New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-16
HOME AND SOCIETY.
THE WORK OF \ MALIGNANT SPRlTE
prsHER AND HER SUGGESTIVE NEARNEsS
OF TWO WORLDs-THE LATEST FASHIONS
IN PARIs-SOME INSTRUCTIONS
TO HOUSEWIVES.


:, no,,ce how. If there is any topic that is best
avoided the talk Invariably drifts In that drectoh'
and how sometimes the most Drutd! hohe-'huS'9
are delivered in all innocence and unconscioushcsS'
until in an awful pause the unhappy DiuhdefeI
Incomes aware OF his or her indiscretion some
.i-ncs II seems as II a malignant sprlte controlled
the conversations which it directs into succession
~ tabooed subjects out of pure malice ana love OF
mischief
A. very small luncheon the other day, whereat
one of the guests was a Divorce who had married
again. the conversation. of course Immediately
turned on divorces; and straii-laced mairon
delivered quite homiiy on this very serious eNH
Of the present time. before she realized on what
very thin ice she ;readng. To break the
awkwardness of the situation. the hostess plunged
into that most absorbing of topics. the fashions
By asking If any one had seen the Marie An
,oinette hats of Reboux This brought up the
question of coiffeur. and then. with fatal per-
s!stency the evil of dyed hair was discussed win
its attendant dangers of skin troubles while Mrs
X. fresh from Paris. with Titan head instead Of
her dark locks. listened in silence. Mrs. A., VINO
had given the luncheon. was in despair
Things really seem bewtched' she said to her
self rs there subject that is safeY' And turn
ing TO her immediate neghbor she began eagerly
and volubly to talk of the latter's son. who was
in college How Pleased you will be to have him
home again. she exclaimed alphabetically. He
is 50 attractive. l have always thought grown
son would be such comfort
well Milly. you did put your foot into IL with
Mrs B. at luncheon," cried one OF her intimates
after the latter had gone. Didn't you know her
boy had been expelled from college. and the family
are at their wits end to know what TO do with
HIM"
Its good thing to be "pusher' in some ways.
When the somewhat objectionable quality Is ac-
companied by tact. II becomes of the greatest value
10 the possessor and although it may not be 50 at
'f-1a iaff oD
attains its desire. which is seldom the with I'M
obtrusive merit II is curious watch how people
who command are usually Obeyed What man
has 20 do in society" says Thackeray. with good-
humored cynicsm lis to assert himself
IF there is a good place take ii. If you want TO
go anywhere where YOU have not been invited ask
to lie asked. Ask A. ask b. ask C you will
be thought bore. but YOU will have your way
The world vii only the result and viii not
bother itself TO inquire how it was obtained.
Mrs A. comes to town with her daughters who
are fairly attractive. but not noticeabiy So Tne
family is comfortably off. but not rich; they enter
tain a little but not much: but in a few weeks
they are asked everywhere and the girls are mar
riel off one by one successfuy-while Mrs T.,
whose daughters are prett!or. whose position Is
better. and who is far more charming herself Is
quite outdistanced by her clever rival. who is a
born ''pusher'' as well accomplished tactc.an.
The talent for success. which does not seem de-
rendent on brains-although it argues certain
amount of cleverness-fOr any number OF intellect
ual capable people remain obscure all their lives.
is really push julicially managed. and often out
Of sight but it is there all the same. In short
is a quality that in combination Is really very de-
sirabe. although by its,.i i is vulgar and often
intolerable
At a recent large country wedding all the car
riages. far and near. were engaged 10 convey the
guests from the station and the various country
houses TO the bridal reception.
81 am sorry, ma'am," said the village under
taker. TO whom one OF the perp.exed hostesses had
applied in despair for coupe Of coaches. but We
had to put off two funerals to-day on account OF
this weddin."
There is a grim humor about the various uses 10
which the stock in trade OF the local sexton anu uh'r
dertaker is put. How little the gay young people at
a cot,Ilon realize that the chairs which they are
sitting have used at the sadfest Of all rites the
day before or that the carriages In which they are
conveyed the dance at neishbo Ing coantry pace
held the b.ack-robed mourners only few hours pre-
v!ously. But the curious phase OF our mortal
i;y after all. is that the awful brink OF an un-
known unaccompaniel future one can be utterly
absorbed in the veriest trifc OF the hour. noied
beauty. who. even in her old age. never for
got her appearance. was suddenly stricken with
paralysis.
What is IL that is worrying poor mamma? What
is it that she wants. cried one OF her odush'o's
herself quite an old woman.
she wants 10 take her curl papers OF, said one
Of the younger generation who also had her hite
vanities And so It the curl papers were taken
on and the Cd lady died content
peonle who are going abroad for the first time and
oven experiencei travellers who ought TO know
better generally make the mistake OF taxing 100
much with them In the way OF clothes ana wraps
Occasionally they on the other Side ana argue
that IL Is best 10 get everything ne" anu III '"'
latest fashion on their arrival in London or fats'
Either method Of procedure Is equally mistaken TOT
even in Paris there is nothing more wearisoine IMAM
the choosing. trying and fitting OF clothes "he"
ones time can be occupied 50 mucn NOR" as''ea"'S
and prontaDly The accompanying list mas po.h
made OUT by an experienced traveller who spends
her summers abroad and who says maj 'hcre dIc
very few places where this wardrobe VIII "o' Do
found amply sufficient.
She advises a lght-coored. tailor-made jacket
and Skin, dark blue and black are TO be aVonep''
some shirts for travelling. pretty bouses an p'''
one evening dress "A nice-lookng fannel drcss-
lng-gown a sufficient quantity OF substantial
underclothes colored petticoats-two batls'e ana
one silk-one or two cotton dresses,
shor, cane for evening wear Tor plays c'c' IN"
there must be q long wrap for the steamer mn
with travelling hat, dress hat and bonnet ihciuueS
all that IS really necessary. What may possibly
- .~,,, ,as a great attraction for the feminine
mind and Il If hard 20 leave out wha' s"' co"S'''
,osv no .i,st the thing" for certain OCCASIONS b"'
II will be found much more economical !" u' '''
10 supply any possible need on the o'hef S'pe ,'i,
10 carry about extra luggage for every Pou"' u
rh,ch II must be remembered the owner inuS' pay
There arc very few people who VIII AUNT INN
there Is anything new in the common potato ie.
in ..pommcs soufIees." we have a delicious ou' ny
usual way Of frying potatoes to serve VII"
brolled meats on the summer breakfast .aD'o -
lect potatoes that thoroughly ripe anu vi.
. -. Gov ,b,s nnrnose though they make nuch
.-,o~ ealad than the fully developed tu3er i'''
the potatoes carefully. Cut them In slices qua,
ter Of an inch thick; no more. little less "ou',
mako no difference. Fry them In hot ,at rh'" .n''
become soft but not til they become bro"h' i"e"
drain them out Of the fat and lay 'he'h "F'u' -
49, . ,o,,os Heat the fat again until II is
~"'N' ~" a.. . Ta,, az a time til they are