Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-10
RETURN OF CHILDREN
ONCE MORE ORNAMENTS IN FASH
IoNABLE SOCIETY.
How the 400 of New York and Washington
Are Bringing Their Children Into All
Swell Functions Of the Daytime.
Correspondence Of the Dispatch)

(Correspondence OF the Dispatch)
NEW YORK, December 9.-Children
have become very fashionable. Have you
noticed? They are seen, IL not heard
at all the swell functions and they have
costumes designed for them and bouquets
planned for them to carry and things
planned for them to say-just like grown
people.
our First Lady. who has. you know.
two little ones of her own. started the
style. How seldom you hear OF Mrs.
Cleveland being anywhere without reading
that Miss Ruth and Baby Esther were
with her. accompanied by their nurses"
or, more startling still, you hear that
"Mrs. Cleveland and Miss Ruth. the latter
dressed In a cloak Of petunla velvet spent
a few minutes at Mrs. LIS reception this
afternoon"
Mrs. Cleveland very rarely goes any
where without her children. and then only
in the evening, when It is impossible 10
take them.
And that Is how children have become
so fashionable-or. at least. one OF the
reasons: for there is no denying the fact
that the First Lady rules the SOCIAL moues
more than people suppose.
About twenty years ago, when MIS-
Grant was in the White House. her de-
votion to her little daughter Nellie ana
the entertainments she planned Tor her
made children all the rage In fashlonabie
society. And now that they are so again.
entertainments are planned for them as
before. and they are made ornamental
features of nearly every social gather
ing.
II you drop in. say this week. to one
OF the teas that are now so fashionable
when people are shopping for Christmas
Won will be surprised and pleased-h you
like children-to see the beauty ana styie
Of the little tots that come In. not holding
their mothers hand as OF yore, but walk
insr nroudlv by her side and carrying
uosegay or a little reticule containing tne
tbings which any little society lady would
need. or course the children say little OF
their own accord. But they look very
pretty. and If you tempt them INTO con
yersation you will be delighted AT tnT
charming little answer Whlch uhe- VIZ
give and which they have been taught
as mart of the necessary training before
they can attend so grown-up AFFAIR aS
| tea. ,,t ,.os
At a novel afternoon affair when was
| given i'm New York last week-the intro
ducing of two young gentlemen lhIo So
| cietv-there were at least a dozen OF the
most charming children present none Oh
whom could have been over . years olu, or
! And TO see their pretty Httie iady I'M I'M
manners. And to hear them talk. IL was
a treat They know 50 well how TO act
| After shaking hands with the hostess vi
| the most dignified manner they woulu
sten aside and mingle with the guests as
! though they were the bellies OF many sea
| sons. - "1oh,,-
one Of the young gentlemen "deou,
! 4antes'' in n spirit of play approaches
| thc< nrettiest of the babies-a niue ialiy
| of not more than three years-anu salu III III
| a whisper. How very KIND OF you "
/ attend my debut this afternoon. rear l'.l el
| YOU would be engaged at some ol S'u'
| many society duties
| The little one not at all ulscoutte-
/ nanced smiled sweetly and replied on
not tind at all. Dreat pleasure 10 tuh,: :,
I always enjoy sings for young people
con. YOU do" exclaimed the young
| man. Joining In the laugh when the NJ
/ tie one had made at his expense "hlie
! she all unconscious OF anything fuhhy'
| remained as mucn at heI eaoc 90
and not at all Disconnected.
That is sample and an idea OF now
children are coming into society ana
! the charming way they can hold their
! ov,n and prove as interesting "a any or
! their older sisters.
| Last month in New York there was one
| nlght at the Horse Show which was set
apart as chldren's night. and when
| rarest sight in the world-all the chlidreh
! of the 400 were present TO see the horses
! and the people. Nobody knew OF the night
/ in advance and it was all done quietly
/ because the parents realized that II
would be unpleasant 70 have the children
| stared at and to have crowds collect 10
see them. But there they were All the
miniature milllonaires and millionairesses
Of New York.
In one OF the front boxes sat Mrs. Cor
uelius Vanderbilt with her baby-boy
and girl: and back OF her was Mrs. VIII
! lie Vanderbilt with her little children
and Miss Consuelo whd Is being Kept
| ouiet for her debut three years from now.
! Mrs. John Jacob Astor was there with
! her 2-year-old baby-boy. and-a long
way off-sat Mr.. Coleman-Drayton with
] the four Astor grandchildren All the 40
were there with their so and more chill
dren; and the sight was the prettiest one
/ which has been seen in New York this
season. Next year people will be on the
! lookout for II. and so charming a gath
ering OF beautiful children will not so
unnoticed and unseen.
AS WEDDING ORNAMENTS.
| Children have long since been introduced
as a necessary part OF an ornamental
| wedding ceremony. But II has remained
! for a bride OF the late autumn who wished
| 10 eclipse all the marriages OF her friends
| with the beauty Of her own wedding to
J find ways for Utilizing all the pretty little
beauX and bellies OF her family. This
/ Young woman actually found a place for
! and employment for twenty little aides.
! And this Is how they were employed.
| See IL you do not think the picture a
pretty one.
As the first strains Of the wedding
march sounded in the church there walk
ed gravely in. behind the ushers four
| little maids, whose duty II evidently was
TO attend the bridesmaids, for at the
chance they took their places behind the
bridesmaids and attended the long trains
and held the muffs which the brides
maids laid aside to be in readiness to as
slst the bride with her veil or bouquet.
Then came four more little maids who
were flower girls for they strewed flowers
in the brides path, and were dressed in
white gowns. almost covered with vines
and sprays of flowers sewed on the mate
! rial of the dress. Behind them came ttt
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