Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-15

special correspondenceot Gazette and journal
NEW YORK, Dec. eff there is any
thing that makes me absolutely more of
an idiot than my family and friends
usually credit me with being, it's the
shops full OF Christmas things. don't
mean the jewelry shops, nor the bric-a.
brac places, nor the lace and silk
palaces; but | mean the toy shops. /
can fall down and worship white
woolly dog done up in blue ribbons,
and / can stand for an hour and stare
ct mechanical four.in- hand that
careers around the table, and has on its
tin coach women who are enough sight
better looking than those usually seen
on a really, rightly drag, / want every
doll. | love all their belongings, from
She tiny parasols that protect their
compilations to the satin corsets, that
really must be healthy, for they don't
squeeze their figures bit never feel
like stealing except when am in toy
shop, and then, really | fail to see why
] can't take something home without
"paying for it.
CHILDREN WHO NEED cmLoRoFoRMING.
watched two dolls dance yesterday;
one of them a gentleman in evening
dress, and the other lady, whose full
tulle skirts swept the floor as they
waltzed and reversed, as the most fash
ionable couple would do. One inQuir-
ing child wanted TO see where the music
was, and when she was told it was
under the dolls pettiCoats, she said,
"Oh, | am so sorry that dolls are SO i'm
propcrl' You know, really, children
like that ought to be chloroformcd.
Another, a small man, beautifully
dressed in velvet clothes and with IL
rich lace collar, desired an expensive
mechanical toy. His mother said he
could look at it, but she declined to buy
II. When they got out of the shop, the
young man stretched himself out on the
pavement and yelled at the top of his
voice. In minute big crowd was
around him, he pointed to his mother
and said: "She's cruel to mel'' The
sympathy of the crowd was entirely
with the boy. He refused to get up
until he was promised tine toy. He got
it, and then went home. And when he
got home, an irate woman broke it all
to pieces with hammer, and gave him
such old-fashioned treatment that he
very politely says just now, "Thank
you, don't care to sit down; am more
comfortable standing up" Wasn't he
little beast2 | like children, but |
like them very tender and young and
if had one like this around me, |
think it would result in manslaughter,
or boyslaughter, or whatever it might
be called. 1t is to be hoped that during
the time when the toys are on exhibit
ton, we will have good weather, for Il
woman is hardly able to take care OF
herself on a rainy day, much less to
pilot three or four children.
LADIES OUT ON RAINY DAYS.
AS rainy day outer, the American
woman is not a success. She lacks the
courage of the English girl, who doesn't
care how she looks, provided she is com
Portable, and who, feeling perfectly
secure in a good m-coat, goes through
mud and water in broad soled shoes and
galoshes, certain of coming out all right.
She strides over Il crossing and don't
mind the soft rain drops on her face.
Now, the average American woman
does not look well. OF course, il she
goes in for comfort, she puts on short
skirt, long ulster and felt hat and
takes an umbrella. But she is very un.
certain in her grasp of it. She takes ii
by the extreme end, and it woDbles to
and fro as the wind listeth, or else she
grasps it way up By the top, presents
the appearance of a preanbulatng
mushroom, while, us she can't see any.
body, the lockers on chance having theil
eyes knocked out, or either their diges
tions punched in. After she has walked
for block or two, she usually concludes
to get in car and her umbrella is wildly
waved to stop it; then she makes thu
effort to get on the platform with the
umbrella still open. AS the car was no
built with this idea in view, the conduc
tor yells to her: "Shut that p She stands
perfectly still and says something about
reporting him, while the nearest mar
closes her umbrella and after that sh;
calmly enters the car, sits down BY
somebody who has had the rheumatism
and lets that vile umbrella drip on hin
until he almost has a nervous chill. In
stead of putting her money in her uistcl
pocket she's got it in her dress, SO WhcI
the conductor comes for it, she unbut
tons the coat, squirms around to fine
the pocket, has the whole car interested
in her efforts, and when the money i
faand gives it to the unfortunate con
ductor in a way that suggests that lii
ought to be glad that she was here in
stead OF making her pay for the priv
lege. Then she takes out her handker
chief, makes dab at her face, looks al
around the car with her best smile, ant
says with aprolonged sigh;
ION, I'M SO TIRED"
This expression of weakness afTect
every man IN the car, absolutely perme
ates the being of each one, and my pri
waite opinion is that if any woman die
this the second time the men would
;. have row as to who should haye Tn,
privilege of letting her umbrella drip OF
them. When she gets out, it's fun t
see her cross the street She is used /,
being helped by man. When she i
alone she grasps her skirt in one hand
looks around, stands on her tiptoes, get
to the middle OF the street, sees t wagoi
coming and runs back; then she wait.
irresolutely for some time, and then
Tushes across the street at the risk o
her life without any regard for appear
ance, or else is helped over by some maj
who knows the ways of women anC
feels sorry for her.
A French woman will never max
herself so ridiculous. She lifts he
skirts In dainty sort of way, gives
full view of a perfectly fitting boot,
suggestion of black silk stockiRg-bu
she only allows that to be u pcep-sh
gives coquettish glance up and dow
the street, and then, with the quicknes
OF bird she gets over the bad place
and is safe on the other side. Her skirt
are dropped, Madame is demure a
possible, and has the absolute admra
M hn ttNrI, +t,. 4 -,