Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-01

the imagination to pick UP sly little So
laces in the French fashion. They skate
alone or with q half a dozen wooden En-
glishmen, who do not hesitate to leave
them CURLY the moment the chance comes
to pay their court TO some French girl
they know by happy luck.
American Drinks Popular.
1t is the afternoon. The morning price of
90 cents is now raised to 81 for these hours
OF high society. The very walters, busy
with mixed drinks, swell and demean them
selves with even more prodigious dignity
because Princess Eulale is now skating
because Lord Dufferin is going round and
round.
Two things are noticeable. First, how
the ladies go for strong mixed drinks
scurs, cocktails and the other burners.
There was a time when IT was thought bad
form in Paris to take these American con-
coctions. Just now 1t is high chic. The
circle of small tables round the Ice Is handy
TO the promenaders and the skaters Each
lady, each young bud of high society, has
her stiff drink upon handy table, where
her mother sits, or chaperon or friend.
''Garcon, another cocktail, gin this timer
The second observation has to do with
the attendants, skating masters, very ele-
CANT In dark green fancy suits all edged
with astrakhan. Knee breeches give an op-
portunity to show their splendid calves.
There are more than q half dozen; all are
men Oh me appearance, strong,
sympathetic. watchful and complaisant. 1t
is their work to skate with any lady who
desires them. CountesseS and even
princesses desire them. Sometimes tile
ladies skating with their cheap Adonises
stop, flushed, moist-eyed, to rest. You hear
.the lady's confidential tone, caressing, play
full. as a rich young blood would use In
chatting with pretty shop girl In the
half-lights of the Paris evening time upon
the street Sure they are lucky skating
masters in the afternoon, and they appear
a bit too naughty even, sometimes, at first
glance. But then reflect that they must
keep the ladies at their proper distance.
If any lady feels that she has been snubbed
by a naughty skating master In the after
noon, she may console herself by knowing
that the stuck-up fellow Will be put In mis-
right place this evening by the ladies or
the dem-monde. The demi-monde would
scorn to squeeze their hands and lean upon
them heavily.
A Gay Scene.
Toward o'clock the strlcter-minded
ladies leave. They do not wish to rub
against the demi-monde, which now begins
to make its entry. Gentlemen who stay
have now a double duty. And to be polite
with ladies Of the half-world in the same
room with ladies of society takes all the
finesse, all the practice Of special train
ing and a hardened nerve. The ladies who
reInain-we must not get these ladies mix
ed mean the real and bona fide ladies
who remain-stay to observe the cocottes'
clothes, to post themselves up on the latest
fashions, which these other ladies-of the
demi-monde-set for them.
The demi-monde and fashionab!es skate
along together now till dinner time. as
amicably as the clean and unclean animals
in Noahs ark doubtless amused themselves
while 1t was raining. Two hours Of skating
Is long time in that atmosphere, where
biting cold is mixed with heat. The cold
comes from the real ice on which people
skate. The heat is from the decorative
stoves around the promenade which circles
round the great arena. The building was
originally raised up for a cyclorama. Being
round In form. with one broad gallery, the
skating surface now looks like circur ring
The circle of small tables is like the front
row of seats around circus ring. You Sit at
one of these small tables, now so crowded
Danes and demoiselles in crinkhng silks
and precious stones sweep past you. Club
men chatter with them unafraid. More
silks more splendid cloaks and capes. More
brilliant faces, lips too red and eyes too
black. Young girls OF good society pale
like wan morning stars. The married
ladies knock their skates off spitefully.
Come, Lucie, Helene. IT Is time to go!
STERLING HELLO.