Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-26

|
| 9flNV Y erland for over a
| IVY week now, and still
| the child is weaving
| tairy tales about this, her very first plunge
into the big busy world. 1 really do not
| blame her for her raptures she was born
south of Mason and Dixon's line and never
was north Of 1t but once in her life; she
took one trip to New York two years ago.
and to that time had imagined that she
lived in the center of civilization. She has
never been west of the Mississippi river,
| and the region of her experience repre-
| sents to her whole world; SO it is not to
be wondered at that she is narrow in her
ideas and conservative in her views.
Pretty and sweet as a wild rose though
she is, Mary is rather commonplace because
she is so bound down by custom and false
| notions of the Importance of blood" An
cestors occupy big place in her estima-
! ton, regardless of their prominence in his
tory, and official position ranks everything
else; to tell the truth she is Just a little
bit of snob and afraid to be natural I'M
less there is a precedent for 1t. OF course
she has been spoiled, as only daughters
| always are and association with official
society and politicians has given her a
superficial knowledge of such things such
| as should warn others to drink deep or
taste not the Pierian spring." Tor she as
sertS herself in a most amusing manner
making perfectly dreadful blunders with
| an aplomb worthy of a better cause She
has lovely disposition, though, and is
very attractive. l am delighted that she is
| to have an opportunity to see something of
| the world, though L really think that an
American should know his own country
| thoroughly before going off to view and
criticise other lands
The Education of Travel.
believe firmly in the educa ton that one
| gets in travelling. If one can't have book
education and travel. too, think that the
| travelling will be of the most benefit The
only way to broaden the Judgment.
strengthen perception, expand ones knowl-
edge and widen the whole mental horizon
Is to rub up against the world You can
bring a great deal of the world to you in
| books and pictures and people, but If you
want to know 1t thoroughly, seek il in the
by-ways and hedges, as well as in the mar
ket and drawing room. The narrow, con-
| tracted views of political and social reform
| ers would undergo great and desirable
| changes If their promulgators were men OF
| wider experience and broader knowledge of
| peoples and places by actual contact, in
| stead of having only theoretical acQuaint-
| ance with them. Theories so often fail to
| hold water when the condition confronts
| one.
sparrow convention Is not to be men
toned in the same breath with the COM
motion that this hastily planned trip has
caused among the girls. They are all so
delighted at Marys good luck-only one of
them. Elaine, knowing just what she has
ahead of her in tour of the world-and
| they are all full of suggestions for her COM
| fort. She will have to economize for the
| trip will extend to the "uttermost' parts
| of the earth, almost and will cost a great
deal, but the poor child's economy would
| not go very far. fear. If she had to de-
| pend on herself or her mother. Mary's
| mother is charming woman, but what she
| does not know about economy would fill a
very large book.
Costs Money to See the Queen.
'Will you be presented, Mary?' asked
Bobbie. when they spoke of the English
end OF the journey. Bobbie isn't bit snob-
| bish, but she thinks with hundreds of other
girls that kissing royalty's hand is next
to being a seraphim. and she has some sort
of a ridiculous idea that all one has to do
to be presented, If one is a daughter of a
Congressman, or a government official, is
to call at the queens palace and present
ones card, and England's sovereign will
rush right down and greet her with open
arms and the freedom of the royal pre-
serves. Her face was a study when Mary
presentation, as 1t would cost so much
! money, time and trouble. Jennie looked up
with an expression of horror
why, Mary! Can one buy a presentation,
just as papa does an office or votes? That 8
just dreadful! OF course Ii Is all right to
buy an office If one wants 1t very badly
| indeed. and they really come quite high
sometimes, papa says, but society is quite
different. 1 have heard that the queen was
mercenary, but L didn't know that one had
to pay TO meet her just like one pays to see
the fat woman in the museumi That is
worse than IL Is here. One can get to zee
even the Presidents wife il one can present
the proper credentials long enough before
hand"
20! didn't mean that" exclaimed Mary
in dismay. Il don't think that one could
possibly buy ones way to a presentation to
the queen; 1 was thinking of the cost OF the
gown and the accessories. 1t would have
been nice to be presented, you know, and
mamma could have accomplished it through
friends she has in London. but it would
have taken SO much money and more time
than we can spare. After all, I'd rather
be an American girl than court belle" she
concluded bravely, and you could have
learned a lesson in patriotism in the way
those girls appauded that sentiment
docs a presentation gown have to be
different from any other kind OF a grand
toilet?" asked Nora anxiously, as though
she might have been contemplating perpe-
'trating presentation into English swell
circles.
''Of course it does" replied Mary prompt
ly, delighted to display her erudition. in
the first place 1t must be extremely decol-
lete; the lord chamberlain has to pass on
that. Think of having to ask a man il your
gown Is low enough in the neck That low
necked gown was my first stumbling block
Papa is the most accommoda ting creature
generally, but he Is adamant where low-cut
dresses are concerned. He will not let me
wear anything but a medium low bodice
and insists on sleeves to the elbow: he is
so old-fashioned in his ideas. or course I
obey him, but 1t Is not hard to do. since T
am so thin that L would look like a fright
in low bodice. 1t is a great deal more
artistic to wear puffs OF tulle and lace and
make people think that you have charms
that are worth seeing if you choose to un-
cover them,'' she concluded with frank
philosophy.
A Show of Necks.
/ Does every woman, old or ugly, stout or
thin, have to wear a decolete bodice?"
asked Bobbie, incredulously.
Yes, it is one of the rules for the court
functions. Not only those who are pre-
sented, but all the women who attend the
presentation. When Queen Victoria was
young she had mighty pretty shoulders
and arms, and she liked to show them.
she wanted her court to present a gala
appearance on all occa sions. SO she issued
an edict that all the women who attended
the court functions should come in decollete
ha ha