New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-09
LENTEN DIVERSIONS.
WHAT SOCIETY DOES WITH ITSELF
VARIOUS METHODS or AMUSING ONES SELF

I
\ rsiher clo-c inquiry into this subject would scom
10 demonstrate that there j. truth than wit in the
quotation. For many successive years III New YORK
the true significance Of Lent seems to have grown
and mere obscure until at the present time sack
cloth and ashe- fasting and humilaton If not alto
gcthcr lost sight of. looked upon as traditions to
be cherished in the church. cvcrcd in the home
respected by all. but to be observed In outward form
not at all. society pays her tribute TO Lent 10y
sacrificing dancing from Ash Wednesday 10 Easter
but she find, compensation for it In divers ways
During the first seven days Of the Lcncn season
society rests. Feet tired from tripping lightly ana
gracefully but ever constantly over waNcd ana
shining floors now have "a sorcy needed opportunity
TO rest Eyes grown weak. weary and dull from the
glitter Of brilliant festive scenes become strong again
and regain their wontcd lu>tr. Compilations made
sallow hv the designations Of many nights once more
take OH the clcamc>s and the bloom Of health
For the first SUNDAY or two the avenues leading to
places Of worship more crowded with
pedestrians than at other times; there
are Of thc last seasons
dchutantc- to be their way to church. prayer
look in hand and eye cast dcnurcly down. and the
services are all more generally attended than usual
but with these superficial signs socicty's observance
of Lent in ecclesiastical form ends. After a week
or wo Of re. society yawns. stretches just little
lit and then wonders why on earth something doesn't
happen. From that moment society seeks and finds
All the diversion She wants.
Of late year, II has been the custom Of great
many Americans 10 -pcnd the sprng months incnd
the Lcntcn period in Europe. In Pari, the spring
sea- son is six weeks or more earlier than in New
York. and while March and April are intensely dis
agreeable here they are among the most charming
months Of the wear In the gay French capital In
italy, too. April and Nav bring delightful weather. and
each succeeding spring find, more Americans In Rome
than formerly. Already many prominent New York
familic, have gone abroad. ana others Will depart
\.ttf lgin no, mum
Der, remaining greatly exceed those who - away
and the stay ~ home, have reason to fear an al
tack Of cnnu after the first week Of Lent has passed
GIVING DINNERS POPULAR
The custom Of giving dinner parties seems to prevail
more generally lu.i now than ever before IN Lent
Ia Tact. IT nny De- questioned whether 1t would not he
VOL 10 establish another hi.f Interval Just following
D., fer duru. which overturned eionachs and digestive
organ. miclt ind q much nccd'd rest. Almost every
one Who can afford t" a., $40 gives sefie, 81 I'nten
dinners and o. a general thing too. they are e'ah"
r.i. Affairs The sule of these feast. seem, to Ice T."
have present from twenty to t@cniy four guests.
evenly divided 3D.. - ..N The dinner 81 course. docs
not oocns l 81 the time. and the rest 81 the evening
b. devoted % more cor le,, hcrTdcilns games Inc
older people play whist. and the younger ones ma
.n4- corners where they can discus TIE latest novel;
ard iu,a.atilf n'ri and court. Thee quiet dinner
.,i.c 30 B.. aid result boo great many marriage en-
..ai..t and fh., seems to De borne ont hy the fact
chat 3D. -icatei number of haru, are announced during
.r ll-t after Icnt than 40 any other season. such
dinner, o.. these are more or les Informal bnt There
' t.t., ..o, ,.hcs have Phi, mart
''''' ell" To- '. 49,, - ,.,,, a.
" ''''
/, ha, been said that society doe, not dance during
Lent society herself - authority for this as-crtion'
i.tt o,,i.lonllly nno hear. Of drawing room h'"r
D..u- covered vitn c.n..a-. carpet. and of a f."
t1gpl', Ju.i iinit iuin "i W." ""'" '"' ''''''
i., ,,.r,I., ,o4 t..,, of course, only a piano D.
, .i... f.. .,,.. ,t,- ip oyer, c,upaly
",'''' anu '''''' ..,,. .'t ,,.,.,... ,r'. 80
"ho o'n ilr 500 d'Nihii"iy. SN'" "'"''' are ''
,lr,. entirety ln piDmptI. and society finds no harm
,u th.a enc,lilr a, the guests have come TO dine.
MOI /. a,nle. Besides. the curtain, axe all drawn.
ina nobody know ANYTHING about i.
oic 81 rc most popular divci-ion' II the L'ntcn
season d.. io Dee i,uld ~ the liine 'lnh at lliiY-
DrAi. ~. ana Madison ave. Almost every body likes
to.f.dr. hu: o,cr,hod vAo roc. 10 the hifn- club
doe, not ildc. There arc To- D." found there every
afternoon and evening manY fonng people 81 hoih
-.,.. Who ~, to- iolD ol, and "ip have never Yet
tilcH % mount Perhaps hundred riders, however
tc tucr exercise there once every day. orchestral
music De- fnfr. ,et afternoon, and evenings, and gen
.ll, .t night there. arc enough riders to form drill
fh,.. t... e.H.fiIl, led o., Dr. Thomas one OF the
. .fl,t ...s a,,..a,i rider. of the club \
til. dhote dun's D., served 80 thc club every Friday
ior thc nncciat. pu,c 90 - plate. of course, tho
,.t.... f.. .f. fI. extra the
- .tn ,, ,i
''P" '' -i'N "' '"' ".'''''' -" ''"'' "' ''N
dinner. served 10 CARTE, ana th'f are H''N
,..t.....,., 4, . .ni. ,..m ltf, 10 seventy i've /
.. .,.....'.. a.,
'""I'' Ni' "' 'H' '''' ''''' "'f'
When ilr Wclll'f b. hur Large ia.i'' go ON I"i |
.t.n. IDA ihe I,f. 100 - afternoon, 10 return Tor
..t.....,.. q .h.... ii, l..
'''i'''' '''' '''' "'''' ''
participate lu tine evening drill. Inr .cr'cr at tho /
l.,f.- ,f.t ... az M ,..,.t ,i.,,.iu. feature. \ /
,.f..., r - fla, !
-i'i'' army 81 "'IiN''. d. '"i'''''' az - NV I
servant i,u- tfl'l 800 An'',iuoD hcir, -llh noe am"
-Aocr NliI .Ilt'f tome n'. IT D. lnli' lh' lAih- 10
trinl- {, tAr Itdr- 'lnu, ana MANS ipiN h"''' arc /
-prft irl- dunn tent. and NOT dl! oi them are DE-
voted o. IdI.- Ilrir There other quiet nook, |
'olr4.. and already there are iunlr' "i engage
n.uf- Dbl ans N'i Goo hc announced az result 81 thc
l.,..... ,rl.ii,. ,.f iic member 81 the ,lub.
ann, a.,,f. ,rt.f. ,rf.rfrrlp
+''' '"' '''''
In other ,cir- u wI. con aDG,d the proper thing