The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15

tuition alone does not often exceed
1000. but the city child must have her
maid. She Is usually well educated
French or German maid at $40 per
month, who accompanies her charge to
school. to the riding class and the gym,
nasium, and who aids her in her studies.
Although nowadays physical culture
Is largely advertised in the curriculum
OF every swell school, q very general
feeling prevails that 1t is given more
prominence In the catalogue than in
actual practice, and as the future de-
butante must be physically as well as
mentally perfect she must be taken two
afternoons in the week to some fash.
ionable gymnasium, where she is
taught-for the really moderate sum
of $50 per season--to use dumbbells and
wands, how to swing from ring to ring
and to balance on bars, as well as q
variety of head and throat movements
and graceful fancy steps, until every
portion Of her little body Is evenly de-
veloped and made strong and flexible.
OTHER COSTS. @
And II the philosopher imaglnes that
the coast Is now clear for the child to
play and for expenses to cease, he In
displaying an ignorance that would
cause even the baby bud to smile. How
can she play when there are only four
afternoons left, one Of which must be
reserved for a concert or lecture and
the other three given up to her eQues-
trian lessons at some fashionable rid~
ing academy?
Nineteenth Of all the girls who attend
the swell city schools are taught to
feel that their riding lessons are an
essential feature of their education, as
much so as music or mathematic.
And lessons at these academies from q
competent instructor, usually a lady.
rarely cost less than So q lesson, with
an additional expense Of 81 for the use
OF well-trained horse. Frequently
the instruction Is kept up for two sea-
sons, and the riding in the park with
a teacher often continues for O third
and fourth year, making a net expense
for this accomplishment alone Of near.
ly $1,000.
OF course, the properly trained child
also drives, rows and swims, but, as q
rule, these outdoor sports are acquired
and practiced at the country home,
under the guidance of either father or
brother, which limits the expense In
this case to the price of a pet pony,
dog cart and light boat, costing. per-
haps. $500, although $1,000 can be ex-
pended IL the income still continues to
be burdensome.
THEN THE WARDROBE.
Omitting college course and a trip
abroad. the last heavy expense before
the bud Is taken from the conservatory
and admitted to society's flower show
Is the elaborate wardrobe prepared for
her as a debutante; a brides trousseau
is not more complete or expensive U.s.
ually the entire outfit. from the theater
bonnet to the dancing slipper, Is or
dered from some smart modiste, who
from long experience understands bet
ter than the debutante herself what il
necessary. A Fifth avenue dressmak-
er who makes a speciality of this sort Of
work, when questioned recently as to
the cost OF such an outfit, said that
$4,000 would be a moderate sum for u
complete wardrobe for a season. Hats
and gowns she said, "are really the
least of the expense. A fashionable
debutante must have at least two opera
wraps. one all white, to wear with any
cOlored costume, and O. second lined
with rose, yellow or soft green, to lend
color to her pure white gowns, and
these cost from $3.50 up. Her under
wear must be of the finest; lawns and
silks, and trimmed with real Valen-
-cfenftes. ,Fffhen SHE must have boxes Of
gloves at $50 and $40 per dozen. Boots.
shoes and slippers Of every style and
variety, and a party bag with it's per-
feet arrangement of brush, comb, pow
der dish and button-hook, which can
easily cost $50. Her equestrian habit
must be from the swellest tailor, and
she must have at least two gowns from
Worth or Doucet. The furs in which a
delicately reared girl must be enswath-
ed during the cold months will add from
$500 to 81 900 to the bill, and then, If she
be very athletic woman, there is her
driving costume. which must be tailor
made and chic in the extreme, and, with
appropriate gloves, boots and hat, 1t
can not possibly be had for less than
$3.50.
"A variety Of pretty wells must not be
forgotten, nor dainty feather boas in
black and colors; beautiful handker-
chiefs, plain and of fine lace, must also
be added to the list, and corsets. which
are from S5 to S25 apiece. Her silk um-
brella, with enameled handle, and jew
eled lorgnette are usually gifts, and
not to be used to swell the list. And,
as 1t stands $4,000 would be a better
estimate than my first one of $4,000.
"Of course" madame continued, 1t
Is possible for a girl in straitened cir
cumstances to make her debut with
only $4,000, but that would involve econ-
Omy and many sacrifices"