order to obey the com
mand, to don generous sized kitchen apron
and simultaneously with the china make your
exit from the dining room, and remain in
proximity with the delicate ware until it is
ready to return to its place in the closet
NO, indeed. China cleansing under such cir
cumstances and with such environments would
never make successful debut in polite So
clety, as 1t has already done with its many mod
ihcanons. The fad comes from Germany, and
on account of its novelty and commendable
features is receiving almost as much attention
at the hands Of society leaders as if it had a
title.
Ny attention was called to it in South Park,
that charming little suburb Of Chicago, whose
claim to aristocracy Is only exceeded by ex-
elusive Kenwood or excruciatingly proper
Evanston, or "Heavenston," as its residents
fondly call it. Several luncheons have been
given there by recently returned tourists at
which not only the hostess and her assistants
united in cleansing the pretty ware with which
they had been served, but each lady of the
party was invited to handle the tea towels.
And such tea towels as are used in the
Observation-Disclosures knotted, fringed
beauues-that excite pity as well as admiration
when their shimmering satin damask surface is
lovely but still dripping china, but that is one
of the cOmmendable features hitherto referred
to,as the hostess is thus allowed an opportunity
of displaying any amount of her pretty linen;
and the aprons worn by the ladies and furnished
by the hostess are the daintiest little creations
imaginable-another commendable feature-as
the possessor of aprons that are perfect
loves" is thus given the most excellent oppor-
tunity of proclaiming herself an apron queen.
SEs
Provided with aprons and tea towels the
ladies-men are never included in q luncheon
or tea where china cleaning is to be the sequel
gather round an exquisite solid brass rack.
which is placed in one corner of the dining
room, and upon which the aprons and towels
have reposed during the luncheon or tea
Solid silver vessels filled with moderately warm
water are then placed upon the rack whose
grooved rubber covering forms perfectly safe
place to drain the Dresden or doulton after it
has been tenderly and carefully baptized in the
waters by the hostess.
After which the pretty towels and the pref
tier ladies dry the different pieces. and they
are placed in the CHINA closet without once
passing through the hands Uf servants thus
preventing said servants from gratifying their
acknowledged penchant for "crushed china"
and prolonging the life of this exquisite cup
and saucer or that adorable plate, which is the
most commendable feature of the importa-
ton.
Beside looking after their china on state
occasions Chicago society is riding the safety;
in fact. the popular boulevards are perpetual
motion. as the wheels of every variety 60
spinning along carrying the youth. beauty and
wealth of the city. And the costumes worn by
the riders wonderfully beautiful, severely
plain. gorgeously fantastic and charmingly
simple. in every conceivable color and texture.
The riders blondes, bTunettes, large,
small graceful awkward. experts and novlees,
some of them bearing the scars of their anna
teurishness upon their noses or foreheads,
which court plaster does not entirely screen
from view, but which apparently does not in
tertere in any way with the enjoyment of the
results of their earliest efforts.
And the fair riders as well as those of the
sterner sex utiizes their wheels as a method of
locomotion in viewing all the unoccupied real
estate in and surrounding the city, in which
they invest their spare cash with the sanguine
expectation that it will be doubled and trebled
by the Worlds Fair boom that has already so
thoroughly aroused spectators all over the
city and succeeded in making real estate
cranks out of so many people, and among them
some ladies who have opened real estate offices
and are building castles of vast magnitude
upon the expected returns of their business.
-
The Worlds Fair, considering it does not
materialize (if even in Chicago) until '93 be-
comes really monotonous as continued topic
of conversation, and one really longs to view
some spot that has not been decorated with
pictures or lettering regarding II. or meet some
person of Rip Van Wrinkle tendencies that will
not assail you with accounts of the proposed
splendor or retail some remarkable property |
transfer hat netted 100 per cent all on account
The parks even, in their decorations bespeak |
the triumph over New York and vast worlds |
composed of the plant variety known as "hen |
and chickens" boom up from magnificent floral |
supports and in brilliant flowers announce
"World's Fair 49," You, who are making
your calculations to CO. however, and spend a
few weeks with some dearly loved friend dur
ing the time of the celebration, be sure that
the dearly loved friend is longing for yoar CON-
ing and has not done as so many are doing in
anticipation of the influx of their loved friends
broken up housekeeping and engaged rooms
and board
Indeed such is a fact and to far-seeing in
dividual it Is very wise proceeding for people
who have an extended acquaintance through
out the country, as it leaves them priviledged
to entertain those whom they especially desire
to have with them without compelling them to
keep hotel for the benefit of their numerous
AGO uairtances. AS one dear little lady said to
me: You see have folding bed and one
guest room in our suite of apartments, and l
Will be able to have my most intimate friends
with me. but will not have accommodations for
the many whose society would make the season
a very wearisome one for me-"
THoRNE BRANCH.