New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-29
HOME AND SOCIETY.
CHAT OF THE SEASON.


go oply the other day from the other side 81
~ s,l nv latest novelties from Paris displayed here
~ .to sbop windows; am even told that my best
" Y,osrh thought In my transatlantic Ignorance
=, ,he very last thing out. was quite oldfashioned
~, rs very model had been worn In thin stuhs
- I,s. summer at Newport and the othr watering
% 60. or course things are cheaper over there
~ one docs not have tO pay the duty there Is GER
'.nv that advantage; but in all other respects the
s,,sses made over here nre quite good II not
PETER '
-as-e IS house In Washington that Is said to be
x.,.tcs In this matter-otfact age, however, such
nation carries but little weight and the mansion
go i large and handsome. Is generally rented TO
- congressman or diplomat. The ever-changing
sonnetlon Of the Capital OF the Republic helps to
r...vsnt its reputation being generally known. 1t
- MT seem to be always under the fatal ban some
w.. years win eiapse before any thing happens to
.,vs the old tales. Then suddenly some dreadful
- wiz be enacted within Its walls that for time
an cause il to obtain unenviable notoriety, which
-..yallv dies away once new people and new
,..rsSts slpersede the old Within the recollec-
~, Of the writer however. three awful
.,,s have taken place In the old house. The first,
h,cb aid uueh to give II its undesirable reputation
.,,,o1ch there were ill-omened stones even before
ne, t,mel was a supposed but an unproven murder.
raj, has been foowedst long intervals 1t is true, but
.,uarentiy by some strange fatality-by the suicide
!, .o Of It's IesSees. After the hast terrible event.
seh was the mysterious and selfinhicted death OF
.o.es and brilliant dplomatst, nothing more was
80 Of any particularly disastrous nature connected
s,b the house for many years and II gradually be
ma ss comfortable and commonplace as It's neigh
Aoe, OF late wears, however new tale has set the
sotmers- talking again about the strange fatality
=, the house Several years ago the spacious dwelling
- taken by the second secretary of Legation Of one
=, the great European powers who, with his lovely
ana hch and charming wife, dispensed its hospitaliues
a, a way long 10 be remembered. All went well Tor
Az first year and then followed strange occurrences
One late afternoon in the winter of 1855 Nine.
A. Who II was averred knew nothing OF the
stories connected with the house, sat at the piano IN
10, dawing-rOOm softly playing In the twilight
us-nr The door opened behind her, she supposed 1t
GA the servant bringing lights, and for moment
rsnt on PLAYING. Feeling strong draught. however.
d hearing no sound she turned her head. and saw in
,hs doorway the tall figure Of a man looking at her
v.r7 axedly. As she moved, he closed the door ana
,.e vas alone Being supremely matter-of-fact. and
M ,mardning for q moment IL wss any one other than
,srs stranger waiting business in the hall, she
,r4sAd the room and opened the door. No one was
Are She found darkness there but nothing more"
n uronptly rang the bell. ordered lights, and asked
te footuan who had been let into the house, the
ssrvant declared positively that no one had entered
aDee madame herself had returned from her dinner
sBut saw him distinctly" she insisted. " he was
tau dark man and large plaid shawl with one
end flung over the shoulders; l noticed the shawl
particularly because it was so old she continued
tuning to her husband who had appeared OH the
scene.
av.ry likely some one came in and finding he had
mistaken the house went ont again." said NJ. de -
That would be impossible SIR" said the footman re
spectfuIlv the catch is down and the door cannot
Be opened from the street"
And so the matter ended-one Of those strange, in
comprehensive occurrences that cannot be explained
A month or two passed without any further annoy
ance from the ghost Nine. de - laaghlngy
persisted in calling her intangible visitor, when there
occurred one of those sudden valuations of delicious
spring weather so common in Washington In the early
DAYS Of March when the air became warm that the
windows left open the little iron balcony that
ran IN Southern fashion along the front Of the house
Again Nine. de- e. happened TO be alone In the draw
ing-roOm amusing herself with novel waiting for
few friends 70 come in for afternoon tea Feeling
suddenly the uncomfortable sensation of being watched
she looked up from her book and more distinctly
the mah-dark Southern face, plaid shawl
and sl-standlng on the balcony at the open French
window. As she looked he again disappeared
Thoroughly frightened at this second visitation she
rushed up to her husbands "den," and together they
explored the premises with the same unsatisfactory
among their circle and many and various were the
comments II was said that the description of the man
tailed with that Of one Of the former inmates BE that
as II may the saddest and trues part of the whole
story was that the beautiful and popular Nine. de
died within the year at Rome whittier they had been
sent after the expiration of her husbands term Of
service at Washington.
Cav colors are again coming to the fore. 1t was
rather noticeable at the recent horse show which may
reasonably be taken as criterion for the outdoor fash
ions for the coming season, that the strictly tailor
made gowns are not nearly much worn as last year
and that mady who was quite English. yOu know,
vwevemonth ago, exhibits decided inclination for
Frncb frvolities this winter. That the latter arc
= 50 becoming and the former very trying" seems
excuse enough for the change. Another reason may
be that in order TO keep up her distinction woman OF
society is obliged TO change, as whatever she naug
urstes becomes general in short time. II was quite
curious to notice in the panorama OF the vast rotunds
that the severely simple" fashions worn last year
By the four hundred had been adopted In much less
perfect style by ladies who supposed that they must
sacrifice their fnery to be correct" and who mo tha'
they might have kept their dearly beloved russ and
Fathers after all How few, by the way 20 to ooh
the horses at these wonderfully successful and in
tsreing exhibtons To see and be seen Is really the
z only incentive to most There were few genuine
horse lovers however-women who really studied tn
splendid creatures and who would not leave their scat
for fear o. missing ali exhibit, and who, with pehci
and catalogue. kept tally OF every winner and HI
points Those are sensible girls who are not coh1eh
70 de and drive their equine friends as II they wen
machines ike hobby horses, but show That ueS ar
ut TO be the owners of the noble brutes by their enthu
ae appreciation and careful study of their qualities
An effective picture, whether IT be pa1ntlne
sne BIT Of actual life, often photographs Itself OF
ny nihds memory and returns again ana again peIor'
We nhes eve with absolute distinctness OF detail
SAD Gentleman who, although a practical and sue
eessil Business MAIL has the taste Of an artist
called On Ms the other afternoon, and she receivec
ne sOwn Of some soft, shining stuff just the colo
WAR. which accorded wonderfully with her pale. pur
complexion; and the FURNISHED, metallic look OF hei
mar was repeated In the oriental bronze embroidery
her govn Inst ~ was admirng the artistic colorn
70 myself the servant brought in note that requires
az Immediate answer, and, begging my pardon SIT