The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-10

port them. are voted dowdy. and their parties
slow: their ancestral halls remain empty.
| their costly viands are untouched. their high-
bred daughters are undancsd with. partner
| less. whitening on their virgin stalks. brew
er's wife. on the other hand. or a stock brok-
cts spouse. or tho wife Of man who has made
fortune nobody knows how or cares where.
10 suddenly raised to the pinnacle Of fashion:
her receptions are crowded. her toilets arc
chronioled In every society paper. her dinners
arc pronounced perfection. q prince OF the blood
has given his fat in her favor and In that
OF her cook. her diamonds are said
to DO and probably are the 1nost In London,
and she has attained the brevet rank ut least OF
q successful entertainer One would naturally
like to learn how these people gain their high
estate. when neither by BIRTH position. char
acter. nor oven by appearance are they fitted
to be leaders OF society. Lady Violet Explains
that money generally does the trick: but some
times the end may DO attained by beauty. and
frequently by mere perserverance and push.
coupled with mastery OF the modern art OF
r6clame Apropos OF the Efficiency Of push.
our author recalls the parable OF the unjust
Judge and the pertlnaoious wldow-how the
Judge wished and tried to do what was right.
but how. finally. because OF the woman's per-
sistency and importantly. he yielded to her
wishes.
tits Lady vlolets opinion that as thinCsa are
now. balls are not only expensive. but gener-
ally unsatisfactory. owing to the increasing
dimensions OF society. which mako 1t impos-
slble to invite all ones acQuatntances. But
the root OF tho matter Is tho difficulty Of alur-
ing dancing men. In London rs In New York
1t requires strong lever in tho shape OF love
or ambition to induce men to sacrifice several
hours OF luxurious liberty for the amusement
OF others. II is sad. Lady Violet says. to see
the numbers Of pretty girls standing out at
dance and the disappointed and melancholy
looks stealing over thoir faces rs tho night
slowly wanes and none OF the hoped-for part
ners makes his appearance 1t Is. indeed. dif-
lcult to say what It Is that constitutes ball
room popularity: why one girl dances
every dance and has more partners than
she knows what to do with. while to
another. standing out despondently. the sea-
son is only long. vista Of dull evenings and
bitter heartburnings. With the lntter's ex-
perience. Lady Violet contrasts that OF tho
smart young married woman who gives dances
to please herself. who has no crowd. who. II
she offends everybody. cares not jot, who
has plenty Of mon Mt her party. who bars out
girls. but asks every fast young married per-
son OF her acquaintance. Her husband is
blind. or foolish. or indulgent as the case may
be- and 80 she thoroughly enjoys hersolI She
sits out her dances. goes down to supper with
her favorite admirer. and aftorward shifts
gracefully at the bouquet Of roses he has sent
her. while she lies back on pink silk cushions
in the conservatory. aZiy flirting in the most
open manner. Dancing. pure and simple. she
despises as q pursuit At only for boys and
girls. The opportunity for filtration or for out
shining or annoying other women Is what she
values.
Large dinners are evidently looked upon by
Lady Violet as q penance. The food Is stereo.
typed: tho wine. although this happily is in
varlably champagne, Is BY no means always as
dry or as we'll iced as could be wished: the
dinner tables resemble either flower gardens
and hothouses. or else jewellers emporium.
or the window Of q MERGERS shop. where silks
Of all colcrs are freely displayed. The exact
proportions in which floral and silver decora-
lions should be used Is known. It seems. only
to a few elect souls. Far more agreeable than
such repasts Is the diner intirne. at which the
number Of persons. II It exceed that OF the
MUSES.. should not at most transcend twelve.
Here. though the viands will OF course be
good they are but neutrality-suspicious. for
the bringing together Of congenial people. So
far as special thought Is given to these little
dinners. 1t is innovation. variety. originality.
that is sought In one house the guests in
winter sit around the sides Of the table only.
so that all may see the cheerful blaze OF the
FIRE: in another the party 10 broken up into
small lively groups seated at separate tables.
as in q restaurant: in q third. maid servants.
dressed in livery. are substituted for men SER
wants. What used to be tho type Of an informal.
social meal. the breakfast. 10 now nearly ex-
tinct. Tho late Lord Houghton was about the
last giver OF breakfasts This repast has been
surplanted with the new generation by the
luncheon. which, although sometimes as long
and heavy q meal as dinner. Is relatively
CHEEKY and convivial Besides. people can be
asked to luncheon who cannot we'll be invited
to dinner: in fact. II is often criterion OF tho
exact degree Of intimacy which exists
whether a man is asked to dinner or luncheon.
Poor relations. country cousins. men OF
business. artists, or professional men
may. 1t appears. be asked to luncheon.
who would not DO desirable guests at dinner.
though Lady Violet Is good enough to say that
seldom in these days Is literary man desti-
tute OF dress suit About luncheons there is
no hard-and-fast rule. They may DO entirely
composed Of cold dishes placed beforehand on
the table or OF q few hot entrees handed round
in succession. The poorest young couple can
give luncheon. and Lady Violet thinks It a
pity that people not rich do not conflne them
selves at this repast to single plats. with which
clarot.cup. cider. or beer can be drunk. instead
Of attempting the equivalent OF an expensive
dinner with q proiusion OF champagne for the
enjoyment OF those young mon who do not
like to dine even with thor families without
tho adjunct OF a bottle OF the boy" The
author adds that the Sunday luncheon has in
London become an institution. meal at which
intimate friends can drop In without ceremony.
and almost the only kind Of entertainment in
which some people indulge.
DiscoursinG OF dress. Lady Violet comedies
that 1t has long ceased to DO mark OF class. In
England. at oil events society has no dlstInc-
tive Rarb nevertheless. although great ladies'
are said sometimes to try and resemble petites
DANES in the variety OF the colors and startling
of their attire. while on the con-
trary the petites danes now affect quiet tints
and sober styles, yet lady has always about
her something intensely refined and high bred
to which the less carefully reared woman in
vain asplres. The author suggests that We may
discern the difference in Q certain repose Of
manner and innate ASSURANCE and in the ensy