The age-herald., 1898-01-23

A Slance at New York's Firth avenue crowded with carriages convinces one that the oolong wave better known as the afternoon tea, is likely to result in a cyclone. The postman is delivering cards for teas in every direction. To- day it is Washington. square, tomorrow 1t is Nineteenth street, and the merits of caravan tea made in a.. Russian samovar. of English breakfast made in a satsuma teapot or of orange pekoe made in a silver ball specially agitate the feminine mind. With Russian tea a liqueur glass of sherry or rum may be put in and is supposed to add to its excellence. For my own part, am old fashioned enough to long for sugar ana cream in my tea and to prefer 1t out of broad, low thin cup rather than out of a tumbler. l find that l am not alone in my tastes, which proves that the conservative party is growing. Very thin sandwiches made tasty with lear of lettuce and a dash of mayonnaise dressing or tissuelike chocolate wafers that fairly melt in ones mouth are of fered at tea The men who drop in are apt to choose, in preference to either of these. a slice of bread buttered on the loaf with a little raspberry or straw berry jam over it. As "lady' is. in the Saxon. loaf giyer," 1t seems appro- priate for her to serve bread in this fashion, and the woman who can stand and dispense ft from the loaf gracefully it8 the posHessor of a charm that is ab- suiiltelY uneauaIed. Serving tea sinks i1tSp iilsiglliticanee beside it. One would think tlies aroma of bread and butter would be over it. but in reality there ia n hint tlisnh she who cam manage to cut the loaf and make it dainty for you f5 capahiss cf being like the wise woman in the PrUweros able to manage those of her own household" and this is not the easiest thing in the world. 4 wo- man has to be a bit of diplomat. IS we'll as to have clear. common sense to manage the different clements in home so that harmony is the result
 Yesterday afternoon, while drinking my fifth cup of tea, was the confidante of a young woman who had attempted to economize. This young woman-we will call her Dolly-concluded that all new bonnets except those she made her self would be barred out, but that by using some very handsome feathers she already possessed she might have a large hat According to her own ac- count, she meditated after this fashion: My feathers are beautiful. They de- serve to be put on hat by master in the art of posing feathers and, as they will constitute the trimming, I can af- ford to go to a first class millner who absolutely understands the art of mak ing a picture hat" Burdened with her feathers, she invaded the workshop of the high priest of the big hats, told him what sine wished, and he consented aft
 CT much persuasion, to mount her nj fAp he hn trfn
 hats until the shape desired was got. and then inquired the price of the new one. It was $24. Fla, hai' she thought. Mine will be about s10o Within week a box the size of three ordinary bandboxes in one and of dead white pasteboard appeared, overshad- owed by small boy in a startling liv- cry, who presented a bill for $19.75. Not being brave, Mistress Dolly did not be- have as she should-that is, jerk out her feathers and send the hat back with her compliments. Instead she meekly paid the bill, clutched the white elephant
 seated herself before the mirror and tried on the hat Somehow Dolly thought her face had never looked so small. It certainly had never been so white and it had never locked so ipsig- nif1cant. Was that hat very large? Was 1t very pointed? Was it very enor- nous? After declining to answer these questions, even to herself, she brought consolation to her own soul by thinking that she was not used to hat like that. and she determined to try it on her friends-that is. to see what their opin ions would be. Her most intimate friend was deliciously vague, and said that she never saw handsomer materials" Her best young man was inclined to be little brusque, looked at it. looked at her, and then inquired, Do you call that hat? l call it a hearse, and you look like small corpse under it." Then she cried, and he went away wishing that he hadn't said anything. and, to make her feel better. sent her ten pounds of candy and a big bunch of violets. But alas! for Dolly. She has spent more money than she could af- ford. She possesses a hat that she will not wear, and at present she is ripping 1t to pieces and making small bonnets out Of 1t. There is moral to this tale which is, When you go in for a hat, beware of the picturesque" Even when you are not saving money you will find that 1t is better in the long run to look like other women than to have on your head startling symphony in feathers and felt No man except an artist likes very big hat, and he only likes it be- cause it helps to decorate his studio when he gives an afternoon tea. Con- sequently he is purely selfish in his ap- proval of 1t.
 The chatelaine has got to be matter Of great importance, and the girl who does not possess one with anywhere from 50 to 150 silver and gold things dangling on it feels that she is entirely cut of the swim. I had to laugh the other day when I heard a man say, She is such nice woman, because