Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-11
LIKE PRISONS DARK.
Impression One Gets From the Out
side Of New York's Rich Homes.
NEWSPAPER WOMEN AS BRIDES.
How Trihing Mannerisms Are Copied by
the Bellies of Society.
TRAINED NURSES IN THE SICK ROOM
WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPArCH.I

WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPArCH.l
Persons visiting New York for the first
time and walking through the quarter of its
fashionable residences are struck with the
impassive fronts it presents. One might
linger the day through in front of the home
of any one of the city's very wealthy per-
sons without catching glimpse of the
magnificent life which goes on behind the
stone walls. The two Vanderbilt mansions,
which are Joined by a common and spacious
hallway or vestibule, occupy awhole block on
Fifth avenue, have some windows for light
and air, but not for the display of any
beautiful draperies or glimpses into any
luxurious interiors. The Tiffany mansion,
enormous and somber, has been Hkened to
an armory or a prison from its unbroken
walls, yet the portals once passed, within
light, brilliancy and beauty abound.
The finest houses are imposing from the
outside view, from their size and splendor
known to be concealed. Less pretentious
though still handsome residences on the
side streets show occasionally handsome
window garden, q choice bit of marble or a
sweep of beautiful lace-the palaces rarely,
if ever.
Just before Miss Carrie Astor became
Mrs Orme Wilson three or four years ago
the Astor mansion blossomed out from Gel
lar to garret with pane curtains of bridal
white. Every separate window OF the big
houses frontage on the streets showed the
sheer muslin, tied back with white ribbons
close to the pane. A week after the we'd
ding they had vanished, leaving only the
nc oil oh
sion to the outside public as unexpected as
it was pretty and suitable.
Of the three brides of the month in whom
the newspaper world takes especial interest
it is probable that only one of them--she
who was Miss Bisland a few days ago-is
wholly lost to journalism. Wife, as she is
now, of man of wealth and position, who
is also member of half a dozen fashion
able clubs, mistress of beautiful city and
country home, and with her own birthright
of rare beauty and exceptional personal at
fractions, Mrs. Charles W. Wetmore, nee
Bisland, can hardly escape O prominent
place IN New York society if not actual
leadership. Miss Helen Watterson, the
brilliant author of the "Woman About
Town" column in the Evening Sun, Is now
the wife of well-known newspaper man
one of the editorial staff of the Recorder
and with her heart thus still In the work
will in few days again become actively
identified with it in assuming the duties of
an important editorial position, accepted
some time ago.
Mrs. Frank Leslie would find it very diff
fcult to resign, as suddenly as she has mar
ried, the numerous publication and editor
ial responsibilities of which she is the
center. Her prompt aVowal, therefore,
that she has no intention of SO doing, that
instead her new husband, the talented
London journalist. will at once become as
sociated with her in her various enterprises,
finds ready credence.
Something of a novelty in the way of bed
room furnishings are the bureaus and dress
ing tables with brass mounted mirrors.
These look best where the table or chest of
drawers is of rich dark polished wood like
cherry or mahogany, but they are shown az
well combined with the white maple and
even white enamel articles The frame and
all the fittings above the slab are of polished
brass, decidedly elegant and effective.
%
1t is little curious to know how trifiing |
mannerisms obtain among the initiated. |
There is a certain Freemasonry among swell |
young women which carries subtle and un-
nistakable knowledge. The way she carries
her hands, for example, when they are un-
yloved tells the knowing ones good deal.
A couple of years ago when the bell-shaped
sleeves Were much in vogue, all fashionable
girls let enc hand creep gently up the wrlst
If the otner-it was really amusing to mark
low universal this practice was. Following
his came the absolute reDose period, which
merged into Delsartean relaxation. During
zach of the epochs the girls held their hands
oosely in their laps when seated, or let
hem hang with more and more limpness
Is one period passed into the other. 1t is
till the fashion among the best informed
o indulge in very little movement with
he hands. Fussing with chatelaine attach
nents, rushing vinaigrette up to ones
lose, lingering fan, or twink1ing ones |
ings-all these are tabooed by girls in the
win.
1t is odd how these practices come about.
reigning belle usually is responsible for |
hem. Some trick of manner, unconscious
II premeditated which in her is wonder
ully fetching is straightway copied by her
ntimates and rapidly spreads far beyond
be original circles. Two or three winters
go one of the seasons beauties had q pretty
aSnlOn Oh spreading out ner nanQkercn1efS,
rawing them through her fingers and look
1g down at the process. In a month all
er set had caught it, and for weeks all
"buds" and "roses'' were
,udying cambric necessarily. Then So
ietY woman of consequence thrust
er handkerchief in her coat sleeve in ,
eu of pocket or corsage; another turned
ne hand of her Bernhardt glove back into
ne loose wrist at restaurant table rather
ian draw it off entirely, and a third, fresh ! !
ON London, wrote "town' on her city | t
notion being quickly and uni /
srsally copied. Florists say that society
aders often set the fashion in flowers for I
entire season by appearing once or twice T
the same blossoms 1t is true, at least, v
at no flock of sheep ever followed the bell T
ether more blindly and loyalty than does f
e world of fashion, its accepted leaders. {