New-York tribune., 1896-12-27
HER LUXURIEs.
ruE GIFTS WHICH BRING MOST PLEAS
Ire TO THE WOMEN OF THE
OLD WORLD

In olden times ii was customary for the peo-
ple Of the Old World to celebrate New Years
Dav by presenting offerings to their monarchs
The sovereignty of the latter has, however
been TO such extent superseded by that of
the fair that it is no longer the Amounted of
the Lord" who receive this form of homage on
the birthday of Adam but the daughters of Eve
In most of the countries of Continental Europe
in Egypt. and throughout all the cities and
towns Of the Levant. the graceful practice now
prevails for men to offer on the frs; day of Jan
uary to the ladies of their acquaintance-espe-
cially TO those at whose houses they have
ceved hospitality during the previous twelve
months-their good wishes in the form OF a
pretty present The gift, being destined to az
ford pleasure To the recipient and to win in
consequence her goodwill for the donor.
ally consists Of something that has bearing on
that particular form Of luxury which is known
TO be her hobby. its value being. OF course. pro-
rortonate TO The grade of friendship, since it
would be N execrabe taste for relative
stranger TO send anything of great intrinsic
value the privilege of making any such offering
being reserved to old and tried friends.
This suggests brief review of those particu-
lar articles which the women in the various
parts of the world consider as their pet luxuries.
In Spain, as we'll in Portugal. the luxury
Il
and attention is the lace used in the fashioning
Of her fan and. above all, of her mantilla. Few
men have any idea. until they attempt to make
\ New Years offering Of this kind. OF the amount
Of money that can he lavished on even the tnest
nie,. of lace particularly If it happened to be
old Italian or Spanish point dating from the
sixteenth or seventeenth century. Ignorant as
the Spanish woman is on most subjects. she is
conspicuous for her profound and extensive
knowledce Of the different kinds of laces, and
her talent for distinguishing point dAlencon
from point dArgentan and point de Nenise
from, that old Italian point known by the name
Of Greek lace is only equalled by the grace with
which she wears the national mantila and
rranoeuvres her fan.
II is in France Of course that feminine lux
uries are the most refined and. II one may De
ner-nitted TO use the word. eclectic. 1t Is in
ieering with her reputation for dantiness and
olorarce that the Frenchwoman should prefer
o,vers to almost every other species or orer-
ing AT the New Year Nowhere In the world
do flowers play so great a role as at Paris ana
an elegante of the gay metropolis VIII De per-
fectly content with the simplicity or her at
tire and the plainness of the furnishings Oh 'ei
home. providing she can surround hersen WIN
flowers 1t is pretty taste when eXtehus 10 al
ranks Of the people. from the highest 10 me
lowest and In the early morning. JUST "i'S'
uass during the season the little dressmakers
annrentices and the mattresses AT the cheap
Bouillon Duvals restaurant may be seen elbow
.,.;r wov through crowds Of the grandest
ladies' Of the French capital in that flower mar
,,e, hssde the Madeleine which in spring ana
.urnr,er "a one of the most picturesque and at
tractiye sights in Paris
At ST. Petersburg and MOSCOW "heie '"0
New Year is celebrated according 10 lie ii'e
and calendar Of the Greek Cnurch. 'he ioNo'
form of luxury appears 10 be bric-a-orac' C"ue
tho nretext of sending bonhons men PACK '"e
candies in the most exquisite casKets OIL "dAe
and Sevres porcelain. or else IN poAes i'"ue "a
,ho. baautiful enamelled slverware for which
Eussian Jewellers are SO famous. Inc hussiai'
woman IL as a rule careless about her dress'
CT. ,s devoted to her bric-a-brac. and VIII
,,s, on q bideous ivory carving from the 1ar
O,,ar. or upon a bonbonniere Of Cloisonhe
onar,o1 as much rapture and enthusiasm as II
tho treasure was an animate object ana capaoie
y, returning and reciprocating her regard ana
affection - .
Although in England 1t is not customary 10
sa,d nrasents on New Years Day, Chrs'mas
ha,,g the festival devoted 10 that purpose yet
=, NAV not be out Of place here 10 ara" a'
,an,ion 70 the fact that Englishwomen are pas
s;onatelv fond Of fine furs. and that the eii'e
h;oy; ;y1-a
.nvv AZ the exhibition Of the wedding presents
- London brides are the sabes, whlch sirls /"
iceland when they belong T. what Is known
,.,o. &c the great world" or the smart SET
oo,s,aer an indispensable feature Of trousseau
r,o 1rennase women have a hobby for Jewels
Itch &c shared OF course, by nearly all other
,ro,,en Rut whereas American women-ahu '"e
MA, in the United States as well-man1est 50
,oarped q predilection for diamonds that tne ia'-
tor NAV Justly be declared 10 be ther hopp'' the
fair subjects Of Emperor Francis Joseph STU" "
pronounced preference for colored stones anu -
&c nrobable that at no court OF the "o''" a0
such superb parures OF sappnires' eiiei" i"'u''
~,.t,os and onals to be seen at that OF vienna.
:, would be difficult to describe the hoppy OF
tho italian woman. In fact prolonged rs
Sanoa at Rome Naples. Florence ana HIai
leaves one with the impression '"at my nc
none Although very beautnuI, my - ar
,rentablv deficient in intellect. bIous'il up ia ia a. a.
.rnoSnhere and amid surroundings that may pe
descrihei as the most arustlc IN lhe aa,1,,, u'
they are painfully ignorant anu .,ars re-
unappreciative in all questlohs anu a;eh ,. tbev
,a.irg Ia art while the manner IN "niCi - -
dress themselves is sufficient u sho" ma ,irn
are utterly Indifferent to the ia"s IA a1' ,here OF
,nerts Of true elegance. here aiiu M ~ a,.e~
cnurse NAV be found exceptions, but the 49, go,
age italian woman Of the best classes - e &c, non
djsappojnting creature that IL Is possio Grace
reiva there being no inward and spirtuai ~ a.
,ha. can he considered as commensurate WI" -"
undenlable beautH Of face and form. oo,as .,
Whnra nerhans the most vulgar species oi
luxury prevails among the women is N AieS- hsIr-
andria Cairo and the other nan VI n, 80 The
Western towns and cities OF 'i'c M oniSiv from
rren make money easily rise so raplu.s
he most obscure and degraded suItou'iu,'sH 90 sc.
,ha. tha,, have 10 time or opportunity 80, "
no ao - - raGroment Nor have their women
faik' and the consequence is that while os,Iv Ntw
Years gifts TO women in these places mosus are
,ai"n ,be for,n Of bonbOnniGr"s the Ia''vi ad
an ei,ber of silycr-eilt or Of gold adorhe~
W. Nth mrccious stones. banker or inerchant ol
Aiexandria or Constantnople CONSIDERING IN ,s !. sc
,ctiv natural 10 send TO the ladies' oi MS a. a.
n'ai1,ance especially if they happen TO De ',ie