Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-16


from this fashion is well, known. Not long
ago-it may be told now-a lady from Pitts
burg visited Washington and attended one
of the receptions given by the wife Of a
millionaire member of Congress from New
York The cream of the Capital was repre-
sented by the guests, and among them were
several members of the diplomatic corps.
One of these-his name is forgotten-was a
Spaniard, or an Italian, or some one OF the
darkest types of Southern beauty. The
lady, mistaking him for a waiter in his i'm
maculate evening apparel, gave him her Or
der for refreshments, and also requested
him to take a message for her, with half
dollar ready in her hand as tip.
HAD INsULTED ROYAL BLOOD,
The distinguished diplomat gazed at her
in speechless amazement. With consider
able fire in his eye he crossed the room and
sent real waiter to do her bidding When
her mistake was explained she replied:
"Well, how was to know that he belonged
to the nobility, when his countenance, his
dress and his bow indicated a waiter? I had
no inward monitor to notify me that blue
blood coursed through his veins, and that he
possessed whole gallery of distinguished
ancestors"
1t is altogether likely, if that foreigner
goes home and writes book upon Amer
lean Manners and Customs" the Pittsburg
woman will 60 down the grooves Of immor-
tality as sample of the ignorance of the
women of this country. She will very
Republic is going to destruction, like the
woman of melancholy mention by the pious
DR.. Christlieb, of Germany, after his
sisit to America. On giving his views
of the United States, he mournfully
expressed grave fears as to the future of
this nation because of the lack of the spirit
of Christ, as evinced in matters of prevail
ing social life. When urged to give his
grounds for his forbodings he made the
shocking statement that on several occasions
he had heard an American woman say to
her husband: ''Dear, will you bring me my
shawl"-and strange to say the husband
brought it. Moreover he had seen Ameri-
can wives seated-perhaps in the most
comfortable chair in the room-from which
they did not jump to give them to their
hus bands, nor did they fly to bring to them
their slippers This to his mind seemed to
show that women were not held in sufficient
subiection in this country, and that the
orthodox idea of their heaven-o ordained
inferiority was going out of fashion.
WHAT MEN
How picturesque men would look in what
is d1mly foreseen as the coming style for
their toggery may be Judged from the stage
when society of the ancient regime and the
last century is depicted. The silk coats,
brocaded waistcoats, velvet breeches and.
gorgeous shoe buckles may come back, and
the powdered wigs, cooked hats, lace rufdes
and snuff boxes be again brought in by the
whirligig of time. The rapidly growing
wealth of the country is bringing forward
fathers, who after the fashion of the nobility
of Europe, will give their undivided atten-
tion to dress and society.
George ", when youth of 10, had his
picture taken in the dress in which he made
his debut in the world of fashion. On this
occasion he wore pale pink silkscoat with
white cuffs; his waistcoat was of white silk
in colors and adorned with
protusion of paste diamonds His hat was
with two rows of steel beads,
5 900 in number, and cooked in military
style. He wore powdered wig, and high
neckerchief to his ears. At this time he
was set up by his father In a house of his
own. The 40 servants employed for him
and wear wigs. If not willing to conform
cost of the clothes of this Prince for one |
year is said to have been SIG, 900.
NOTHING BUT CLOTHES
Thackeray, in one Of his lectures, said
hat in examining the records of this |
Georges life, he could see nothing but |
clothes. When, in taking him to pieces, to |
ind out what manner of man he was, he |
'ound little save silk stockings, velvet coats |
md breeches, stays, padding, blue ribbons |
md stars, sets of teeth, undercoats, with fur |
collars, and then-nothing. A booksellers |
,lerk or poor devil of an author had to be |
hired to take charge of his writing, to see to
lis spelling, to clear up slovenly sentences,
md give the lax maudlin slip-slop of his
etters and papers sort of consistency. He
vas all padding and clothes
This was rather hard upon the royal |
George who "strucS the town" and carried
III before him as the leader of fashion for
men for almos. half century. The pursuit
# pleasure and the study of dress consti-
uted his daily toll, and his example was
ollowed by the mobiles and gentry to such
n extent as to make the London of his time
ne of the gayest cities in the world In
hose days it was the fashion for the society
eporters to describe the dress of the men,
nd if the picturesque costumes now talked
f, come into vogue this feature may be re-
tored to the news of the day. In history
# the times an account of ball at st.
ames is given. which tells that the King
7ore velvet embroidered with gold; the
'rince of Wales wore a suit of blush tint,
embroidered with pearls and ttfoil stones"
he Marquis of Graham appeared in car
lelite colored velvet decorated with bril-
liant "stone clusters"
DRESSING ON ELEVEN DOLLARS A DAY.
In the days when George was regent he
nd ''Beau Brummel" were not only lead
rs of the fashion, but were intimate friends.
hey put their heads together and their in
pirations as to dress were the triumphs of
be time. Brummel, it is told, thought that
nth strict economy man might dress de-
emily on s., 900 year. One of the fash
ons in their day for men was to collect
nuff boxes. Brummel had great number
costly, jeweled, enameled and miniature
ainted boxes that were famous the country
yer. When George ". died he left
collection of 500 pocketbooks, and his snuff
oxes were estimated to be worth e9, 00O
r S45, 900.
What men may expect to get round to,
such fashions should come up again, is
by De Kannitz, the Austrian
ambassador to Paris in the days of Louis
~. He had the reputation of being
lost able diplomatist, and was the head of
be most important of European embassies
n his time. But with all his ability to
erve his country, he was as much occupied
nth the cares of the toilet, with the
reservation Of the smoothness of his COM
lexion, the delicate whiteness of his hands,
S any grand dame of the court While in
'aris he was invited to hunt with the King.