New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-06
HOME AND SOCIETY.
COMPLAINTS OF A HOSTESS
SELFISH YOUNG PEoPLE-EcoNoMY OF PA.
MsIAN QUEEN OF FASHION OF
The CoUTURIRR- BUILDING CoUN.
TRY HOUSES

TIE COUTURIRR-BUILDING COUN.
TRY HOUSES
1--WE are coming to pretty pass with the Young
osonle Of the present time" said an irate mistress
The other day. land IL this state of things goes on
one might we'll give up entertaining for 1t seems
N be the accepted code Of manners nowadays that
the modern society man should not dance and the
modern society girl should not talk This is a
combination that is not exhilarating to say the
least | feel that couh shake half the young
neople In my drawing room for being such autom-
atoms They don't seem to think it incumbent
upon them to make the slightest effort: they are
there simply TO be amused and not TO amuse Others
and feel no obligation whatever to the mis-
,ress Of the house. IN fact. the favor
,s quite on the other side and although it is
conventional and correct to thank mistress for an
entertainment, the words a mere form. and it
the giver Of the feast who feels grateful not the
recipient"
A woman Of taste need spend but little money In
order TO look extremely elegant. The secret Of
this wonderful achievement has been discovered
by one of the very chic leaders Of Partisan society
She possesses excellent maid whom she appren-
tced for year to a great couturier in order that
the girl might learn how dresses cut and put
together by these autocrats Of Dame la Mode
Then four times year. every season, she
orders a superb dress from Felix Reboux or La
ferrere who popularity believed to be her
gowns. etc, are made at home by her
maid. With regard to her hats and bonnets
she does likewise. and the results are
surprising. Ask any one in Paris what Prin-
cess de G. is supposed to spend for her
toilets and you will probably be told that her
apparel costs at least 10000 francs month, where
as she has herself been heard to say that the total
of her expenses (and she is of the bestdressed
women in the French netropolis) is not above
5000 francs a year. So thoroughly does she under
stand the difficult art of buying that she discovers
at public sales superb antique laces. old brocades,
Jewels etc, which so for song and are displayed
on her person at balls, sorees and dinners TO the
admiration and amazement of the lookers-on.
With an income of only about $4,000 year, she
seems to spend at least four times that amount,
and so perfect are the dinners and receptions
given by her at her mansion in the Faubourg ST
German and at her splendid country-seat in Tou-
raine that she is often said to be the queen OF
Partisan good taste and luxury. This is "savoir
faire" with vengeance. and every woman aspir-
ing to position in society can initiate her
Wedding presents are becoming and more
OF a tax and are looked upon in these fin de steele
DAYS as Just many commercial assets by bride
and bridegroom alike. who are not so much In love
but that they can reckon up the probable cost OF
each gift pretty accurately.
81 want something pretty, but not too Costly as
q wedding gift" said a well-known woman Of
society to one of the head men at IS.
Us II for Miss B., may ask" said the jeweller;
"for in that case think can suit you exactly
And he produced a list written at length and IN
the brides own fair writing with everything she
wanted in the way of silver distinctly described
from the soup tureen to saltspoons. 1t left her
friends a wide margin Of choice from the most en-
pensive present to a simple token of remembrance
Would you like 10 see the presents ALREADY
selected?' continued the shopman, and leading the
way into the adjoining apartment he pointed
to several shelves completely covered with the
glittering array. "Those are ell Miss BIS pres
ents" he explained. she seems quite satisfied
with them so far and comes every few days to
look them oser to see what is added
"Oh, but you have my Dress" said one woman
TO another at a Newport garden party.
"Your dress, my dearr' exclaimed the other;
"say rather the dress of half dozen Of our most
intimate friends 1t Is the Doucet model which
Nine brought out. and she has simply copied
II right and left ii is really most outrageous, but
what are we to dor
There ought to be a law against repeating the
same gown" said another Of the group In Bar
Harbor last summer there were actually fifteen
costumes exactly alike down to the minutest de-
tail II was very hard on the women. for they
were very expensive crea tons and rather conspicu-
GUS and It quite absurd to meet the same
gown at every turn"
Yes II is really becoming q serious evil. chmed
IN q third Worth is notorious for his
cool audacity in sending replcas Of his robes
TO his American customers; and not only
that but he actually sends sometimes last years
models friend of mine not long ago had oc-
oasion to take a new gown which he had sent her
10 her New-York dressmaker for some slight
alterations. Now mind you do not copy 1t, Mrs
s. she said. No. ma'am, the woman quietly
replied, I have already made quite number OF
dresses on that model, for II is the fac-simile OF
one got out last have just sold 1t at half
all fbe
possible
THE worst Of 1t ALL said the wearer OF the gown
.fs that we have protection whatever; we are
Obliged to put UP with any treatment that they see
fit to bestow upon US. for they know mat we CAN
not AFFORD 10 quarrel with them. III we DO IL VIII
be worse for us than for them. so they simply 90
not care Even their best customers are not e@-
empt from this serious annoyance. Fancy the ieei-
hgs of Mrs. Murray Hin the other day at 'he
Casino when her rival, pretty Mrs. Beaconstree',
OF Boston walked in In exactly the same costume
Every one smiled 1t was Impossible 10 help IT,
and they both looked as annoyed as possible i"eie
really ought to be some concerted acuon '""' W
prevent this wholesale copying.
rwo 0ooa.s,zed country houses OF the same d.
,oar.ions-tbat is two houses containing the sa"e
number Of rooms. and the same roof covering ,
no bu,t tho one to cost In the neighporhooo Vi
1900 and the other anywhere from $lV"V ~
$4,000 The difference consists IN the s'ihp"'"' u
the architecture the heavness OF the timoers' anu
the sort OF lumber employed; In the puy'hs Vi
doors. windows, etc. OF cohVenuon"' ' 49,. g.
Who turn them out by wholesale; IN
the ouaItv Of the flooring. the quality OF the wall
finish and the amount OF work bestowed upon the
interior and last but not least in the avoidance Oh
detail OF all kinds. OF course where MOUSE -
built to live in winter and summer THESE srea' u''
ferences are OF less ii"po',' IN,
such a house must necessarily De puI'
with ,.,ow TO protection against colu'
but where simply summer comfort Is tn. the
cons,dsra,,or The lighter and less expensive
character Of building affords all that u nece
hethe way of space and convenient hV'hs' sa'' =,