The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-05-06
LIFE In THE METROPOLIS.
WHAT "eAe" SEES IN THE STREETS.
The Modern Woman on whoels-CarrIages
OF the Vanderbnts-In Central Park
New York's New Farce-The Man
Who Is a Cad.


a carriage was gladly welcomed by
woman--when to drive in buggy, to sit
high up on a dog cart, to be low in a
phaeton, to be shut up tightin brougham,
or to feel ike a small pea in large pod in
an enormous landau gratified every de-
sire, But, bless you, that won't do now
adays.
Madame now sits at home and pouts on
a clear, sunshiny day, and will not 90 out
in her victoria because it is swung too
low and hasn't the necessary thirty-two
springs which makes driving so easy that
it seems like being rocked in a cradle.
She declines to drive out on rainy day
because her brougham is too high, the
windows too large and the color dull
green, instead of the favorite bright blue.
She prefers to walk rather than 20 in an
old-fashioned equipage. The fashionable
victoria is high, broad. with a number of
springs and should have pair of horses
that contrast in color, gray and bay
being given the preference. No chains
must jingle, but the harness must glitter
from the amount of elbow grease given it
and the horses must look as if they had
satin skins. The gloves OF the coachman
and footman must be carefully pipe
clayed, but they must so thoroughly
understand how to mix vinegar with the
white that it does not rub off on the car
riage rugs or on the sleeves OF my lady's
coat, ii she should need to be helped cut.
The smart brougham is of rather light
blue, swung low, shaped like sedan
chair, and should have four panes of glass
windows. i wonder if you know what the
Bullying out at the back means? 1t is
revival of an ancient custom. The long,
narrow place that comes Just at the back
OF the seat, and which shows from the out
side, was, in years gone by, used to hold
the pistols, the swords, or whatever weap-
ons it was thought would be necessary on
the road. Now, you know it's not real
place In the brougham OF today, though in
the past the cushion of the seat WAS raised,
a lid lifted up, and there were the instru-
ments of warfare.
In her brousham my lady has every
thing that she may need-hand-glass.
card-case, two or three bottles TO hold
scents or salts, tiny clock, place for the
book that will amuse her while she waits
for something, and a fan in
case she should be a little warm.
This is her carriage for cold or stormy
days. In the sunshine, if she is not in
a victoria, she is in cabriolet. This car
riage is fancied by French women. 1t is
swung higher than the victoria, lacks its
breadth, has a very high back, and is
usually lined with a light cloth. In front
it has a high dashboard such as is not seen
on the victoria. 1t forces one TO sit up as
IL ar axtro 5O,a of 70 m rod foo bod aIIa1
stiffness to ones back, and it may be cited
as a carriage OF caprice rather than one of
comfort. To drive oneself the high cur
ricle with its broad dashboard, its brass
bar, its clock strapped just in the center
of the dashboard, and showing aganstithe
highly vanished leather is fancied. So
far, only few have been seen in the park,
and these have been driven by men, but
undoubtedly they will become women's
carriages when it is known that one of the
prettiest of curricles is driven by the
daughters of the prince of Wales, all of
whom are like their mother, very good
whips.
Mrs. William Vanderbilt drives in
quiet, refined-lookipg victoria, and so does
Mrs. Willie X. Vanderbilt; but Mrs.
Seward Webb goes through the park in d
huge landau that seems like the one that
Queen Victoria uses when she wishes to
delight the eyes of the multitude. 1t is
huge, it is acknowledging and it is pre-
tentious. The sort of woman who is seen
in such carriage requires age, and the
most positive social recognition. II Mrs.
August Belmont, Mrs. Astor or Mrs. Will
liam H. Vanderbilt were in such a turn
out it would be considered right and
proper, but when younger woman looks
like dotlet on the ii" in it, only laughter
and ridicule are provoked. Can't an
American woman have what she wants?
asks somebody who is very patriotic.
Certainly. She can put on a Worth frock
and ride on an ash-cart if she likes to, but
Just as certainly will she make herself
ridiculous, and that no woman, American
or otherwise, can afford to do.
In the early morning the park is filled
with riders and women who arc driving
out with the little folk from the nursery,
and with the sunshine and the green
framing, it looks somehow as ii Paradise
had opened its gates, and all the nice lit
tie cherubs had tumbled down. The
proudest woman is the young, good look
ing one, who can have four small people
crowded into her due, and who charges
the footman in the rumble to keep an eye
on them and see that none of them fall
out, while she watches the horses and sees
that they behave themselves. The little
people usually have along with them their
own special pets; and dolls, kittens, and
small and big dogs are noted as their
chosen friends. One wee bit of girl, who
goes out every morning with her proud
mamma, has white kitten, dressed in
long, white slip. which wears a pink sun
bonnet tied under its chin. 1t sits in her
lap in most placid manner, and as the
long, white skirts hide the four feet, it is
difficult to believe that it is not the one
baby carrying another. In another es-
Enlistment, where they rejoice in trip
lets. two dogs, one fox terrier, the other
q King Charles land do not think for
minute that this is not the truth, and
tiny alligator in glass box go out driv-
ing in the morning. And really, do
think the proud possessor of the alligator
finds it less troublesome than do the
owners of the dogs; the fox terrier having
a never ending desire to bite the ears of
the King Charles. 1t is a most beautiful
thing in the springtime to see how
thoroughly and entirely babies are in
fashion.
II doesn't make much difference wheth-
er your locks are golden or brown, ashen
or black to have the stamp of la mode
upon them they must shine like satin,
and the woman who wants TO be in the
fashion is racing around from chemist TO
chemist trying to get something that will
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