The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-17
THE EXCLUSIVE SET.
Edith Sessions Tupper's Observations
of New York FadS.
THE CAPRICES OF THE FOUR HUNDRED.

vigorous Portrayal of Attire at the
Opera-GerGrudeVan derbilt--Y Outh-
full Sara Rernhardt and Her AdOra.
BILE Hair.
NEW YORK, Feb. 12-Skating is par
excellence the fashionable exercise this
season. The swells go in for exclusive
skating parties at Tuxedo and other Sc
Guided resorts where the canaille may
not enter. Young Mrs. Aston is consid-
cred the most accomplished skater of the
junior matrons Miss Amy Bend, the
famous beauty, is another very graceful
skater. Miss Bend is tall and blond, and
wears a superb costume of black velvet.
the broad collar of which is of ermine,
and worn turned up about the lovely
fiowerlike face The Rockefe1Iers, as
becomes magnates of the first water,
have their own skating rink in the big
garden which adjoins their town house
Tt is lighted by electricity, and when
skating parties are given, there are al
ways music, refreshments and appropri-
ate souvenirs.
Very few women dress properly for
skating. Far be it from me now to cast
any aspersions upon the taste of the
swells, who are always expected to be
on dress parade I refer to the rank and
file of skaters, the people you see on the
ice in Central park. Velvet and silk and
lace trimmed petticoats are quite out of
place and decidedly bad form. A thick
stuff skirt of medium length and
wool sweater, worn under close fitting
jacket, form the best outfit. Tights aud
stockings of wool and common sense
calfskin shoes should be added. A won-
an who goes on the ice with lace border
ed silk petticoats and patent leather
French heeled shoes writes herself down
not only a driveling imbecile, but as
hopelessly vulgar.
The caprices of the Four Hundred are
most astounding. This season they have
taken up as an opera box pet q man who
used to clean out stables, but who now
owns big business, has nimble tongue
and fsuch al irresistible twinkle in his
eye as one grande dame puts it. Do
you know what an opera box pet is? 1t
is a man who happens to be the fashion,
and elegant ladies scheme and plan for
his presence and urge and entreat his
society in their boxes of an evening.
FFMy dear, it is the thing to have him in
your box for an hour" one says to an
other, and straightway a pOte is dis
patched to this precious treasure begging
his patronage for certain evening. The
man who happens just now to be the
idol of the moment is clever Irishman,
who by dint Of close association with
fashionable sportsmen has risen from
the field to the drawing room, from the
stable to the opera box.
Apropos OF opera boxes, I swept them
with my glass again and again on gala
night-"The Huguenots, with big
cast, When, if ever, wealth and beauty
! L, &--1J
find one handsome woman. Wealth and
style there were plenty, but beauty was
mighty scarce. And declare unto you
that the magnificent display of flesh
about which we read so much in the
Sunday papers was decidedly out Of
sight-not in the slang sense either
There was big lot OF red, beefy shout
ders and as choice an assortment of
bones as you would care to examine, but
the perfect curves and voluptuous bos-
oms and snowy arms had remained at
home.
New York women are said to be the
best dressed in the world. In one box
saw woman in black gown cut square
in the neck. The opening was outlined
by a row of big red roses, while tied
closely about her throat was a broad
scarlet ribbon. Her face was very red,
and altogether she looked like house
afire. In another box sat a woman in
cherry velvet gown, with trimmings of
spangled lace and bows of pale blue vel
vet. She looked like a circus Sider. OF
course there were beautifully gowned
women in the house, but I remarked
everywhere a strong tendency to the
ragtag and bObtail style of decoration,
artificial flowers, patching and bizarre
effects, vile color com binatiOns.
Now that Consuelo Vanderbilt, Anna
Gould and the Rockefeller girls are mar
Tied, the next heiress of interest TO be
matrimonially disposed of is Gertrude
Vanderbilt. The young lady is by no
means beauty, any more than is her
the young Duchess of Marlbor-
ough. She is very dark, of medium
height. Her face has an agreeable and
amiable expression. She is merely a
nice looking girl, beautifully groomed |
and irreprcachably gowned. saw her
on Fifth avenue the other day. She |
looked like an English fashion plate.
Her gown was bordered with sable, and |
she wore one of those fur pelerines, !
with tails reaching to the bottom of |
her frock. On her breast was knot of |
violets. and her smart black hat was |
cooked up rakishly OH one side. Her
sleeves were as big as barrels. Miss |
is very charitable, like Miss
Gould. Miss Vanderbilt gives more |
through churches than Miss Gould indi- |
vidually, it is said. Miss Vanderbilt is |
a splendid fencer and horsewoman and |
is very fond of hunting and golf
Sarah Bernhardt was the greatest
at the opera the other night |
greater even than Melba and Calve,
who were both on the stagel She sat in
4 box, surrounded by women, and look
ed younger than any of them, though
Ihera were several in her f1artv who [