The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-26
CARRIE CARELESS
Describes the Little Devices of Society
Curing Lent.
CCougpf1bt

Curing Lent.
CCopvri0htN
NEW YORK, Feb. Ell am just
trihe skeptical concerning Lent
in New York Though my ideas OF
religion have always been somewhat hazy,
and though the Briggs trial and the Park
hurst squabbles have extinguished the last
dim glimmer Of comprehension, | believe
that society "keeps Lent as a religious
festival. Am l right Not If l know it.
Lent is fashionable function, and it's too
great a luxury for three,quarters of the
people 20 enjoy.
1t means salvation-social salvation-to
the debutantes and the dinner. givers and
the dear party men who are so tagged that
they are forced into piety for forty days,
while the wicked cease from dancing and
the weary are at rest.
Pm pretty sure Pm not using these ex-
pressions in a biblical sense. They must be
construed by the flighty criticism, and then
tkey mean whatever you want them too.
Think Of it, The flowers on the upper
most terrace have gone into black. They
will wear it for skirts and even for stock
ings for forty days to come. 1t is these de-
votes who have banded themselves in a
Stunning club" 80 very chic and recher-
che that the strongest pull WON'T secure an
invitation.
Then Mrs. Van Rensselaer, Crugers set
are to be feted at her magnificent establish
ment very soon.
But not until the men-who are heather,
and can't fathom the necessities Of Lent
have had fling at the naughty Arion ball.
AS to the worlds and the devils amuse-
menus, Mrs. Richard Twins hen party
Valentines eve was the beginning of the
end. Forty women sat at five tables, each
table different color. and each woman
dressed TO match her table. The reporters
said the only subjects discussed were the
hostess popular charities Suggestions
were offered and characters assigned for the
charity tableRux to be given by Mrs.
irwin Immediately after Easter" went on
those believing creatures. Scandal, or
dresses or balls weren't mentioned at this
charming affair"
Well, the women may have done peuanos
by going to the dinner without the men, but
I'll never believe they didn't discuss the
Lenten engagements and marriages, and
the rich, rare and racy anecdotes floating
around them.
town within the last two weeks, Just
to have something to think about
now; dozens more have engaged them
selves for the season in order TO
escape the sewing classes nobody sews) and
The INDECENT Female Society, and the mental
Improvement meetings, and the morning
musicales and the other things which iU is
swagger to attend.
Some Of these girls VOW they will really
and truly marry after Lent-nobody ever
marries during Lent, because the ceremony
wouldn't be considered leRal-and / am in
clined to think that they're enough in love
to do is.
Maud Lorillard calmly announces that
she will anyhow, April g, rain or shine.
she is such jolly, bright. nice all-round
grill And her Tommy Taller, the very best
endeared to the public when certain swell
club Dlackballed him because he could out
drive every member of it.
But the pair will have lively Lent Maud,
In the face Of her relatives and other con-
ventions drives about bravely with her
lover He spends much of his time at
Tuxedo and breakfasts tete-a-tete with his
fancee. Well, why not! 1 don't see why
people should make such "a commotion
about it.
Gen. McClellan's daughter, Mary, has
just acknowledged that she Is engaged TO
the charming Frsnchmau, M. Duprez, Of
the French legation at Washington l
think TO be engaged to a Frenchman and to
be able to Americanize him in Washington
is one of the best Lenten advertisements of
the period. Next TO toning down O French
man Of rank looking forward to a title.
Flora Davis, whose papa married last week
for tho third time, is Willing away the
hours IN dreams of that March day,
when Milford Terence Blackwood,
son of the Marquis Of Dufperin,
will lead her away to his Irish acres. Prob
ably Miss Davis is preparing herself by
Lenten penance of the Duchess novels, in
which the hero is invariably q laughing
Celtic lord.
Besides these girls there are dozens Of
others who are doing the same thing on a
more modest scale.
The ice In Central park is nearly melted
with the warmth OF love-maklng on it.
But II Is glorious sport skating, of
course. And it is Christian, too,
after progressive sewing club
or a reading by Maud Howe Elliott, or a
rehearsal for Easter theatricals. to slip
away for 2-hours' whirl with somebody
who has patiently done penance around the
corner for you.
And if you never learn to skate, if you
wobble distressfully and can't stand mp, IN
less you take the forbidden waltz attitude,
it is natural to be awakened when ones
mind is on higher subjects than skates.
Girls who ride have as good a time as the
girls who skate. The Riding and Driving
Club has regular germans on horseback.
M embers dress as knights in tournaments
and dash around. trying to catch rings on
their spear points. The women have made
6 tandem class, and evolve needle race"
Six girls on horseback form in line at one
end of the room, and six men armed with
needle and thread gallop toward them from
the other. Each man hands his weapon to
the girl opposite, who threads and returns
it. The man who gets around the ring first
with his needle and thread wins the game.
A noble sport, isn't it2 AS to the dinners
any number of swell ones will be given be-
fore musicales and theater parties. But the
newest caper is a dinner at Sherry's or Del
monico's and professional dancers after
ward.
Lispenard Stewart and Lanfear Norris
give a dinner TO 100 guests at Del's March
g. It's to be a wonderful event and the
girls who aren't invited are clamoring to
be let in to see the professionals dance.
After the final kicks the dinner givers and
q few OF their guests board their special car
to Mexico.
But why they and the Vanderbilts and
the Louis LorillArds should sail away to
sunny Europe when they can hire Bessie
Clayton and Violette and the French
quadrill In "Black Crook" to expound
fleshly notifications of the holy Lenten
time, is beyond the understanding Of
CARRIE CARELESS.
Found-the reason for the great popu-
larity Of Hoods Sarssparilla-simply this
Hoods CURES. Be sure to get HOODS.
Gd.