The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-06

big or small parcel, or when her move
ments are hindered by the embarrassing
French poodle or lap dog she drags after
her everywhere Some plain and uuanect-
ed women III this particular case have re-
course to the elbow. and, by the clever
pressure of it against the hip, keep the
folds OF their dress on the side.
Another is the fortunate possessor OF a
pretty foot, who will of course, show it,
and spends all the righteousness Of her
mind at that effect, while safeguarding
the convenances.
Quite different from the latter is the good
lady who cares more for her dress than
for appearances, and who catches up her
skirt with both hands. But even this awk-
ward gesture can be made elegant BY q
clever Partisan belle, who will give to it
an ancient grace Of minuet. Not so pretty,
but more convenient, is the familiar way
which consists in bringing the folds of the
dress on the front, and belongs to an I'M
affected and easy-going character.
There is a large class of wen known
persons, generally a. floating class, says
the New York Tribune, who may be des-
ignated by the name of the 'shoddy
smart" people, who constitute the frayed
or ragged edge of fashionable society.
Just what this shoddiness, which is Alto
gether different from shabbiness, con-
sists in it is difficult to say.
The individuals composing this set are
generally to be met with at all large
fashionable functions. Their names are
in the social directory and are often mem
toned in the newspapers. Both men and
women dress extremely we'll. They are
very up to date. are apt to be sporty and
In way are recognized by the really
smart people; enough so, at all events,
to impress outsiders with a respect for
their position. All this they utilize to the
fullest extent, talking of the people in
such a manner as to lead new acquaint-
ances to suppose that they are on inti-
mate terms with "the hundred and fifty"
and are, therefore, themselves very de-
sirable people to know.
Why, then, are they shoddy, it might
be asked. Wen, in the first place, they
are generally impecunious, and although
poverty is no crime in the eye of the law,
it is, more or less. in social ethics. That
Is to say, it is ike skating on thin ice 10
skim over a gulf of debts and difficulties
in which at any moment the luckless
"shoddy smart individual, who is appar-
emily Swimming so gayly over the surface,
may be overwhelmed This keeping up OF
appearances the world does not easily for
give.
Another class that is "shody smart are
those who have money and who desire
to be fashionable, but who, somehow, have
not had discretion or tact in choosing theiI
associates. These accept the pinchbacB
claims of the aforementioned division as
pure gold. while the latter. in their turn
finding the opera boxes and dinners OF
their new friends most convenient. are
delighted to become intimate with them
Ci-devant fashionables, too, with reputa.
tons more or less the worse for wear ir
various ways are apt to drift into this
| debatabe land and become its citizens.
1t is funny sometimes to see the way
good, respectable, quiet people are taker
| in by these pseudo-smart folk, believing
! that they are everything that is fashion
| able and desirable In the summer these
| DAVIS with peacock plumage often drift
| into quiet neighborhoods. where, by right
! of their apparent familiarity with the no.
| liabilities of the great world. they become
for the time being autocrats of fashion
! enjoying the cakes and ale of existence
as typified in the hospitable entertain
| ments given in their honor.
and, departing, leave behind them
Footprints on the sands of time"
| in the shape of sundry bills and unpleas
ant rumors from afar.