Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-14
.FADS AND FASHIONS.
Wherein They Differ, and Some Of Both
That Are Popular.
SOCIETY JUST BEFORE EASTER.
Last Week Rather Dull, Hut This
One VIII he Gay-woman's Club
Meeting and other Entertafn-
nents-The Two Operas.
The study of '.fads and fadisms" is


The study of "fads and fadisms" is
unique. '.,
To call a fad fashion is Incorrect,
because fad may be the fancy of one
person; a fashion must have a plurality
OF votaries.
A fad may be defined, thirst for the
unusual, the desire to be unlike one s
confreres, to be eccentric enough TO at
tract attention, and to enjoy even short
lived conspicuousness. which is the end
and aim OF many. Out of this desire grow
many absurd customs. which, being in
troduced and appropriated by individuals.
become fad-sometimes a fashion.
In old times this inordinate fancy for
particular or unusual things was termed
a hobby" or MANIA" and the change
Of term by no means indicates any modi-
fcation OF the peculiar characteristic, for
a fad Is simply craze for something
out Of the common order of things Many
of the fashionable fads have their origin
in the necessity or convenience OF the
originator. 1t would be amusing TO trace
many OF these TO their starting point
anu show the folly OF the followers OF
every new Idea.
There was never time when their
number was quite as great as at present
There seems TO be no limit to fadism,
II attacks people on every possible sub
ject. Nothing is exempt, nothing roo
sacred to be touched by its influence.
There are fads In dress, in etiquette, in
entertaining. in amusements, in literature,
in art, in mourning, in religion.
The old and the young may have diff
ferent fads. but they are so only In kind
not In degree.
Common sense and good breeding some
times suggest these freaks. which, under
those conditions, commend themselves.
one, for instance. suggests that women
who play the part of hostesses shall not
wear jewels. A fey rings only are per
missible, though the casket may be
trimming with gorgeous gems. Yet, when
the same woman II guest, she Is per-
mltted to wreath her hair with pearls
and weight herself with diamonds, If she
likes. There Is more good taste than
usual in this fiat: A hostess should never
overdress.
Here is a funny little freak OF feminine
fancy that is destined TO enjoy brief
day of popularity among fads: Madame
and Madamoiselle are signing their letters
and notes to friends and acquaintance
alike. with their Christian names only.
! II is a faint imitation Of the ancient and
veIl-known custom still followed by noble
foreign women The Queen OF England,
we are told, signs all but official docu-
ments with the simple name Victoria,
lust as the Princess of Wales uses Alex
andrna," and the Duchess Of Devon
| shire. Louise" and the Empress or
Russia. Marie" No, for Mrs. Brown,
Mrs. Jones, and Mrs. Ro Va son, 1t is quite
| q fad to subscribe themse ves Jane
Susan" and MARY" every TO but on
| their bank-books.
II is still a fad for an engaged ~ o
! expect a deposit cup on the annouEC
ment Of her engagement from every sHi
friend. How and where the queer luea
| originated Is more than the glver OF re-
| COVER of these pretty little pledges OF
affection can tell. They only know that
II is the right thing to do and wheh
| the exciting announcement comes OF the
| new-formed happiness, the friends or the
Young lady hurry Oft without question
| 10 search the china-shops for the rarest
band-painted coffee-cups. so delightfully."-
costly and so entirely new.
| with some women the use W
| kinds of stationery and all the accessories
~ their writing para phernalia is a lad.
| To have the newest introduction OF STA
| tionerv. 10 begin her notes on the wrong
| side Of the paper, on the back-anywhere
! hut In the commOn-sense ana usual way
| ION the front page; to write out III,
| da.e or TO use Roman letters, lnstean
| ~ Main figures-iu fact, to make each
| communication as much OF Cnlhese-
puzzle as possible. and complete ,he To-
| nundrum by signing II Mary is 10 max
| her the most envied and initiated Votary
| ~ "fadiem." When In first MOURNING
| 0et rs saw. for her husband, the Dahu
| y, hlacl on paper and cards Is tuily q
fourth Of an inch wide. IL remains NC
| width for eight months; then, mohth "
| month. IT slowly narrows. In the seconu
year she begins to use cold-duli gray
and then she slips into faint lavendar'
| heliotrone violet. and finally into pure
| white All this time she uses wax .lla'
| evactlv matches the tinting or the paper,
| and until a second marriage brlghtehs "e 81.
| NE the name and address IS stdihpeu y,
| hiocl, lettering on the back page OF al,
her paper. 1t is the denca'e V@u9 tbe
| widowhood, comprehensive 10 '"e
| initiated a., o0,dorc,,
Is ,here a fad more In the ascenuency
| ,hon tho absolute craze for the MODEST
| violet? We used to have 10 eearch ioi
| the
| "Violet by the messy stone,
| Ualf-hidden from the eye,
| % which Wordsworth wrote, but the sem
| tlment is obsolete which inspired tne au-
| thor. Violets are no sweeter, hor uIue. ;
| nor more to be desired than they were III
those old days when poets wrote o. 'h IN
| and thew hid themselves along the Dor
| ders of country flower-gardens. ana we
| niclxed n dozen or more and wore them
| for their fragrance. But the priceless
yiolet now fIaunts itself by the hundreds
evervwhere. and II is the eloquent, but
| coetiv medium by which the old, ola
| story is borne from Romeo to juliet,
| and IL takes a great many more 10 tel
| the tale than It used to do.
To cau bIcvcllng a fad is almost fiat
| terry to the craze. -.
Tha man. woman, or child who does
| nor "snin on the wheel is not only "oul
az H." as far as amusement goes. Du'
| can no longer converse in polite circles
| THE lingo used by "wheelers." the slang
| the terms applicable only TO those VINO
| .'wheel." occupy the conversation IN al
most every drawing-room. Tennis WA
nothing to It; even baseball ana 1oot
| hall are secondary, and this last IS by M
means n small Recommendation. We car
forgive the bicycle much IL 1t banlshe'
| ball talk, even for a brief season. IL u
| only a choice of fads after ALL
One Of the fais in dress pertains e
| foot-gear, and in the large cities has at
| tanned great magnitude. Wearing charm
ing. well-ftted boots and having one
skirts cut just a wee-bit short In IRON
are not the only resources for display. IL
| tho boudoirs OF the yotaries are pretty
| French cabinets, with plate-glass Innings
| ON the shelves OF which are displayet
| every style OF shoe, set in rows. INT
sturdy little calfskin boot, yellow walk
ing-shoe, skating, bicycling-shoe. nea
| pointed overshoes. tall, patent-leather rid
ing-boots, fairy-like satin, Suede. ani
patent-leather Cinderella slippers, Turkish
and fur-lined pantoufes-a bewilderinI
display-and In their midst stands pal
OF wax feet bare and prettily tinted. OF
which the shoemakers fit their shoes
Trilby fad
In entertaining. the universal fad u
light. Professor Tyndall never studied
light with more earnest. scientific ener
gy than do great many modisl
women, a large part OF whose pleasure
in life depends on just the strength AM
tint OF glow shed over drawing-rooms an
dining-rooms The hostess who has m
| - atbv and tact than 10 fill he