Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-15

New York, April 0, On the Wing
am always convinced that the highest
point OF civilization is reached when |
am seated IN a comfortable arm chair
in a first class car, beside big win
dow through which / can watch the
country as l fly with the birds them
selves. There's something fine in
travelling in this way. The engine
goes so swiftly that you conclude you
can outspeed anything, and you forget
entirely the days of slow travel, OF dirty
cars, and of poor service. Seated whore
| am can get everything / want. A
cup of the liquid that cheers, distilled
exactly from that brand OF leaves that
best like, book to amuse me. which
tho courteous servant of the company
furnishes from the little library at the
end of the car, and polite brass but
toned colorsd gentleman to remove dust
from of my gown when the end of the
journey is reached. It's worth the
small tip given him to hear his glad
expression Of thanks ami to see the
look Of content which is over his entire
countenance.
To-day an going from one big city
to another. Opposite me is seated a
gentleman from the land OF politeness
from the city of civilization-Paris.
And We laugh and Jest, and ask of
this big, blonde Freuchrnan, SO many
questions that l wonder il, in time, he
will conclude that belong to the
secret service. First Of all, he tells me
of his great surprise about one thing
You have a fashion of saying, you
English speaking people. that, in
French, there is no word for Home.
Perhaps this 10 true. But, we have
something better than the word, we
have the reality. With us, you 90 not
lind, even among the middle classes,
newly married people living in hotels;
and, even the bachelor. should he con-
clude to leave his fathers home,
arranses another for himself, since he
cannot imagine comforts synonymous
With meals eaten IN restaurants. Why,
Madame, the table manners of many of
the people one meets in public dining
rooms are SO bad that ones appetite is
taken away. Then, too, our women
are wise enough to know that their
power over the men is greater the more
comfortable they can make them; and
SO they give much thought to the ap-
pearance of their homes and much
more thought to the good dishes which
they serve upon their tables. Perhaps
our women are not great travellers. Yes.
terday heard of an American gentle.
man, whose business Gallo him far
away from this country. His wife
Goas not go with him, because her
friends are here, and he seas her just
one month out Of the twelve. Why, a
French woman would be horrified at
| that. And even now the French woman
dues not understand the American who
allows his wife to travel all over
Europe. dress superbly. enjoy herself
in her own way, while he remains at
home to earn the money to permit her
to stay away from him Now that
know some American men, really be.
lieve they do II because they love the
women; and yet used to think 1t was
because they wanted TO get rid of them.
But it is not right, Madame.
Unfortunately for the American
woman, could not contradict my
companion, and SO l asked him to tell
me something new in anything, but
especially to tell me something new
about the fashions The brighter a
| Frenchman is the more certain is he
to thoroughly comprehend every detail
OF woman's costume; and, If there ia
l
where there should be harmony he
can detect it at glance. So, to please
me, he told me of some wonderful
fashions. Said he: "Just before /
left Paris one OF the most remarkable,
as we'll as ono of the most expensive
\ coats was worn by a woman who
dressed well, as well as woman OF not
only of position but Of taste and wealth
can dress; she wore a short Jacket of
| white buckskin, with collar and cuffs
of chinchilla. Naturally, it would soil
in one wearing, but then it could be
cleaned with the pipe clay which the
English soldiers use for freshening
their gloves. Such a coat would not
by woman OF fashion have more than
four or five wearings, but as a matter OF
course, 1t found many imitators, the best
being one OF heavy white silk, trimmed
with black braid and black velvet.
There is no douht that next winter in
Paris the turban made OF velvet oil
whatever rich material is fapcied, and
decorated with a feather, flower, an
aigrstte or jewel, will be seen at the
opera.
Last winter many fashionable
women went to the theatre or the
opera wearing low bodices and enor.
mously big black picture hats. The
effect was charming, but can ses why
you object tn it here. where ladies sill
in the orchestra, while with us they
only appear IN tho boxes.
"The Frenchman's eye and taste ere
we'll trained as to woman's dress, anC
am going TO be frank with you.
Madame, and tell you why tho average
American woman docs not look well il
her clothes. 1t is because she buys
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