New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-24
HOME AND SOCIETY.
CHAT OF THE SEASON.
MAY.pAY-GERMAN FAsHIoNs-ART STUDENTS IN
PARIS-HOw TO MOVE.

II Is pleasant to know that the old Mayday festival
with the dance around the Maypoe Is now often re-
yived with many other good old customs. dozen OF
the farest and most graceful girls of the company are
usually selected for the Maypoc dance. rustic
pole about ten twelve feet high may be selected
for this purpose or a dainty painted pole The rib
bons extend from the top OF the pole TO about two
wards from the foot. They are usually OF two colors
In pretty contrast. Tie regular Maypoe dance Is a
dance by itself with various graceful movements In
circling the pole and clsping the ribbons till
they are wound together but tangled, and then
unwindng the ribbons by series of rapid but exact
motions. The prettest of the Maypole dancers is
chosen for the queen by the votes of the company and
in the true old English fashion, each of the party in
turn makes her obeisance and kisses her hand She
sits upon an mprovised throne crowned with flowers
There are doubtless many merry dancers already
practising for the Msypole dances which yearly take
place in our park. great many schools observe
this pretty custom. 1t requires considerable practice
beforehand go through the traditional movements
OF the Maypole dance which far preter than any
improvised dances The daintest dress for May day
party is simple white made with full skirts and waist
with vide sash Of delicate silk in fower-like
hue around the waist. Each dancer wears wreath
Of wild blossoms. Nothing is prettier for this pur
pose than daisies and the effect Is fully good when
all the dancers the same kind of flowers
81 had rather a unique experience the first year
was In society" said san Francisco girl, "for
.came out in New-York, Berlin, and afterward In
London and l am Obliged to say that found more
kindness and real courtesy in Germany than anywhere
else although many of the customs struck me as very
curious a stranger In either London or New-forR
has a hard time OF it In society unless she is excep-
tiopally gifted with beauty money but Ia Germany
every at least welcomed with cordially and the
habit Of universal introducons puts at ones ease
az once Coming straight from New-York where
must confess had been received If not with rudeness
tAa tmp
the contrast most striking. The evening a1'ef
nv arrival attended little gathering where there
was some dancing and more conversation; and TO my
surprise and qualification every man IN the roohi
asked to be presented to me. This was indeed
pleasant change from New York, where have felt my
self forlorn and alien, ard | was none the IeSs
pleased with the kindly young officers to learn that
these marks of cvility not personal at all beihe
merely the usual way Of welcoming n stranger.
Some of the German ways, however. struck me- as
have said being very queer indeed never qhi'e
became rec6nced to the habit of hand-hsslhg At
first it gave me quite shock when, after dinner
Marty the man who took In to dinner escorted me
10 the door, and with low bow and Geseehe'e
Mahlyelt Gnadigste,' a blessed meal most gracious
one, kissed nv hand ! told that this Formally
is generally omitted now but several years ago II was
quite universal but the hand kissing still continues
/ believe for partings and greetings, and so on, 10
ubitum delightful little custom in Germany which
that instead Of having supper spread In one room where
every one Is supposed to 60 in solemn procession
posse of walters bring In numerous small tables which
are unfolded and placed in all the rooms Tor the
guests, each being arranged comfortably WIN
plates forks knives, etcn short all that Is needed
This is great Improvement fashion Of holding
our plates in our laps, and putting our champagne
glasses on the floor. In Germany, by the way. no
girl ever gets stuck Corrd word, girl being re-
turned 70 her ohaperone directly after dance as a
matter Of The said dance belongs 10 the lhai
who engaged it and one who begs for an extra
tour must ask the gentleman not the lady, winch
always seemed TO me rather odd.'
People as rule unde1rate very much the keen sensi
biities of the little ones Children really hear much
more than they appear TO- their seeming UNCONSCIOUS
ness while at play being very misleading More
over they often dwell upon any conversation tcy
may have overheard. and magnify petty annoy
ances into real trouble. al can well remember
said lady the other day. in speaking OF chioreh >
pecularities the agony OF mind endured because
my father, who at that time was somewhat
straitened in money affairs, grumbled a good deal
over the household bills felt that we were on
the brink of something terrible and compared myself
mentally TO every ragged little waf that sl" III
the streets quite believing that that was my ultimate
destination Just at that time aunt Of mine sent
me ten-dollar bill to buy a present for myself ana
as the last complaint Of the head Of the house hao
been about the uncommonly high price OF -four a.
he looked over the monthly bill from the grocer
felt thrill of Joy that / could help the family III
their straits: and then and there ordered Darre
of meal. which l presented TO my asonshed parent
He was the kindest and best Of men. and after IN
had nv a few questions discovered my trouble
we'll remember how he rcprcGched himself for allO"
ing me 10 form such an exaggerated ldea Vi IN
family difficulties. This child has really suffered
heard him say to ms mother 1T IS good IesS"i
40 me not 10 fret at home over business "oirles'
is needless to add. / suppose. that reco'e'
again my 80 which l spent according 10 n'
fancy with q light heart: but my own experience
has naee me careful not bring unnecessary WORT
into The chdren's lives"
An American lady who has seen much OF on
American women art students In Paris mau9' u"
other day. q few remarks that were so sensible an
10 the point that It would be we'll If they couid
generally Known especially to the girls who haVin
little talent imagine that they have a vocation
.rd that only a course Of study In "paree" is neede
IN develop IT, "Pnris is simply crowded with girl
who come abroad and study art SAID Miss >
the course Of conversation. Macy OF thcih %"
ilIaford the expense. and their families ifequeh'i
make the greatest sacrifices In order 10 senu N"'"
ohrood and vet a very small proportion Of thcs
students can hope to do sufficiently well even
make a livelihood TO say nothing Of their developh
Into true artists should say that fully nm
tenths OF them would do well TO turn their atten"o
TO other things or. better st. 90 homo ana mel
their nOohers.'
II this Is the case. young asprants had bete
weigh the chances somewhat more carefully bcor
they undertake the expense OF foreign study-c
peciaTy az Benjamin Constant. who Will
allowed is a competent authority, declared last wnt'
when he visited the Art students League that u
tuition In this country could not be better. and tn;
there was no need except in thc cases of the mo-
advanced pupils Of going abroad to study.
Midde-aged people are very apt In the spring
long for a garden. The idea OF little house In u
country where one raise flowers and vegetable
IS very aluring especially at this season when thc
is something in the blood which stirs In sympatl
with the awakening OF pant.lfe from It's long winter
sIccp People in town disposed nowadays 10 en'
their suburban neighbors who begin to have the
innings and to reap the reward OF the winters nconve
fence. How many people, however, have ever tr'
10 see what they could do on city lotl Very ley
we imagine and yet we are told In clean htle Doc