The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-03-13


Three women We're talking together the
ether day aboltt curiosity. Two OF the
wotien took tbs conventional. generally
accepted view OF the matter that curl
osiSy IS the especial p~rerogatsve of wom-
ell
aid the first won.E-.syho ever
heard Of a man doing what Mrs. Blank
once did in our very drawing room. Mrs.
Blank was noted for her curiosity, and
all sorts of tales and legends Were told
concerning her, which. however, my
such nonsense Was simply unbelievable.
One day Mrs. Blank called at our
house. Ii was by no means her first visit
there, but heretofore there had been no
opportunity for her to display her rul-
ing passion. Upon the present occasion.
however. my mother was detained for
as she neiselessiy descended the stairs
what was her amaaernent to see Mrs.
SLANT going AROUND aud turning up the
oravying-rooin rugs Ia order to find cut.
evidently, whether both sides were alike,
that she might make sure they were real
Persian 1t was a comfort to know that
did not deem it necessary after that TO
defend Mrs; Blank against whatever she
might hear"
We'll, we mad a friend" said the Sec
ond woman, who was blessed with such
brand-new. recently acquired wealth that
she judged everything and everybody cy
one standard-money. Pictures n
didn't represent works of art, but sim
ply so much cash value in dollars and
cents. She had quite a number of fine
pictures, handsomely bound books and
pieces of well-chosen bric-a-brae. but she
always referred to them in this wise:
There's an oil painting that cost me
SS,0eo. Yes, indeed, 5000. not a cent less.
That wasn't counting the frame, either.
The artist? Oh, Tve forgotten his name.
I'll tell you one thing about him. though
9 He charges or' IA "a i awfuI Iik Lot YOU 5ar 10 ais see piG 4
brand-new set of books that Nv got at
home. Three hundred dollars for the lot,
all in hall calf. Pretty hard TO beat that,
isn't it, though il you'll believe it, 1 have
three sets that cost me $3.50 apiece.
This woman had the entree of many
houses. the Inhabitants whereof were
of a wholly different type from herself.
One day she called at our house. 1t so
happened, as in your case, that was
delayed in coming downstairs. When l
finally descended. l was surprised to hear
a curious 'clink-ciink emanate for the
drawing-room.
and as | entered the door I had the
pleasure Of discovering that the clink-
clink projected from the thumb and
ferehnger of our friend, who was going
about industriously TO see il they rang
true"
well. that's all very well" said the
curious person / ever came in contact
with WAS a man. He was a great con
noisseur ef china, and no matter how
c-eremon.ous the occasion, he had an I'M
fortunate habit OF invariably looking up
en- the under SIDE of the cup, saucer,
placed before him in order 10 am
Behind his back all mis- friends reviled
him for this unfortunate habit, but TO
his face nobody dared 10 say anything
about Il. II remained for my younger
sister 70 administer the needed corTec-
us one evening, and as no one else was
TO be there, my sister begged TO be
allowed To play a trick upon MN.
"Tne trick was as fellows: For the fish
some set OF plates, and taking one OF
them, destined for Mr.. Dasn, she rough
ly sketehed upon its underside The like
ness CT a sinai boy in an extremely un-
diguiilec ann altogether uisre5pecsful at
ttude. Mr.. Dash came. dinner time
\ came. ans the lisa course came.
@ exclaimed the victim, as the
handsome plate was set before him.
What a lovely bit Of china and aceord-
Ing 20 his habit. he quickly held it aleft,
while he ducked his mead well down TO
descry the marking. But upon this coca
son the marking was such mat Mr..
Dash set The pate down mucn more
with a very red ACE he began to talk
about something else. But it broke him
of the habit"
The pretty paper fan, beloved by the
Sulnlaer girl for its ~cheapress and beau
". Is now making its appearance on the
sffsi.G Il31k1I. Anu DGlOiQ. OOnsSTNa-
live Japan has yielded to the dictates of
French fashions and during the heated
term of '95 we will catch cur breezes
Finest silks, gauze and paper have been
employed in their construction, and the
workmanship OF the .deiicately carved
The slender spill ts are most of them less
Than half an irch in W 9TH. with the
raounted material no wider when folded.
They average from six to about nine
inches in LENGTH.
One odd fact concerning these cheap
are emhelIisned with figures correspond
ng to those on the paper. and the effect
is unique; The only cords about them
are of silk with tassels knotted to the
clasps.
The paper covering OF some specimens
is graduated from three fnehe on one
side to six on the opposite. That of
others is only about four inches deep
full in agitating the ar, but they are un-
slips of paper. revealing the sticks be-
tween. are of great variety.
I came across a little gem. It's finely
carved frame was mounted with a mar
row strip Of thin white silk; hand-painted
extended Mit e his Work to the sticks. where
green leaves and the same dainty flower
xadded the finishing touch to the perfect
Another ard strikingly pretty one show
ed an outside frame of bone. and the silk
painted with Japanese figures in minsa-
tire style.
There are beauties with gilded and sill
vored sticks. and a tracery of embossed
silver IN the silk. The variety of de-
Signs should please the most fastidious.
An open oval shaped fan is the newest
design for decorative purposes. Both
sides are closely covered with small pa
per flowers of one color. All shades are
shown in this style.
In one of the largest iewelry houses a
richly gowned woman stood selecting a
fan from these snread before her.
This, madam" remarked the clerk.
holding up a fan for inspection. sis not
quite small enough to own the latest
touch of fashion. but it is very hand
some"
So ii was. The center of galze. hand
painted. with Cupsd-bearing garlands IF
roses gradually merged into a surround
irg of real lace. The sticks We're mother
ef-nearl, each decorated with a golden
Cunid.
Now this he continued. els the very
newest thing" and a tiny affair was lifted
fcr a closer view. It was quite small.
bossed- with golds were mounted with two
nsrrcw strips Of white silk about two
inches apert. which weree adorned with
hanG uairti1g.
81 thtnk ] prefer these and the pur-
chaser turned. IN the antique fans.
Some rad stirlrs Of exquisitely carved
ivory, while others were of nothe-of-
neartl tleeora-c cd with gold. The ends of
thn ryrate nfs A few were SniShed with