The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-19
NO POOR PUPILS THERE.
scHooL ron THE DhUoHTERs or
MFLLf0N-HEfRs.
Fashionable seminary Where tho GIFTS
Dine In Full Dress and are Trained 'n
the Arts of Society.

Flghty-sixth street and Riverside drive
Ne,g York City. The millionaire mothers
Of the East and West sent their daughters
there 10 be polished and turned into
successfui debutants and fashionable
Young women. When they leave the
hands Of the Misses Ely they are cop
pcfplate models OF everything that is
extremely nice and smart and proper
according 10 the unwritten laws OF
swelldom. Algebra may have place IN
the curriculum Of this remarkable school.
But Il Is merely Incidental 90 etiquette.
Time spent under The Misses Ely's wing
ss one endless dress rehearsal for the
big drama OF society. FOR which every
one OF the young ladies is coached 70
play a leading role. Handkerchief hirta-
ticrH chewing gum and gigiirg are un-
known 10 the excessively proper pupils
Of the Misses Ely In place or these
old-fashioned, time-honored customs
girl is rigidly drilled every day In the art
OF entering a drawin-room, handling
train, giving a dinner and entertsinlhs
tho gentleman who takes her in 30
,.bJe And. according 20 the New YORK
world never for "a moment Is one OF the
pupfls Of the Riverside School trusted
ont OF the sight OF the lynx-eyed duehna'
Tor fear that some contamination from
The outside. vulgar world might mar the
aiisses Ely's perfect handiwcrk-
The schOOlhouse Is a great brick struc-
fure Of old colonial style, painted hght
,.oiioyv. wide porches run the entire
LENGTH Of the building. 1t stands in the
confer OF an immense lawn. covering
over an acre OF ground. The front OF the
Iui1dine faces the Hudson. No more
delightful situation could be imagined
both from point Of picturesqueness
pud healthfulness. combining. as II does.
the advantage OF n country boarding
school with that OF easy access 10 the
city. On the ground floor is the girls
rarlor. II "a here that the pupils hold
weekly receptions and dances. TO thor
oughlv perfect them in the gentle art
o. entertaining. their privileges in that
direction extend even SIS far as receiving
cetimabio young men as callers. liberty
not usually allowed the boarding-school
miss. and consequently d0ubly attractive
I'm her eyes because Il is the unattainable
Drilling for Drnwinc-Roorn Pro"'i~o.
The parlor Is magnifcently furnished
differing as much as it would be possible
10 imagine from the ordinary school
parlor Great deep velvet chairs. that
both tempt and suggest repose; works
of art upon the walls. n beautiful, grand
piano lamp and dainty brac-a-brac en-
hellish this interior In fact. were IL
not for the immensty Of the room one
could easily imagine herself in private
parlOr. II IS in this salon that the young
ladies' receive the practical experience
Of drawine-room etiquette. II at one Of
these dress rehearsals an awkward Girl
chances 20 trip upon her train or spill
Russian tea over mans shirt front
she Is taken I'm hand by one Of the teach
ers. During the week she is skillfully
directed by her superior officers how 20
swish the train. toy with the tea-cup
and talk 10 the man at the same time.
At the next function the teachers proudly
watch the pupils progress.
80 equal importance with the cultiva-
ton Of correct conduct in the drawing
room is the training for the dinner-tabe
on the floor with the salon is the school
dlning-room, with a seating capacity OF
100 Here the tables are always set with
all the daiutIness of fashionable home.
The food Is Of excellent quality. Of course,
delicately prepared, and tie meals are
served by colorcd men walters. Dinner
IS the meal Of state. when a fu1l-course
dinner, with a menu card at each plate,
e. gone through with. The rules OF the
school make Il imperitive that the girls
appear I'm evening dress. The remainder
OF the first floor is devoted TO class-rooms.
The second and third floors are dormito-
ries. Some few Of the girls room to-
gether. but most Of them have rooms
alone, and they are maryelously pretty.
The room Of a young heiress whose
Debut I'm New York society is to be made
roxt winter Is particularly attractive IL
IS a good sample Of the way things are
done at the Misses Fly's. The floor Of
polished oak shines Ike n mirror, while
lie rug I'm the center gives the necessary
touches OF color. The windows facing
the Hudson are drGped IN white dimity.
with nuted ruflcs. tied back with light
blue ribbons. The wall paper is OF the
Same shade Of blue. A brass and enamel
he'd. n maple bureau, the mirror Of which
As almost covered with photographs.
couch. n piano. a table. upon which is
placed q Sevres tea set and several
easy chairs complete the furnishing.
This Is only one OF dozens Of similar
rooms In those rooms occupied by more
than one girl each occupant has her own
bureau, washstand and bed. The other
pieces OF furniture they use in common.
Consumed win Iinnui ut iNts"n.
on the second floor IS a gymnasium.
and here every half hour during the day
a different class goes through the gym
nastic exercises, for one OF the highest
objects OF the school is TO turn out
splendid examples OF the physically per-
feet Girl. The contrast suggested by this
school with the one known to the ordi-
nary mortal whose education has not
been polished of i'm a finishing school IS
greater than can be imagined. The girls
al look as though they were going TO an
afternoon tea. with their perfectly coiited
hair and well-made, tightly corseted
V,F,ave &c far moro noise from the
rustic OF silk petticoats than from the
hum OF study A glimpse into the study
room shows a lot OF well~dreSsed, we'll
groomed. wen-bred looking girls. Ennul
- stamped on their brows at the age OF
Tven the ciothes-line Of this interest
ing school has it's attractive and signin-
can't features. II is vastly different
affair from the clothes-l'ne OF the regoia-
lion boarding school.
II costs just 5000 year 70 become
an Inmate 20 the Misses klys schooi'
rrh,s Includes no extras. such as music.
Tor Instance That IS an expensive con-
alteration I'm itself inasmuch as the
terms Of half hour lessons in singing
az five dollars. and for instruction m
piapo PLAYING $3.50 per year for one lesson
weekly. and $S6 extra for tho privilege
Of niano practice. Ia those cases where
the girls desire outside instruction from
teachers who win not come 70 the school
there Is an extra charge OF nifty cents
per hour for the escort OF chaperon
10 and from the lessons a similar charge
IA made for the services or chapeTon
on an expeditions 20 doctors dentists
dress-makers. or places OF entertainment
And as " 20 n rigid rule that no puph
Of the school can poke her nose outdoors
Oh 1nannnE'