The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-21
FADS AND F0LLIES.
aoMs OF TEE THINGS WHICH IN
TERsSr THE FAIR Sax.

interesting Things About Hats-A
Few Cosby Stories-The Discussion
about Short Skirts and Long
skirts-Glasses for the Dressing
Table,
"Soft-shell Madge" is not the soubriuuet
ia Hester street belle, says Clara Belle in the
psnublic. The yotng lady rejoicing in this
a,mewhat startling title lives close to Cen
.-sI mark, New York, and is one of the bold
Ioauties that have struggled for the past
Cow seasons to retain for Narragansett Pier
t.s old reputation as an elysium for the skirt
,.,s bather. Soft-sheu Madge is lovely but
t-svoIous. She boasts that she has a record
tor ak cotillions in one week, and fancies she
nos irresistibly funny when she asked the
minister, who had called to discuss her
.rritual welfare, if he wouldn't allow
har 70 mix a brandy cocktail for him.
uor name is new, but it will doubtless
,lino to her for years to come. 1t was
roined in q peculiar manner. Madge had
ssooIlv assured group Of friends at one of
4 40 Clarenont teas that she could eat
.oora sofU-shel crabs than any one she ever
saw A stout and lusty youth guaranteed
- once TO eat match with her and beat
her ont of sight. Madge whipped out a
Hank check, called for pen and ink, and
when it was procured, filled in the check
for $50
ubo had Questioned the capacity of her APP
,atite laid will meet you one week from
The match was made without more ado.
II was agreed that it should be eaten at q
hotel on the Jersey shore. where the crabs
we're known to be the best. and the cooking
was of high order of excellence.
q At the set time a jolly party Of young
neonle met at house on Fifth avenue, aud
Went in carriages to the Sandy Hook boat
The hotel was reached In good time, and, as
1 Me mart, was expected, dinner was not
4 iong IN Forthcoming. ALI but the two con-
\ testants ate of varied repast, but the lat
\ ter confined themselves exclusively to a
4 broe platter of the succulent crab. Now
1 III sott-shell type Of the crab tribe is ex-
i needing!y gratifying to the epicurean
reste but it cannot be devoured with the
1 froeioIn OF confidence that beef or mutton
may. 1t is more delicate than the baked
bean, hut it is far more treacherous. Madge
did not realize this apparently, for she res
gardsd The large collation. before her with
some contempt, and remarked that great
many more crabs would have to be
/ cooked at once if it was intended
that she should have her fill.
Ear opponent said nothing. Madge
4 called Tor champagne, the stout young man
for bottle of ale. Then the match began
in brisk fashion. There could be no doubt
that Madge was fond of crabs, for while she
ale she smiled and smacked her lips, and
{begged that more should be ordered. After
fifteen minutes had elapsed, however, she
ce,sed to smile, and asked for additional
Iwine.. The young man, who had been eat
Ling more slowly, had not yet finished a
Single glass of ale, but his complexion was
better tnan the girls She was a little pale.
4 fresh dish of crabs arrived, aud Madge
<sghed heavily. She helped herself to three
Islail ones and started iu, but on the second
Iot them she began to cry. Immediately the
arms of her girl friends went about her, and
she was implored to say what the matter
iTss
Nothing" she whispered; "only take me
3away-anyw bere-at once"
She was quickly removed, while the stout
1yOuDg man kept on eating.
Leave the umpire here" he called out,
Ma oil were about to desert him." Pm not
through ct, and I don't want any dispute
4 about tue match"
The umpire remained, and when Madge,
WHO was better soon, returned to the table,
she was informed that she had lost her
money, she having demolished but thirteen
crabs to her opponents seventeen.
why, Madge, you couldn't beat me,
said the young man. 'L've been In train
Ing ever since Sunday"
We'll haven't | tool" said Madge. I've
eaten crabs every day and yesterday put
away fourteen. Something is wrong with
NE this afternoon"
Aud that is why she is called "Soft>shell
lladge." Even the youth that vanquished
her acknowledges that she had a remark
able stomach, aud is OF the opinion that she
might have won the match had her train
Jig been conducted differently.
Short skirts or long, says the New Yors
Recorder, is becoming a very interesting
9-estion. 1t hangs in the balance; winch
way will the verdict incllnes There are
those who say the sweeping we have done
Tor six months with our petticoats Is
s nothing when weighed againft the more
thorough going sweeping we shall yet DO
there are also those who assert that trocks
Ere to have circles cut from about them
until they show not only ankles but some
thing more. The first opinion seems baseo
On pessimism born of knowledge OF the
total depravity of fashion. and the second
80 far as it has been Investigated
nothing more than a deduction
more or less intelligent, from the fact thai
white stockings and strap shoes are to some
extent coming in." That it is impossible
70 keep light-colored stockings clean When
Ine petticoats drag on the pavement and
NICK the dust up over them, or wheu the
skirts are held up and flap against the legs
az every step, is evident enough to the
meanest capacity; but why it should be
supposed that a sex which soils light
coiored trockS and petticoats with perfect
8quanimity every time it steps out of doors
Will stick at so small a matter as stockings
Aas yet to be explained.
A great deal of silk muslin is seen in the
summer dresses, printed with tiny bouquets.
chot silks have beel welcomed back with
enthusiasm, and figured shot silks are re-
celved with open arms. A green and black
Shot grenadine, arranged for afternoon
wear, was noted few days ago. 1t had q
round shirt laid in folds at the sides, the
paftern producing a somewhat confus-
ing effect of waves. The short jacket
Oodlce opened over vest of soft green silk
With black gauze flchu at the throat and
ong narrow black velvet ribbons hanging
early to the bottom of the skirt, but find
ag more or less legitimate terminus in
utterly bows at the head of black Lace
ounce crossing the front breadth of the
uraperles. The costume had its appropri-
1'e accompaniments in a black lace bonnet
VITA foliage trimmings and narrow blacl
elVet strings. 1t was an excellent type OF
summer fashions in town.
among country costumes pink and gray
elaine is equally characteristic. In front
opens over gray silk petticoat trimmed
i NJ