The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-23
GOTHAM GOSSIP.

proposal Of marriage ct any time NJ
under any circumstances requires mofo1A
courage and Infinite tact--undoubtedly ~.
tributes OF wornankind. Then. being ~
equipped. why may ehe not enter the Aeldf
BE sure. she would Do Il sracefullyl 1he5e'
would be no downright "Will you marry
met" cntailng. perhaps, the mortincation of
| . refusal; but there would DO rather sub.
tie leading up to the ali-importAnt cues
tion which the dulledt could not nistake.
And be sure. too, that the time would b 1T
ting: no woman would be 80 tactless - to-
propose when the adorcd one had an attack
OF grippe, as stupid man has been known 70
do. Nor would tho delicate subject b.
preached after the loved one had been out
with the boys!
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The feminine Talleyrand would arm her
self cap-a-pie for the battle; would array
herJelf I'm her prottiest gown--one essen-
TALLY womanly. by tho Wayne suggestion
OF tailor-m adcishncss, but frock all rib
| bon and lace. with a delicious frou-frou &C.
| complaining every movement. And thcn.
after dinner when the unsuspcctlng vic-
tim is at peace with tho world, all the
wiles OF womankind would be brought to
bear.
How would she propose, That's tAs
| question.
| x p -
A woman has as many moods az there
are sands on the shore-and the manner Of
| propounding the question would depend on
the mood of the hour. We're she mis-.
chiovous 1t might be like that Of tho Pur-
itan maiden OF old--a mere laughing sug-
! gcstiop, why don't you speak for your
eelt. john" or In a naughty mood,
| Cleopatra-iike imperlousness that would
| admit OF no denial.
But the clevcrest woman would be neither
| mscicvious nor haughty-she would be
sympathetic! had the world gone wrong
stocks up when he was a bear or down
| when he was a bull-she would know how
TO oonsoleor did his head ache she would
soothe; veritablc ministering angel.
y ~ y
To her sweet sympathy she would add Z
touch of sadness, Would no forgive her
II she seemed bit dull tonight It was
nothing; oh, no. nothing! Aud then. with
II visible effort would brighten. only to re-
lapse again into gentle melancholy. And
| then, his heart is stirred and he wonders
how such a charming creature can DO 40
sad. Could II he sho cares for somcbotyr
Could 1t be she cares for ---? Nonsense!
But thcn-why. yes! lie remembers. Oh,
then the rest Is easy. So In answer to
the problem. should women propose, let
me whisper In strictcst confidence they
not only should. but they do! leap year.
or no leap year, they do. Never In words!
oh. no; but by subtle suggestions; by a
thousand digns, THAT tell what words can
never speak go WELL" the impetus 10 given;
and man Is coaNed, cajoled--never driven
to ask the momentous question. and, CO.
ing home prospective benedict, he con-
graduates himself that he has proposed!
Can anything be more fascinating than
preparing tho frst layette9 And what a
host OF hopes and fears and loving thoughts
and plans are interviewer with the delicate
embroidery, the silken flowers. tho fine
little tucks and the soft. lace frills! But
Decides cost and caro- there IN also vast
deal OF foolishness In the average first
layclte. All tho pretty, costly long petit
coats and slips that mothers. especially
young mother spend so much money and
time upon arc OF minor importance. and
the articles seldom thought OF are
the ones most needed In preparing a lay
otto the hest the income can afford should
DO purchased. material for thor suit
ability and not daintiness OF look only.
The mother who can order what she pleases
for tho little new conner without thought
az TO what the whole viii cost Is not tho
one that needs ddvlco In such mat
ter. II In she who must consider tho ques-
ton OF cost az well as comfort and necessity.
Flannel should be first considered: tho
bands that are Indispensable. the pinning
blankets. shirts and pettIcoats are made
OF this material. The bands should BIO
four In number. neatly buttonhoed on the
raw cdgcs, ono width across tho flannel. Tha
plnnug blanket, necessity for very young
babee, requires one width OF flannel. three
quarters OF a yard in length. gathered neatly
to a band so that both edges viii meet in
front Tho two front edgce and tho bot
tom are finished with hem or embroidered
as tho mother may wish. Tho garment Is
pinned IN front with tiny safety pins and
serves the purpose OF keeping the infants
feet warm while II Is yet too small for the
flannel petticoat Three or four tiny shirts
are needed, made with long sleeves. cut
open after the fashion OF n small sack and
tied at the neck with n narrow ribbon run
in. The material used Ia preferably flannel.
though some mothers Use linen. Flannel
pettic0ats. four or six In number. should no
prepared. elk or dozen small cambria
| Wrappers cut sack fashion. and open down
the front, should be had, and three OF cider
down cut after the famc pattern and made
amply large. The cambria gowns or wrap
pths can be made dainty with lace and frills.
| The down oyerwrappers should BIO lined
with silk the sewing done by hand. ana a.
neatly as possible leaving no wide seams or
rough edges to distress the tiny wearer.
| A dozen nne linen handkcrchiefs should
find a place In the layette to be folded about
the neck over thu down wrapper. as even
the softcst flannel is too harsh for it DELI.
cate skin.
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sheets are necessary. Mako them one yard
and a half square. pad lightly with cotton
and quit wide apart. Tho material used
Is light quality OF shooting. In bathing
the child. place one OF the sheets OH the
lap and IN tho infant Into 1t from tho
bath enveloplng II quickly in the folds,
thus drying and warming II without risk
of exposure. Two or three similar In size.
but with a covering OF cheese cloth. will
bu found necessary to use under tho babe
when lying on the bed or in the nurae'B lap.
serving the double purpose OF warmth
and cleanliness. A baby's basket should
also be prepared, In which all the toilet
articles for the Infants use arc gathered
and kept in order. Safety pins. soap,
sponges. powder. the tiny brush and comb.
clean wash cloths. the cup. bay rum and
other necessary articles.
A dainty basket for baby was seen the
other day made by an aunt OF tho little
stranger. box Of cardboard OF the right
size was covered with cotton batting. and
again with satin In lovely rose pink,
Over this again white Swiss was drawn
plainly on tho inside OF the basket. "A
dainty cushion OF pink and white. filled each
end. ana several pockets. lace trimmed.
xxaro faetpncd to the sides, Looms To hold