New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-08
HOME AND SOCIETY.
CHAT OF THE SEASON.
r,,r RUSH OF soClETY-A RUsE DE GUERRE-
THE MODERN MANNEH-DELICIoUS


THE RUSH OF soclETY-A RUsE DE GUERRE-
THE MODERN MANNEH-DEL1CIoUS
LITTLE DISHES
awbot n rush we live In during the season !" said
omau OF seventy the other day with a gasp. a.
. no, have a moments leisure from morning till
.'rnt II l am in the house l called upon for
ais that and the other every mnute. The bell
,oens ringing all the day. notes come in TO be an
rnred bills to be paid, parcels to be receipted for;
10 servant comes 10 me about this, another about
,s, one child has to be sent of in one direction and
her brother 10 Just the opposite end OF the town
soms one always comes In to luncheon or l 60 out.
am always trying TO catch up with my visiting list
and then fly back to dress for dinner at home or
,road / never have minute to myself
yesterday locked myself in my room and sewed
coupe of buttons my gloves. and the feeling Of
80, was lust heavenly! And only fancy, In the
nernoon ] drove TO Second-ave. 10 call on the
p-s in Stuyvcsant Square, and there found the
two sitting III the drawing-roOm In broad daylight,
ono actually working on tapestry and the other read
,nr out loud. 1t seemed too medieval and delight
full for anything
II is kindly as we'll as a very convenient fashion
v,ch has been inaugurated of late by certain Of our
randes dames-that of giving the commission for the
oton favos for their dances TO some less fortunate
friend to whose modest resources the liberal recon-
nspsa is a welcome addition and whose good taste
and Judgment prove vertable blessing to the har-
sed ciyer Of the feast who has necessarily much
detail to attend to at such a time. Only refined
and tasteful woman give the dainty touches TO
the preparation and arrangement OF the pretty gew-
nvs which fashion has decreed shall be laviShed at
a Mg ball. Happily II is longer the thing for
ealthy hosts and hOstesseS TO give costly and oSten
tatious presents on these occasions ana the beauty
n the pretty trhes consists almost entirely in their
selection Long ribbons are always prime favorites
or fayors greatly coveted by the fair dancers
Who while enjoying the distinction Of belledom have
also frugal minds and consider the question OF next
summers hats while they count up their trophies
Tho beauty OF these effective long floating ribbons
Il greatly enhanced II they are caught up with bunch
a, artificial French flowers, which also Is przed as
mart Of the becoming hat 10 be- Saclets make
charming favor, but these must be made by some
one who knows the difference between vulgar scent
and the faint violet perfume which is so suggestive
and attractive
Al a fashionable dance the other night set OF
these acceptable little gifts made of violet crepe
tied with violet ribbon. ornamented with bunch OF
wonderfully natural artificial wood viole's, ana OF
course scented with violet sacbet powder In late winter
or early spring very appropriate iavors would be Leg
horn hats tied up baskets with colored Ribbons
and filed with artificial flowers. Fans are always
acceptable and grab-bags were introduced at q re-
cent cotion with great success. These may De maze
Of four different colors, even OF six, ana passed
about BY each succeeding group OF couples. Al pFf
yate dance there usually at least four sets OF
fsyors and as must be distributed to both men
and women. and there are usually from twenty
I'VE to forty couples large coon 1t VIII readily
be seen that a woman OF resource ana TASTE wouu
prove a perfect godsend TO her employer
The fashionable drawing room of today is very far
removed indeed from the crowded, ornate affair OF
dozen years ago, when decoration ran rampant an
thousand queer devices and The tables and chalFs were
crowded so ttcky together that 1t was almost impos
sible 10 move about the room without knocking some
thing over Now the arrangement Is classical ana
somewhat STIFF and the sociab!e aspect is tempered
with sort OF Formally which suggests ones newest
clothes and best behavior.
II must be admitted however, that the !oungine
manners Of the youths Of the period are hardly IN
keeping with the glded encourage Of Louis ANu
salon. which would seem TO suggest the coury eraoes
of bygone age. Our women, the other hand.
with finer perception, have nOtceably adapted them
selves more or less TO their surroundings. The ever
graceful courtesy has revived. and there is much
more gracious charm and dgnihed urbanity OF late
the somewhat blunt although hearty. manners OF the
sEnglish school" which fashionable few years
ago having almost entirely disappeared.
curious ruse de gueIre which is said 10 have
been actually perpetraed IN the fashionable world
not long since case of bogus mourning. IL
Is recorded that q certain business found 1t sud
penses and at the time he was particularly
anxous for financial reasons, that there should be no
appearance OF retrcnchment. Unfortunately. Ut so
happened that his wife had just issued Invitations for
large and expensive ball to be followed by a series
Of dinners moreover, sic had younger daughter 10
bring out The head Of the house groaned In spirit
as he mentally calculated the cost OF winters
round Of gayety for his womanknd. His wife. how
ever, was woman Of resource; on being made &C
Qualnted with his dilemma she promptly rose 10 the
occasion. Il tell you what we Will DO" she eX'
claimed; we will 60 into mourning Into whatf"
gasped her astonished husband. "Mourmng salo,
continued his spouse compacently. IL think 1t Is
the only thing we can do as my people are western
We can easily manage It. and no one Will be the
wiser. ! will send out cards and cOuntcrmand my
Invitations will buy black gown, and the e1rie
shall black and white all winter ana go Only 10
tie smallest entertainments and darcsay they VIII
have q much better time than when struggling LOT
partners at the big balls AS for me. shall ENJOY
II beyond everything. Now after all, 1t Is only
fb that harms nobody and does Us lot OF good con
eluded this I'm steele dame, who successfully carried
her point, put Ler family into mourning, and VIII
drew gracefully from society and It's requirements ior
the time being
Il have come to the conclusion said gentleman
ne other DAY, that in this climate 1t wouid DC
much better to build country houses on the ElehSh
basement plan wit. the cellar entirely above ground
In this way the daily life Of the inmates OF the mousse
would be lifted above the malaria and mosquitoes
that are always or less prevalent near New
York and any dampness would Of course be an I'M
possibility.
People as a rule. conented with dark, low
cellars, with small windows just above the ground
windows that are generally Obscured with dirt ana
cobwebs; whereas the cellar should be light ana
cheerful letting In as much air and sunlight as any
other In the house"
The treatment of a dressing table nowadays IS an
art In Itself. and there is no better criterion OF
woman's taste and than the parapherhaha
Spread on ON her toilet table. A fashionable woman