The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15
COST OF ENTERING society
By Rather Conservative Estimate
It Is About $4,000.
VARIOUS DETAILS DESCRIBED
This. Of Course. Refers to the Bringing
Out Of . Bud In the Very
Smartest Of the Sweet
Circles Of Gotham.
From the New York World.

From the New York World.
1t is getting more and more expensive
every year to be a rich man. The wor-
shipper Of Mammon must be lavish in
deed to keep In the ultra-fashionable
swim. He must go his neighbors one
better in the case Of every investment,
and not the least costly Of these is his
daughter.
The education Of modern girl in the
smart set involves an array Of figures
that would mean an independent for
tune to the average professional man.
The education that satisfied our stately
grandmothersyreadi writing and
arithmetic, q few tottering accomplish
ments. q sufficient knowledge of French
to puzzle out q sentimental novel, and
an ability to darn neatly and fashion
both life and garments after one fixed
pattern-has all vanished into the past
together with the dear old lady's OBJ
solete theories that 1t was lady-like to
lace her waist, pinch her feet and avoid
all physical exercise as she would a
pestilence. Today Dame Fashion de-
crees tina. the sum expended upon the
bringing up Of a daughter Of the swell
set shall in many cases equal the dot,
or marriage portion, which places a
financial halo about the maidens of the
French and British nobility. The
American CIR! as a rule regards her
finely developed mind and magnificent
physique a sufficient marriage portion,
but where q title Is concerned the dot"
has occasionally been added-in defer
ence to foreign prejudice.
When one sees pretty debutante
embowered in flowers, exquisitely
gowned, mind and body developed to
the last degree of cultivation, as high
bred and faultlessly grOomed as the
most critical culture could demand, 1t
Is hard to balance her against common,
everyday dollars and cents and to real
ize that so much perfection has been
obtained from so much cash. mentally
ticketing her as follows: "One fine rose
bud, 100000"
A MODEST ESTIMATE.
The general estimate Of 100000 Is q
moderate one. 1t does not include a
college course, which would cost a rich
girl at least $4,000 more. Much less
does it include trip abroad, which
can be made to run up into just as
can stand. At first glance $6O,OOO
seems rather a large sum. but 1t soon
dwindles into an insignificant amount
after a careful survey of the details OF
the cultivation necessary to bring a
single rosebud to perfection. The mere
dressing of the aristocratic miss from
the time her dainty layette Is worn out
until she is IS and properly equipped
for the fray involves an expenditure or
at least $4,000. This need not indi-
cate that she is elaborately dressed or
permitted single piece of jewelry. 1t
means only plenty of good school and
street dresses; fine but not fancy un-
derwear;; pretty. appropriate hats and
plain, strong shoes, with. of course. a
riding habit, q gymnasium suit and
dainty dancing frocks included, but all
made in the most childish, simple
fashion in the world. This, however.
for sixteen or eighteen years, consumes
easily $4,000.
To dress children IN the elaborate
fashion employed by people who have
recently acquired money would cost
twice the amount mentioned above.
The orders for clothing for these regal
" dressed little tots which are some-
times received by fashionable houses
are almost past belief. Sixty dollars
was the price recently paid for half
dozen tiny skirts for one of these opul-
entity clad babies, while a white sum-
mer hat for the same little dame had
a $50 mark inside the fine silk lining.
However, although such extravagant
orders are not uncommon. they are not
usually received from people who have
been accustomed to the use Of a check
book for several generations. The lit
tie girl who Is being brought up for the
modest sum of 100000 would not have
over $50 spent on all the hats she would
wear in a year.
SCHOOL EXPENSES.
After observing the cost Of clothing
the rosebud from the cradle to the
"coming-out" tea, the next item that
catches the eye Is the somewhat heavy
expense of keeping her in her right
mind. The cultivation of her 100000
brain cells.-for the modern girl insists
that she has exactly the same number
Of cells which the scientist allows her
brother-if done in a properly fashioned
way, will exhaust $4,000, and Is cap
able OF making inroads on a much
larger sum II q loophole Is desired for a
superfiuous income. If the 100000 cells
have been sent from out of town to be
enlarged, their owner must have pret-
ty front room at one Of the most FASH
ionable Fifth avenue schools, which,
with board and tuition-means any.
where from $1,000 to $500 for the school
year. This amount does not include an
innumerable array of "extras" in the
shape Of car fares, stationery, music
bills, rent for church pew and tickets
for operas, concerts and lectures. all of
which the little green bud must have
II her culture is to be Of an up-to-date
mo INV - t ." .