The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-11
HEARD on THE STREET.
The Fin de Steele Giri Saws Som.
thing.


They were nattily attired, all three
and had that indescribabie air Pertaining
TO well groomed society girls. and as they
sat I'm the Syabash-ayen car going south
the dainty blonde who sat In the middle.
was holding forth with much energy 10
her interested listeners. As sunk down
in the seat just opposite | caught thu
burden OF her remarks:
Eyes, II made me so mad could al
most have eaten her up. | think there
should be an asylum provided for staid
maiden aunts. where they could end their
days serenely, undisturbed by their giddy
nieces. You know mamma never was a
bit cranky until Aunt Lou came to live
with us. and now she almost makes my
life n burden. am really alarmed when
l contemplate what the outcome may be
II she continues, for mamma is really be.
coming prudish.
"You know I had been thinking for
month before the reception how stunning
l would look In my new dress and what
swell | would cut II Is white bengaline.
cut square, and trimmed with white
feather trimming and gold passementerie.
Ii was made at Nine. IS, and could
hardly wait for it to be brought home:
Il just set my head in a whirl TO think
OF IT. When 1t was brought home. OF
course. Il was duly laid out for inspection.
and Aunt Lou adjusted her glasses.
stepped back step or two. as though
she feared contamination. and fairly para
lyzed us with the tone In which she oh
served: Too low In the neck: too low in
the neck, IL would have been much mora
appropriate for girl OF your age 10
have had a high-necked bodice Well,
I felt like giving her a sharp retort, but
instead i gathered up the offending gar
ment and went upstairs TO deck myself
out had hopes of at least overwhelming
her II | could not overcome her prejudice.
80 | swept into the drawing-room with
my grandest air. and girls. don't care
II do say II myself | looked charming!
You know the front Is tight-httlng. and
there is large, graceful Vatican plait
in the back that ends In a long sweeping
train. l wish you could have seen this
look she gave me. No. | don't either.
for II almost took the curl out OF me,
and | am somewhat accustomed 10 her.
But this look was nothing 10 the talk she
treated me 10. A great deal OF II was
startling Information. She informed me
that no young lady with n proper sense
OF propriety would appear at "A public re-
ceptlon In bodice like that. Now, will
admit that IL was rather low, but you
know / can stand that sort OF thing. But
most startling OF ALL she Informed me-
with her most severe demeanor that no
young man would choose for a wife "A
creature who wore such a gown. / winked
my other eye when she said that. and felt
like asking here II she were addicted 10
the practice in her youth, but mamma
will not permit me 10 say anything back
to her That is where she has the ad-
vantage of me. She said | don't know
much other stun OF that kind, for got
mad and left her standing in the middle
of the room. delivering a long harangue
on the subject.
Now / might be able 10 stand this sort
OF thing and ascrlbe IL 10 weak or ever
sensitive nerves II Il were not Tor tho
pictures In the old album which grandma
used to have and which lies up In the
storeroom covered with dust IL Is full
OF old pictures, back numbers, you know.
and I wish for your edlhcation you could
see the dresses In them. Great wide skirts
and their bodces cut low. not only Tor
evening wear but for street and church.
That is what makes me tired when they
begin their Trades against low dresses
| did not forget 20 bring that OLD album
downstairs the next day and show Aunt
Lou her picture with her hair piastered
down over her ears, and wearing striped
dress trimmed with black viewer ana cut
so low that Il would almost raise me
hair on the head Of stone statue now
| do not mind a little thing Ike that.
but | think with such documentary EVIL
dence as that confronting them the past
generation had better 30 slow In condemn
ing the decollete dress. Aunt Lou smiled
and made some remarks about the god
less generation that was now sprlnslns
up and went upstairs, carrying tho al
bum with her"