The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-24
THE PLACE OF PLACES.
Where the Fifth Avenue Belle Goes to See
an Hour of Quiet.

Where the Fifth Avenue Belle Goes to Seek
an Hour of Quiet.
What is it7 Well, it is something new
and also very Frenchy, says a writer In the
n. Y. World
The idea is borrowed one, originating
with demure little French maiden whose
"prier Dieu" corner is very sacred to her.
An alcove, or a small room adjoining the
society girls own boudoir, is fitted up like
miniature chapel, and here for a short
time each day many OF New York's most
famed bellies fee for refuge from fashions
constant commands and also for quiet
thought and prayer.
A young woman, who does everything
she undertakes on most elaborate scale,
had small room adjoining her own con-
verted into a perfect little chapel.
In one corner OF the room was built a
small altar. Three steps, covered with
black velvet, led up to it. On one rested
white satin cushion, upon which the
dear girl knelt to say her prayers. On
the altar was her prayer-book, bound in
white kid and mounted in silver.
Massive silver candelabrs stood upon
the altar, and at evening time the dim
candlelight shed a soft, soothing radiance
about the little room. An ebony table
had always vase OF lilies oi-the-valley or
some other delicate flower upon it, beside
which was her bible and a copy of Thomas
a Kempis' Imitation of Christ"
This tiny room had its floor of marble.
The stained glass window changed the
sunlight to all varied tints and reflected
upon the marble highly colored little sun
beams, which danced merrily about upon
the bare floor.
One chair was all that was needed here,
and that was a great easy chair, with
white silk cushion of down at its back.
Right near the chair on the floor was
another cushion covered with black silk.
Embroidered in silver thread upon it were
the words, Rest for the weary"
This is where the society girl, after re-
moving her dainty hign-heeIed slippers,
rests her tired feet-feet that have danced
till their tired little soles long for rest-as
she reads from some comforting book.
The walls OF the room were covered with
an odd design of papering in silver and
gray and pictures OF the Madonna and
child and the Mater Dolorosa hung upon
the wall.
The Fifth-ave. belle is very fond of her
religious book, for the few moments spent
within its walls always prove restful and
hopeful.
When the afternoon teas are ended and
the hour is reached when daylight is no
more, fancy the picture of one of fash
ions deyotees clad in loose gown run
ming away from her maid and the world
for a moment to the little room of which
she alone possesses the key, and there
kneeling before the altar with bead bowed
down in earnest prayer.
No other picture is more suggestive of
ha +r,,a -
acter.
Then there is the little maiden who vas
born with a supposed silver spoon in her
mouth, but found out to her great sorrow
soon afterward that it was merely silver
plated. She devised plan of arranging a
little prayer corner in her room, which
answered the purpose admirably and yet
cost but little money.
A pretty pair of portieres of light Mad
ras, with silk borders, which she made
and put up herself, curtained from sight a
little corner of her room. Should you be
allowed to look behind them you would
find an altar with three low steps leading
to it. The top of it is used partly for a
table, and always vase of fresh flowers
beside her bible rest upon it. The altar
is of wood and any carpenter can easily
make 1t. The cushions for each step the
dear girl made herself, and they are
covered with rich shade of purple silk
Two or three photographs of Madonnas,
framed simply in white, hang upon the
wall.
This ingenious girl bought very COM
mon but oddly shaped chair, which she
silvered and upholstered in violet silk
The upholstering consisted of two down
cushions, both covered with violet silk,
one forming the seat, the other for the
back, and both tied to the chair with vio-
let ribbons.
Two book-shelves hang from a silver
nail upon the wall. At the top of each
shelf is tiny silver rod on which is shir-
red a pretty silk curtain. Not more than
ten books can be put on each shelf, but
they are especially chosen ones, and have
a way of removing all frowns as if by some
miraculous power.
This is about all this odd little corner
contains, yet its owner told me that it was
an important little place for, since finding
its way into her room, she could feel its
influence penetrating through each duty
and pleasure that came to her.