The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-04-26
GOSSIP OF THE GIRLS.
Alice Confides to Dear Louise the
Goings On in Washington.

My DEAR LOUISE; The June-like weather
of the past week has turned our thoughts to
"the spot where sand and seaweed are" and
fortunately, or unfortunately as one
views 1.-THE only drawback to big hegra
is the awe-inspiring dressmaker The fash
ionable establishments are all agog with the
energetic fabrication Of watering-pace trous-
seaus These, of course, are for the contin-
gent going on a regular summer campaign to
the fashionable resorts. There are so many
ways Of taking the annual vacation, for the
summer rest is, as a rule, entirely governed
by the size of the purse.
! heard a funny story Of a practical,
economical young man inveigling friend
into sort Of camping-out expedition
last summer They went to the sea-
shore and took cheap lodgings. The
cravings OF hunger were to be appeased
when felt, no regular times for meals, and the
practical man was to look after supplies.
After the first day or two meat and bread were
unknown to the two health and pleasure
seekers. Beer and crackers were always
handy for breakfast: olives and sardnes for
lunch and dinner, washed down with beer
never anything so commonplace as meat and
vegetables. Had / remained another week
with my FRIEND" said the narrator, 'there
would have been an inquest in those rooms"
My friends relation of his experience last
summer came very apropos, for / had just
read such fascinating account of how three
or four girls got together and organized
summer picnic, lasting month, during which
time the psngs Of hunger were assuaged in
the most delightfully."- simple manner by plain
food cooked on an oil pocket cooking stove,
set on lovely little table in the bower rented
by the girls, which was a large, airy chamber
in picturesquely dilapidated cottage. Each
partner in the concern took her turn at cook
ing for the rest and washing dishes, the
other chores being regularly assigned and
cheerfully performed. Then the girls had
not allowed themselves to be overburdened
with luggage. The travelling dress served for
an outing one, and when the picnickers
wished to indulge in afternoon or evening
gayety slight changes in one standby gown
was all that was required for variety. i'm
agine those gowns must have been made on
the principle of double-faced goods, no right
OF wrong side, SO they could be worn wrong
side out for change. The time is at hand
for these fairy stories of cheap combination
summer outings, which must be about as de-
lightful and restful as the light-housekeeping
scheme in two rooms.
You know what an inquisitve, incredulous
individual your correspondent is. Well, de-
murely asked Leila M the other day where
she was going for the summer. Iconfess that
had already seen notice of her intended
trip across the water, where she would take
part in the delights of the London season.
Now, little bird had told me, quite in conf
dence, that our beautiful friend, ''whose face
is her fortune" should papa suddenly mount
'the golden stairs" devotes her summers to
the preservation of her beauty. Europe is
good place to get lost in, and after due an
nouncement on this side that London or Paris
is the objective point, our fair friend and her
mamma quietly slip over the water and go to
little hamlet in the Hartz Mountains, where
Tor season OF six weeks or two months
the beauty lies fallow. One gets recon-
ciled to monotony. especially when there
is the motive of beauty preservation, and our
friend leads the sleepiest of indoor or out
door life, just as the weather permits, giving
her whole body period of complete rest. At
the end of this time of retirement all traces of
the wear and tear of the previous season are
removed and our beauty returns to the fray
in the strength and freshness of ever-blooming
youth. A week or so in Paris and u short
stay in London to get posted in the latest
fashions and fads, land mamma and daughter are
again ready to head the list of fashion and
beauty in this city.
At the weddings of the week the brides have
nearly all worn the only appropriate color
for young girl-white. The pure white
gown. tulle veil, and orange blossoms are the
girls privileged adornments only once in
lifetime, and the brides should not forego
these colors In the interest of economy.
From a funny little incident witnessed on
street-car would advise the drivers to pro-
tect their backs with armor of some sort. An
elderly sort of girl, well set up in new spring
costume, boarded an open car and settled her
self in front seat. She apparently fell into a
revery, and, suddenly rousng up, found herself
possibly beyond where she wanted to get off,
Swift as an arrow she sent the sharp point of
her parasol into the unconscious drivers
back, and with such force as almost to para
lyze him. When he found out what was
wanted Of him he let his assailant off the
car as quickly as possible. The whole thing
caused ripple of laughter to float from the
passengers, which was answered by defiant
look from the irate woman as she walked over
to the sidewalk. A man standing on the plat
form performed the good Samaritan's part in
rubbing the drivers back for the distance of
couple of squares. And he had the sym
pathy of several Others in the car beside that
OF your friend ALICE.