The herald., 1896-02-23
GOTHAM GOSSIP.

mucn-diScussed question OF the hour.
| Why not?
| A proposal of marriage at any time an,
under any circumstances requires mora
j courage and Infinite tact-undoubtedly at
| tributes of womankind. Then. being 4,
equipped, why may she not enter the field?
Pc sure, she would d. it gracefully. Thert
would be no downright "Will you marry
me?" entailing, perhaps, the modification O.
a refusal; but there would be rather a sub
tie leading up to the all-important oues
| tion which the dullest could not mistake
And be sure, too, that the time would be fit.
| ting; no woman would be so tactless as tc
propose when the adored one had an attack
| OF grippe, as stupid man has been known tc
do. Nor would the delicate subject be
broached after the loved one had been out
with the boys.
The feminine Taleyrand would arm her
self cap-a-pie for the battle; would array
| herself in her prettiest gown-one essen
TALLY womanly, by the way-no suggestion
of tailor-mad madeishness. but frock oll rib
| bon and lace, with delicious frou-frou ac-
ocmpanying every movement. And then,
after dinner when the unsuspecting vic
| tim is at peace with the world, all the
wies of womankind would be brought to
bear.
How would she propose? That's the
| question:
x = x
woman has as many moods as there
are sands on the shore-and the manner of
propounding the question would depend on
the mood of the hour. Were she mis-
chievous it might be like that of the Pur-
itan maiden of old-a mere laughing sug-
gestion, why don't you speak for your
SELF john" or in a naughty mood, a
Cleopatra-like imperiousness that would
admit of no denial.
But the cleverest woman would be neither
miscievious 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 console--or did his head ache she would
soothe; a veritahle ministering angel.
X Y
To her sweet sympathy she would add a
touch of sadness. Would he forgive her
if she seemed a bit dull tonight? 1t was
nothing; oh, no, nothing! And then with
visible effort would brighten, only TO re-
lapse again into gentle melancholy. And
then, his heart is stirred and he wonders
how such charming creature can be so
sad. Could it be she cares for somebody? :?
Could it be she cares for -? Nonsensei !
But then-why, yes! He remembers oh.
then the rest is easy. So, in answer to
the problem, should women propose, let
me whisper in strictest confidence, they
u,
or no leap year; they do. Never in words.
oh, no; but by subtle suggestions; by
thousand signs, that tell what words can
never speak so WE'LL the impetus is given;
and man is coaXed cajoled-never driven
to ask the momentous question. and, 60
ing home a prospective benedict, he con-
graduates himself that he has proposed
X X x
Can anything be more fascinating than
preparing the first layette? And what
host of hopes and fears and loving thoughts
and ulans arc interviewer with the delicate
embroidery, the silken flowers. the fine
little tucks and the soft, lace frils. But
besides cost and care there is also a vast
deal of foolishncss in the average first
layette. All the pretty, costly long petit
coats and slips that mothers, especially
young mother, spend so much money and
time upon are of minor Importance, and
the articles seldom thought of are
the ones most needed In preparing lay
cite the best the. income can afford should
be purchased, material for their suit
ability and not daintiness Of look only.
The mother who can order what sac pleases
for the little new conner without thought
as to what the whole will cost is not the
one that needs advice in such a mat
ter 1t is she who must consider the ques-
ton OF cost as well as comfort and necessity.
Flannel should be first considered; the
bands that are Indispensable, the pinning
BLANKETS, shirts and pettcoats are made
Of this material The bands should be
four in number, neatly buttonhoed on the
raw edges. one width across the flannel. The
pinning blanket, a necessity for very young
babes requires one width of flannel. three
quarters Of a yard in length. gathered neatly
to a band so that beth edges will meet in
front. The two front edges and the bot
tom are finished with hem or embroidered
rhn khas ,.fat,
pinned in front with tiny safety pins and
serves the purpose Of keeping the infants
feet warm while it is yet too small for the
Iannel pettcCat. Three or four tiny shirts
are needed, made with long sleeves. cut
open after the fashion of a small sack and
tied at the neck with a narrow ribbon run
in. The material used is preferably flannel,
though some mothers Use linen. Flannel
petticoats, four or six in number, should be
prepared; six or a dozen small cambric
wrappers, cut sack fashion, and open down
the front, should be had, and three of elder
Down cut after the same pattern and made
amply large The cambrlc gowns or wrap
pers can be made dainty with lace and frils.
The down overwrappers should be lined
with silk, the sewing done by hand, and as
neatly as possible, leaving no wide seams or
rough edges to distress the tiny wearer.
A dozen fine linen handkerchefs should
find place in the layette to be folded about
the neck over tho down wrapper. even
the softest flannel is too harsh for it's deli
cate skin.
Y X X
In bathing and handling the infant bath
sheets are necessary. Make them one yard
and a half square, pad lightly with cotton
and quilt wide apart. The material used
is light quality of sheeting. In bathing
the child. place one of the sheets on the
lap and lift the infant into it from the
bath, enveloping it quickly in the folds,
thus drying and warming it without risk
of exposure. Two or three similar in size,
but with a covering of cheese cloth, will
be found necessary to use under the babe
when lying on the bed or in the nurses 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 are 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 a baby was seen the
other day made by an aunt of the little
stranger. A box of cardboard of the right
size was covered with cotton batting, and
a gain with satin in a lovely rose pink.
Over this again white Swiss was drawn
plainly on the inside of the basket. A
dainty cushion OF pink and white, filed each
end, and several pockets. lace trimmed,
were fastened to the sides. Loops to hold
the cup and bottles were also placed on to
the sides. and across the bottom several
ribbons were drawn to keep in place the
brush and comb. The outside of the basket
was finished with lace and ribbon frll,
the top edge finished by quilting of ribbon.
" X