The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-03-16
STRANGE THINGS.
Fads and Suggestions Noted by Kate Jor-
rspecial Correspondence.l


tSpecial Correspondence.l
NEw YORK, March 12.-It is strange what
fund of impressions may be gained by one
short walk taken nthoughtfully through this
cosmopolitan town of many phases.
CHANGED the other day upon an old curiosity
shop where a blind man, sitting in a
shadoWy corner beside a great mahogany
clock, played On dusty violin that bore
within the marks which proved it genuine
Amati. / discovered az old mansion in
quaint corner of the town where the marble
hall was chipped in a thousand places:
where thet wide parlors, now the abode Of
an Italian fish merchant, were decorated
with mirrors that once reflected early CEN
tury bellies. The mirrors were cracked. else
they would certainly have been sold long
ere this, and strings of onions were strung
across them.
1t is strange how few of the celebrated in
ternational marriages turn out well. Every
year our American girls marry foreign no
blemen. Some of them doubtless are love
matches, for AS a naive little maiden said
in my hearing recently, Il think it would
be the easiest thing in the world to love a
prince" Almost relentlessly, however, the
divorce or at least accounts of marital mis-
cry follow the brilliant descriptions of these
marriages in high life. The Princess Colon
na is the last to join the homeward bound
recruits. Perhaps the wives are not un-
happy when the severance comes, for they
still possess the title for which doubtless
cool fortune has been paid. 1t is safe to
say that the European man cannot tolerate
the independence irgrained in the Ameri-
can woman, and probably for this reason
more often than any other disaster is the
result
1t is strange how feminine taste changes
in its choice OF stage idols from one season
to another. For a long time Herbert Kel-
cey was the hero of the matinee girl Now,
above all others, Henry Miller occupies the
throne. Strangely enough, the part he is
at present playing in Sowing the Wind"
has firmly established him. In this he is
an old man with a gouty foot and an UNI
brageous past. But never has Miller looked
handsomer, and never has he had lines to
speak that must so surely ingratiate him
with women. In the clothes Of the coun-
try gentleman of 1870 he is most attractive
the long, white hair curling below the
ears, the stock, the fowered waistcoat, the
leggings, the long ecru coat, the light col
ored beaver hat-all make a picture most
artistic and romantic Then his lines Are
they not all of regret for having wounded
one woman's heart? Do they not all
breathe of an old love put away long be-
fore, but never forgotten-cherished as
flower sometimes is between leaves grown
yellow with timer
1t is strange and very sad, too, how COM
mon the opium and hasheesh habit is, if
we are to believe the doctors. AT little
dinner, not long since, when the cigarettes
and coffee made coy atmosphere in which
to listen to the horrible, young physician
described the effect of hasheesh upon one of
his patients. "Hasheesh," said he, sis par
ticularly deadly, and the frequent unfor-
tunates who find relief from dun colored
reality through its fumes discover too late
that they have sent their souls into the
very deeps of depression. As my patient
informed me, the first experiment entailed
horrible nausea, but if the novice is bound
to know all its joys and sorrows he con-
tinues. At last he passes the gate This
term implies that he is emerging into the
pleasures it creates. Following this come
dreams as marvellous as scenes from the
Arabian Nights The subject feels hap
piness that touches heaven. Then he falls
asleep, and the next morning he is ripe for
suicide A shuddering horror and chill
nave but JOy-d uedJnlN,
poisonous agony and inertia-a sense of pol
luton and self disgust that no words can
do justice to-"
1t is strange how popular the theater
party, tandem" style, has become. 1t is
decidedly an enjoyable way to spend an
evening, and the supper party that follows
is By no means the smallest part of the
pleasure. A very pretty effect was gained
at Broadway theater last week. There
were eight girls, including very pretty
young chaperon, and all wore white
gowns They sat in the front row of the
orchestra, and ranged behind them were the
men-an effective contrast in their black
coats. Conversation was conducted over
shoulders, which, by the way. gives it a
confidential tone. But / think the men
like the tandem" arrangement so well be-
cause it allows slipping out between the
acts very easily-no gowns to crush, only a
whispered apology, and they are off.
KATE JORDAN.