Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-18

which nevor outast
more than two seasons, The waltz and the
polka will ever be the same dear delightful
dances, and if they are murdered occasionally
II Is the fault Of the individual. II does not
argue in the least against them that some peo-
pie will tread on your best satin slippers, bump
you into the hardest shoulders and turn the
should-be dreamy waltz into inquisitorial tor
lures The dances are sn right, but the lack
Of chances 60 enjoy thsm is what is worrying
the girls of the present. The real genuine ball
IL sadly out of fashion nowadays. eclipsed BY
that miserable little nrakeshift-a tea"
This has been a dull season, they say, but IL
has been prolific N teas" and a matter Of
hops than has this one.
IN TIE GooD OLD DAYS
when our mothers came out our grand
mothers gave them ball. When there were
social debts to be paid il was done BY means Of
q ball. IL one WAS invited to meet a celebrity,
II was at a ball, and how much better that was
after all; how much more joy it brought to the
hearts OF man and maid 10 receive the big
Square piece Of cardboard with the magic word
dancing in the corner. than the neat little
calling card with wednesdays to - written
upon it. And such chance to wear ones
pretty frocks. too. Not even a dinner shows
them of well.
GIRL HAVEN'T SHOW.
The fact of the matter Is that society Is
being turned over to the dowagsrs and the
ehaperons," said rOsy-cheeked girl the other
day. ''Of course they don't like to dance, and
as II is they who do the entertaining give
what they hke-eard parties. receptions, &c
and the poor girls groan every time one more
tea IL added to their list AL sorts of reasons
but the right ones are given for the decline OF
dances. Mammas say that houses are too small
hat 4har-
ever 60 to 'teas;' that late hours are bad for
the complexion; that there no dancing men;
and all that sort Of thing: but a matter of
fact a bail costs a good deal more than a tea
and the chaperones enjoy themselves better at
the latter.
The dowagers are crowding the younger gen
Grafton into the background. In truth we
fast approaching the dreadful state of affairs
that prevails in Europe. where a girl is nobody
until she IL no longer a girl and where all the
nirting and love making comes after marriage.
DIssECTIS6 A TEA.
And after all what an absurdity q "tea" H.
Two or three bowls of roses around in the cor
ners and the spacious apartments were a mass
OF bloom, a violin or two and a piano made
waves of melody" Then Miss Blank, in
yellow silk. served frappe.n
We are perfectly well aware that II is no
compliment to be asked to a tea" It is
merely placing Us in the list of those who must
sible. We declare that we '.just won't GO"
but still when the time comes around we gen
orally don our best calling gowns, crimp. pow
der. put on tight gloves and tighter shoes. seize
upon our card cases and depart in a genuine
Dad TEMPER There are a dozen carriages,
more or less. in front of the tea giver's door
and flock Of feminine humanity going in and
ont We crowd In, and the crush all the
enamel is taken of the tips Of the new boots.
However. with faces composed into CHASTITY
~ ali Unr all fv,r rhara h. ,1.-
tess and some girl-who invariably looks palmer
than she ever did before-are standing, with
bps parted in a weary grin of welcome.
SO glad TO see you, Miss Er-r-r-um. let me
introduce Miss E-e-e-ah.' accompanied with
the istes. thing in hand shakes be it with
elbows in the enemy's face, wrist high above
the head. sudden collapse of the right side or
ecourtesy. and then We fight our way out to
the dining room
SUFFERING SOCIAL MARTYRDoN.
II Is beautiful to see with what Christian for
0tude the ''tea-ess" are standing il all; the
early martyrs were no more heroic than are
they; they are all hot and cross. the powder is
al rubbed OF or has gathered in patches the
hair, which 1t took halt an hour to arrange is
tumbling down and tickling ears and neck,
while the hairpins have gone sliding down the
back hats are askev from frequent bumps and
gloves are buttOnless and probably torn on
account of the very violent fashion Of handshak-
ing. everybody IA screaming at the TOP OF her
voice and everybody has headache in conse-
quence. We overcome with joy at the
sight Of our dearest foe, who has heretofore
been considered a beauty and who never looked
90 PLAIN a. now; but then the awful idea occurs
that II she looks SO f-ightful we must look
great deal worse. Everybody does exhibit her
worst points and lose her best ones at tea. -
SCARCITY OF REAL MEN.
or course all the worlds wife and daughter
are there, but the world himself is not to be
seen, which makes one respect him immedi-
ately. II speaks volumes in favor Of the mas
cciine element that il positively refuses to 20
70 these affairs. The American woman il
superior to any on. earth, but that the
American man il superior TO her is
proved BY his refusal to be imposed
upon in this fashion. We all saw Jaw
howdeyoudo. didn't expect to see YOU" and
look each other over from top TO toe. II there
fs anything wrong in our attire be sure it Is OBJ
served, commented and enlarged upon. The
Idea Of saying that women are not courageous
he very Fact that they bear this fire Of fault
finding giances without one auiyer Of an eve
tAsh -'es the contrary, and. II that is not
&C .acins enough. watch the girl who has cap
sured one OF those anomalies, dude
DUDE IN TUE Tolls.
The way she holds on to him is trulv Spartan
In its bravery. Let less fortunate sister az
pear in the foreground and she is straigh.way
thst-weu, that man. GOOD made it, therefore
let II pass for q man. And how he euiovs IT,
the dear fellow. That Is, he does If she is
pretty; but il not he looks too bored for words
He can't get away. though As dauntless as
she IL in driving of other girls just so deter
mined II she TO keep possession of him.
Did 10 ever occur to you how each one SAYS
Just the thing she ought not to say al .teaY''
IL you have a particular hobby be sure that it
will be nnercilessly criticised right to your face
We al take . nendish delight In making a faux
pas.
AROUND TIE TWO BOWLS.
Wow We come to the frappe bowl: the mix
turs In II is cold but that Is about all to be said
Tor IL This table is not much patronized and
The damsel behind il looks weary, for is not
the genus dude collected with joyful uien
about the punch bowl and does not her rival
Who serves the very mild fire water" look
sapremely happy7 In fact, she is the only per
son besides The imbibing ehappies who seems TO
enjoy herself In the least.
N rHK DINING ROOM
Out In the dining room there are tes and
ehocolate-both composed of more water than
anything elss-and one Of these must be drunk
Suppose you take Russian tea To the we'll.
read and Travelled individual that means rum.
lemon, sugar and the fragrant herb. Not 90 to
the deity Who presidss here. She gives iust
lemon and favored hot water-not the ghos,