New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-30
HOME AND SOCIETY.
LOOKING OUT FOR sERvANTs-NoTEs ON THE
FAsHroNs-woMEN STRUGGLING FOR A

FAsHroNs-woMEN STRUGGLING FOR A
LrvING-LIFE IN EARNEST.
1t behooves American women who have married
out Of the country be careful on returning to the
land OF their nativity to inform themselves of what
has occurred during their absence. Their friends
are apt to resent ignorance, and they themselves
are liable to many awkward moments in conse-
ouence Of q want OF knowledge of the various
changes which the people themselves imagine are
az we'll known among Americans abroad as at home.
The fact Of the matter Is however, that happenings
in our society matters of little Importance
10 people on the other side OF the Atlantic and II is
really almost impossible to keep informed Of home
affairs among the multitudinous interests OF another
social life. Still people do not like TO be asked after
various members of the family who are dead. or 10
have some black sheep tenderly inquired for, or
that absent friends should forget their marriages
or betray ignorance of any other important events.
An American woman who has married into the Eng
Nsh nobility gives amusing account Of her en-
barrassments on her first visit home after an abb
sence of several years.
zone of the first dinners given me- she said.
twas by Mr. S. at the Waldorf. His people had al
ways been most intimate with mine and his affairs
I ought to have known as we'll those of my
family And how is your dear father" / inquired
affectionately soon as We were seated at the
table He has been dead two years answered my
host turning aside, leaving me to gup down an
L
How unfeeling you must think me-, / muir
INJURED after | had succeeded in swallowing the
difficult morsel. or course l heard Of your sad
loss it was your mother intended to inquire for
she is also dead he said very solemnly. Was
Il not awful. l am quite sure he Will never forgive
me. My next transgression was even worse. An old
friend Of my mother called to see me. Her saugh-
ter and son had been my earliest playmates Rlly
/ knew was married, and congratulating myself
that | at least sure of something, asked lot
OF questions about her and her husband, and then.
as bad luck would have it. added-'and Harry?
suppose he is very clever lawyer by this time.
and is making no end of money My dear. he had
absconded the year before with some trust funds!
Mother told me about 1t afterward. and said she
was on pins and needles until she succeeded In turn
ing the conversation
Another absentee started out a round OF visits
and asked at their doors for three people who had
recently joined the great majority. Still another
MORALLY offended Of her old intimates by max
ing fun OF a man TO whom the latter engaged.
and TO whom her betrothal had been publicly an
nounced few weeks before. 1t really requires not
a little tact clear of blunders after long
absence from American society and yet seem prop
erly interested in the concerns Of ones friends. A
book of events at home would be Of inestimable
benefit to our foreign friends
Servants bedrooms not. as a rule properly
considered in otherwise luxurious households. In
carpeted or cherries, they apt TO have narrow
cot beds. hard mattresses and uninviting-looking
furniture Surely not only Is the laborer worthy Of
his hire but he she should also be worthy of
comfort and particularly of roomy bed soft
mattress easy springs and light, warm covering
all that would be conducive to healthful rest after
day of toll 1t would TO be only just that
those who work the hardest should have the most
comfortable couches: but what is given to them as
rule is cot bed, cheap mattress, cotton COM
<ort lol c,,,icp
lead and cheap blankets and coarse sheets Charity
begins at home. and visit of kindly inspection to
her servants would convict many mis-
tress Of thoughtless negligence In a cheerful kitch-
the other day were seen an easy rocking
chair and a rug placed near the window, together
with small table.
THAT is AIMS corner" said the pretty house
keeper. with bright smile. noticing her visitors
glance in that direction; and the pleasant look that
was exchanged between mistress and maid showed
that in that household at least labor and capital
understood each other and friends.
81 have the great envy to be a designer of
tunes for de ladies'" said a very famous French
portrait painter "for have the gout. moi! IL
not artist, should design robes. but should
make enemies for would cover up the skinny
necks and the fat ladies would robe In teagowns;
besides. to that. could not devise my confec-
tions for uninteresng subjects. But figure to your
self the pleasure ] had but recently. One OF my
sitters. type magnifque, true blonde Of Rubens,
gave me carte blanche 10 design the costume In
which she was to be painted All. mon dieu, the
plaisir / hadr' he continued. kissing his finger tips
enthusiastically, both in originating the costume
and then painting 1t that superb creature after
ward, 1t was robe of rose color miroir velvet,
cut low on the shoulders and edged with dark fur.
The gown made en- princesse. and with long
train that swept around in beautiful folds when the
figure was half turned in the pose did choose.
White chiffon caught with pearls was draped
across the breast. cIasped in front with pearl
clasp, and then the long ruffied ends were again
caught up the left hip with pearls Madames
beautiful arms bare save for the full chiffon
sleeves which were also caught up and draped with
pearls The portrait had veritabe success when
1t exhibited that year In the salon; and Madame
insisted It all owing to my talents as a cou-
turiere."
Queen Victoria Is remarkably conservative old
lady far the routine Of life goes. She loves
old customs and doesn't like new things-not evea
new furniture fashions when distin-
guished lady," 1t is said. "a few years back. sent
her children by Her Majesty's request to Windsor.
she sent them dressed and is still the mode.
In tucked blouse dresses without sashes. But the
Queen considered that no child should be brought
her in other but full dress and full dress In her
mind did no; exist without the smart sash she had
always known And very courtcously but firmly
she made objection TO the Iltte Ifocks anu dsheu
that the time the Countess brought her children
70 her that she would not forget the sashes.'"
The Queen still wears the horrible congress gait
Of thirty years ago In which her foot shows no
sign OF Spanish instep. Her children still address
her In the way which fashionable when they
were little things. No member OF the upper classes
said Mother then; and from the eldest to the
youngest they still calf the Queen Mamma
Another American woman has become an English
countess. This lady. who was Miss Corbin mar
ried Mr.. Walpole. nephew OF the Earl Of Oxford,
and the Earl having lately died leaving only two
daughters. the title goes TO his nephew
The space above the door Is often utilized for
.i<a hold a MI af hlue china