Omaha daily bee., 1895-09-22
Was A GREAT SOCIAL EVENT
Ak-sar-Ben Ball Enjoyed by Those Who
Participated.
IT cAlLtDcUT MANY OF THE SMART GOWNS
Committees Did the work Well
Thong Some Minor Details We're
ed - Gossip with
Those of a Social Turn.

The Ak-sar-Ben ball was the social event
of the week. Society people had looked for
ward to it so long and so many preparations
had been made for 1t that the realization
made every one heave a sigh Of relief when
the day for the great affair arrived. The
ball was certainly a grand one and one
hugely enjoyed by those who participated in
It,. Nothing on so large a scale had ever been
attempted in Omaha before and the magni-
tude of the undertaking necessarily taxed the
resources Of the committees in charge to the
utmost. They deserve the credit for the sue
cess which crowned their efforts.
Now that It is all over, we begin to think
how much room there is for improvement for
next year. The Den made a magnificent ball
room, but how much better it would have
looked II every seat in the spectators gal
lery had been filled. Seats might have been
sold for half price. or better still, invitations
including admission might have been sent
out or given to the knights to send to prom
inent people. This is what they do in New
Orleans. Kansas City and other cities. Then
instead Of the hundreds of empty seats star
ing the dancers in the face there would have
been just so many radiant countenances.
Another point that will call for a remedy
is the treatment of the out-of-town maids.
1t was a cause of positive grief to see them
sitting in their box like patience on a mon
ument,' waiting for the people who failed
to come to introduce them and assist them in
filling out their dance programs. The court
ladies would no doubt have been only too glad
to have taken charge OF them had they known
they were expected to do so.
The greatest inconvenience of the ball
arose from the delay in starting the street
parade and in getting the floats with their
occupants back to the den. Had the parade
moved promptly the ball might have also
commenced DrOmntly and thnra would have
been no need to cut the dancing numbers
When it was noticed that the concert num-
bers were practically music wasted, the
floor committee ordered the remaining concert
numbers dispensed with and allowed that
much more time for the dancing. For doing
this on the spur of the moment they called
forth for themselves numerous expressions
of thanks from the dancers, who saw little
merit in the concert numbers anyway.
The Ak-Sar-Ben ball initiated more new
gowns than any other ball that has taken
place in Omaha. The modistes were busy
for weeks and they did credit to the event
by their work. OF course there were two
or three costumes that attracted particular
attention. That of Miss Hartman was easily
the most striking of those worn by the
Omaha bellies. 1t was black with yellow
chrysanthemum trimmings. Miss Alice
brakes costume was also a much admired
study of lavender. The sensation of the
evening was the appearance Of Miss Isadore
Rush in a handsome brocaded silk. Miss
Rush's costume was literally taken in by
every person on the floor and was the subject
of many enthusiastic remarks.
Do not disdain dress and the little ~niceties
Of the toilet. You may be a very clever
woman, perhaps even intellectual; but, for all
that, you can rot afford to be careless in these
matters.
No woman with any sense of self-respect
should allow herself to sink into a dowdy,
but, whatever be her trials, vexations and
disappointments, she should dress as we'll as
her position will allow.
Do not imagine that we are advocating ex-
travagance; on the contrary, simplicity is
our motto, which, IL united to good taste
will be found more effective in the eyes of
husband, father, brother or lover than the
most costly attire which the milliner's art
can invent.
A simple bow in the hair may look quite
as coquetish and fascinating as a diamond
aigrette; and a cotton dress, IL fresh and
prettlly made, may be as becoming as silk
indeed, we have often seen a cotton eclipse
a silk.
We mention this to illustrate the fact
that riches are little compared to taste,
and that every woman may dress well If she
chooses; that, |. fact, 1t Is her duty to her
self and those around her to dress as well as
her position will allow.
Those who accuse us who write OF the
fashions, and you who read OF friyolity and
triviality, forget that it is Just as EASY TO
'Sfh 80 ~ 10 ~ III dnl InAt
to dress out of fashion requires as much
expenditure of thought and care as to dress
In 1t, for one who is tastily and neatly at
tired Is not obliged to think of her dress at
all when in company, while a poorly or badly
dressed person feels always uncomfortable.
How to he II Happy Old Maid.
That is what one girl wants to know. and
this is the way:
To have SO much to do that there is no time
for morbid thoughts.
To never think for a moment that you are
not attractive, and to make yourself look as
charming as possible.
To be so considerate of the happiness of
others that Ii will be reflected back to you as
from a looking glass.
To never permit yourself to grow old. for
by cultivating all the graces of heart. brain
and body. age will not come upon you.
To conclude to waken up cheerfully in the
night. ~
To believe that a llfe-work has been mapped
out for you, that 1t is near you, and to dc
that which your hands find for you.
To remember that the happy old maid Is
the one member of a family, who, not having
any other claims on her, can be Gods own
sunshine to those in sorrow or in Joy.
To be willing to give a suggestion that will
help somebody over the bad place in life's
journey.
To be ready to talk about a book, a picture
or a play, rather than to permit yourself to
indulge IN unkind words about anybody.
That's the way to be a happy old maid,
But now | come to think about 1t, that's the
way to be a happy woman in any station OF
life, no matter whether you are married OF
not; and a happy old maid is just a happy
woman ard a good one whom no man has
been fortunate enough to obtain for his very
own, as mistress alike of his house and
heart.
Woman Who PIcases.
She knows Just how to talk to all kinds
and conditions OF men," was the
dation given for a bright woman who make;
her living as much by her ability to please
as by her actual labors.
Seeing that woman afterward and observ-
ing her closely, one could not but be i'm.
pressed with the truth of what had beer
said. She was gay with the gay, silent when
any one else wanted to talk, laxative with
the shy. always good tempered. never toe
animated and never, never visibly in pain OF
In tears. She was always charming. bright
sympathetic and sweet. She was witty, too
but not terribly so, She kept her wit to IL
lumine conversation and to tighten dull
spirits; not TO burn hearts nor scorch sensi
tive feelings. Everybody went from he,
nrPSPuca fpelinp rnm fortoh1o Ia IL