New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-28

ATEp-SHORTENrD MOURN!NG-SPEING
FAsIIoNs--A DAINTY HAND.
yrb.. the pcst-prandal coffee was being served
IN the crawinc-roon at a certain charming house
,sc other evening tho conversation Griied to the
subject Of the various contrctcnDs which had nap
neued 10 different members Of the party in regard
- dnners.
81 had funny experience not long stree said
crafty lt:lc Murray Hi hostess. we had num-
be- of people dining with US. and among the first
10 arrive whom we had net invited
had Sigh, acquaintance with him. however. ard
knew that there some mistake, 50 managed
10 put my husband couran: with the situation
When dinner announced found everything
arranged for: my resigned his partner 10 the
unexpected guest, and an extra place was provided
for him. a couple of days af;erward received a
note Of the mos; profuse apologies from the poor
youth who meanwhile had found out his blvnder.
lie had been asked to dine with my namcsake,
Mrs. c. q. IL was merely mistake OF the initial
and the street on his part.
MY last dilemma much worse than that"
exclaimed another matron whose husband was
more or less interested in politics. Jack was Gin
ing ct the club the other evening. and had jus
made myself comfortable IN my teagown. promls-
In; myself a cosey little dinner with new novcl
ne a companion. when the bell rang. AS never
dreamed tina: any one would come in unexpectedly
a. that hour and had consequently given no or
dcre TO the contrary. the foO;nan ushered In. one
after the other. three Western maSnatcs TO whom.
fore The situation flashed upon me at once Jack
hid asked them to dinner and had forgotten the
day, And my surmisc did no: need the confirmation
which speedily came Ii Mr.. IS saying; Il stayed
over to-day. Mrs. ~ especially :" have the pleas
IRE of dining with you Here was complication.
and am proud 70 say tha, was oqua! 10 the
occasion 4 must make my husbands apologies,
gentlemen said with NIL tho sanG-froii l could
muster as he will 10 uuavoidably detained half an
hour hope YOU will not mind !ittic che. with me
on attendant and blessing my stars that We IlNeu
near the club / excused my self 4 moment later
and dashed OF a note my delinquent sposo, com
handing him 10 return Immediately and to bring
his dinner with him. also told my people TO ar
range the table for five. and then returned 10 'e
drawing room with the delightful CONSCIOUSNESS that
7 had on a lovely teagown az all events, ana couh
.nord 20 await the denouement calmly Jus; be
fore the half hour. Jack the imperturbabc. saun-
tered in and apoogized most naturally ana TAenGa-
cjously for his unexpected business engagement
and when dinner was announced ten minutes 'd'ei
found everything en- reSle. ana most deNClou"
menu prepared Jack had appropriated 'he ui'i'c'
which kas to have been eaten at the CLUB win
couple Of friends who generously put up WITH Sill"
per fare for the OCCASION.
ct l.,d An awkward experience IN England SIN
-. third dame Il not accustomed 10 the 1oi'E
interval between the invitation and the dinner when
:. customary over there, and presented myself
oel ton soon at a very grand house in London
fortunately the family were dining quietly at home
and they took me in and made me comiortaole' anu
I had far nicer time than at the more e'a0o'"''
function the week after 49,,
"My first English dinner was memorable saiu
another lady, in that my hostess introduced me 10
nv own husband and asked him TO take me IN 10
dinner. 1t very large snair ana she hau eN'-
IDENTIFY quite forgotten who we were ana JUST mum
bed over something 10 do for names. Nha' u'i VIC
do7 WHY Mr. A. offered his arm with great
gravity. and accepted the situation ana We
roarchad into the dning-room, Darby and Joan
fashion, together!
Life IL made up Of contradictions. ard II Is no'
,nconeruous TO speak Of the rich poor and the
moor rich for after all. poverty and wealth mean
simply less or more than the cost OF living lhert
are more rich paupers in society than wouid ne
generally supposed, especially this winter when me
shrnkage Of values. and consequently OF incomes
has been immense while the standard OF living re-
mains as high and obligations are Increased rather
than lessened. 1t is not generally considered mat
II actually costs a. man or woman VINO mas the
reputation OF great wealth nearly twice as much
TO buy exactly the same Things as II uoeS d pe'so"
Of moderate means
Il cannot have my little breakfast-room re-
furnished as wish 10 this year. said the wife
OF well-known millionaire 1--WE cannot afford IT,
How absurd for you say that laughed her
moderately -well-oT friend who had just renovated
her drawing room. 'Such little room as that must
be mere bagatelle to you
"WeL" answered the other. at would seem so.
but Mr. -" (naming celebrated decOratOr) le'ls
me It will cost $4,000 to have 1t done as wish H.
Another case in point IS that OF a gentleman
whose middle name savors strongly of wealth. h.
being connected his mothers side with one OF the
richest American families. that he has been oDleen
TO drop IL. finding 1t positive disadvantage "he
travelling in Europe 10 be Identified by the traces
people and innkeepers with his golden relatives
You have no idea how hard find 1t TO make both
ends meet" said the wife OF an opuent banker
Il actually lie awake at night worrying over inc
expenses Of the fsmlly which. do what can
cannot manage to keep within a prescribed mint
often envy my maid who has everything pro-
vided for her. who has no appearances 10 keep
UP. and who receives her monthly roll OF DIS as
clear profit" Certainly domestic servants od 'heE
but know II, may be numbered among the TIC"
DOOR" for in no other class the individual ex-
penses small in proportion TO the amount re-
ceved, or the comforts enjoyed so great
AS the century approaches It's close the we
mondalne' becomes and more hurried anu
the modern paraphrase Of Solomons deciara'''''
that there is a time for everything-a time 10 weep
and time to rejoice a time to mourn ana time
10 be conforted-would seem 10 be "Therc Is no
time for anything" Certainly the term OF mourn
Ing for deceased relatives has been greatly snort
ened Of late, year being deemed s"I.c.eh. Pe'''
Of respect to show 20 the memory or the nearest
and dearest Engagements. too. are much 'e
extended, and II young people cannot De ihhr'ieu
within certain limitations OF time II is considered
better form not announce their affairs 10 inc
world. "A girl should engage herself 70 DC mar
RED not 10 be be.rothed. is societys latest uhase'
Double white yolets are the fashionable fah JUS;
now bu. they are fragrant. and not nearly a
be .utifui, as the old-time dark and light purpic
flowers which we all know and love 80 well ~
the way WIZ do not more women In town nav.
violet frames? The space required Is so small anu
there are many sunny brick walls In backyardS
which would afford good shelter Flames planicd
in Aul,ust should bloom profusely the following
February 1t would be nm interesting experiment
10 leave an order with the florist next summer ana
test the result.
a delightful Christmas present Which though'-
fu husband had made his wife this season was Il