Omaha daily bee., 1894-01-14
WOMAN'S LATEST FAD
Finds Pleasure in the Tangled Mases of
Political Economy,
FROM ADAM SMITH TO HENRY GEORGE
A Washington Hostess Describes How the
Most Correct" Tables in the United
states Are S~et-Feminine
Anaits.

kLilld, WHICH, inc dSbIOIlOilltI NOllllh'hNig
points to canals in Mars ana when the
psychologist thinks he explains the telc-
pathic mystery Of thought currents: but
still more is it the day Of political econ
omy, says the New York Herald, that
Humanitarian science which seeks to
know with unerring accuracy how the
greatest good materially may result TO
the preatest number, owing its exist
ence to this the nineteenth century. OF
which it is the most characteristic de-
velopmcnt.
1t has become the popular study of the
masses and is passing into a cult with
the classes.
We listen to the wisdom Of Adam
Smith, ponder over the alarming prcdtc-
tions Of Nautilus, and rather incline to in
dOrse Henry Georges equal distribution
of good things, but at the end of it all
we continue to chew the cud of aimles5
meditation, without having come much
nearer the solution of fair equivalents
for time and labor or the vcXed question
of land privileges.
But the study and discussion of politi-
cal economy as an intellectual TAD IS not
~monopolized by the scholar and the la
borer. by no means. The realist in
the realm Of fiction and the idealist in
the ranks of ~womanhood bridge the mid
die distance between these NO..
Howells caught the fever some time
ago. and both in IA Hazard of Now For
tunes and his latest book he pits capital
and labor one against the other, himself
half committed to the socialistic point of
view. He and Bellamy eat spaghetti in
n little restaurant Of the Italian quarter
of Boston. and seem to feel that they are
daringly progressive, but beyond this
evidence of liberty, equality and frater-
nifty there is nothing toprove that either
of these dabblers in political economy
has conceived Il practical plan for the
redistribution of earth, air and water.
The girls, too-the dear, busy girls
are taking up the study in dead earnest.
Quite recently one of the most charming
young women of our real Vanity Fair-a
tall, willowy girl, with a peach complex
ion-read u wonderfully we'll written
paper before her admiring sisters.
You will zeal some Of the enthusiastic
economists say hat one ought not to
spend money for Roquefort cheese, be-
cause it is an exclusive" luxury: but
that one may buy costly paintings and
bric-a-brac because they are 'incluslve,"
meaning that in eating the cheese you
get the whole pleasure yourself, while
in setting up the French pictures. the
bisque kittens and impossible pugs be-
fore the admiring eyes of he bricklayer
who may peep between the parted cur
tains of your front window you include
to him his share of happiness in them.
Oh, yes, it is the correct thing now to
be well up in political economy. 1t has
struck US harder than the Ibsen or
Paderewski craze From the highest
statesman and deepest thinkers, as well
as from the callow debaters of every vii
lage lyceum, we hear the changes rung
on "overproduction," artificial stand
ards primitive rights" and the rest
of it. The kindergartens will probably
take up the fad this coming winter.
The ways of the Washington woman
are past finding out. You never know
what she will do. Sometimes she affects
a rapt interest in politics. She haunts
the galleries at the capitol; lunches
with the statesmen of the family at the
restaurant therein; has favorite bills
for which she Hobbies, and discovers
deadly antipathies for other measures
which can be supported only at the cost
OF her friendship.
And then, again, she nonchalantly
proclaims her Indifference to the affairs
of state; thinks it plebeian to go to the
capitol, and taboos the discussion of
politics in her presence.
Sometimes she speaks scornfully of
Washington society, writes a corre-
%spondent of the New York Sun, and ex-
plains with an air of being bored to
death, that her enforced residence there
cannot end too quickly to suit her,
And, when you summon your most blase
and disconnected expression to meet her
the next time withal, behold you learn
that Washington is a queen among
cities, and hat no other society in the
land can be compared with that of the
city of magnificent distances.
In ono of these recent bursts of enthu-
siasm a Washington woman expressed
herself on dinners as they are given at
the national capital. "Here in Wash
ington," she declared, probably the
most correct tables in the United
States are set, and if you would know
how your feast should be spread, pay
heed unto the words of a Washingtonian
who has seen many administrations and
placed her feet beneath countless dinner
laden m%ahoganies."
Then she tells how this acme of COR
r%ectness is to be attained. She begins
with the flowers. She cautions pros
pective dinner-givers against overload
ing their tables with flowers, especially
those whose heavy fragrance is not a
pleasant accompaniment to roast n
salad. A single long-stemmed rose ut
the plate of every lady, a boutonniere by
the plate of each gentleman, q few care
lessly scattered roses, and, if thedetora-
tions be high, two tall slender vases of
roses with ferns of dropping green
around the base; these are all-suficient.
Next she lights the lamps for you; a
very high one in the ENTER and u small
one at each end; or, if you prefer. low
c~andelabra, The lights are placed on
an embroidered scarf stretched diagon-
ally across the table, instead, as for
merly, from side to side. The French
fashion of arranging the dinner table is
TO set it completely, with the exception
of such dishes as are brought in hot,
and ices and salads. The English, ON
the contrary,do have the fruits, sweets
and dessert brought in until the last
course has been cleared away. The CEN
trail fruit basket is passe, Three or
four small dishes scattered here and
there or half hidden in the green ferns
around the center lamp, are more cor
rect according to Washington canons of
taste.
If you wish to have a truly capitalize
arrangement Of the glasses, knives,
forks and so on, attend to these rules.