The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-11
1deas for dNotnen


vide good cheer for the body, but she pro-
vides mental food as well. She would
not dream nowadays of asking or expect
ing the eilded darlings of society to enter
tain themselvesi
Formerly it was the exception rather
than the rule to furnish amusement for
the guests; at an afternoon affair such a
thing was unheard. of; people were expect
ed to chat among themselves, to sip a
cup of tea, and to exercise the fem
mine art OF doing the agreeable. Fer
evening parties that was no wilder flight
of fancy on the part of the entertainers
thar to have "a little music: CONVERSE
ton was supposed to fill up the gaps be-
tween the numbers. and moreover the
guests themselves contributed the self
same numbers, and the man or the wom-
an who excelled as a pianist or a singer
was usually a much sought after member
of society.
But in these waning days of the nine
teenth century we have changed all that;
we frankly acknowledge ourselves but
children of a larger growth, and unblush-
ingly demand amusement. Consequently
professional drawing room entertainers
are much in demand and the woman who
secures a novelty in that line is the much
envied and the most popular hostess OF
the hour.
Short lecturettes is a favorite way DUR
ing Lent especially, of interesting audi
ences. lecturettes that last about half an
hour, sometimes. illustrated, and usually
followed by a few words of discussion on
the part of the guests who have sorle-
thing to say on the subject in hand. The
- - - - ~
known tyro; he or she must be a man or
woman OF mark; must have done some~
thing in his or her field of literature, arr
or science, TO make the words spoken
worth the hearing.
1t is not unusual to have three or four
different descriptions of amusements in
one evening. and to place the programme
into the hands of a professional, or. at
least, into the hands of an amateur who
has had large experience in the gentle
art of entertaining.
For instance. if the hostess is so lucky
as to number among her acauainiances
half a dozen clever amateur actors. a
scene from a popular play is acted, or a
duologue, humorous recitatfons, imita-
tons of celebrities. or tableaux wants
are given. Thought reading, palmistry
and grapholegy are always popular, and
afford more real amusement to the guests
than much more pretentious forms of en-
tertainment.
At dinners and luncheons conversation
cards are furnished, lest the bon-vivants
become too weary and too bored before
the termination Of the repast to keep the
ball moving; music, too. is an in~dispensa-
bic part of such 4 function. so that that
ar least may fill up my awkward pauses
and the silence of the guests be attri-
bnted to absorption in the concord Of
sweet sounds.
1T sounds easy enough. this being a
choir singer" said a young woman who
holds an vial position in one of the
best paying churches of the city, but
let me tell you it's no sineeure. The keep
ing ones throat in perfect condition is a
great tax. as it means keeping ones self
in perfect condition, too, and not just
physically, but mentally and spiritually
as well. Fatigue is registered more read
lily and more certainly upon the voice
than upon any other organ, ard also
more irreparably. One who is engaged
in some other occupation besides choir
singing. as most of us are, finds it diff
cult to keep up this perfect equilibrium
Of minds and body, much more difficult
than it is for her whose whole life is
sacrificed to her voice. For instance, in
addition to my singing, I must give music
lessons, and in going daily from house
to house I run no end of risks in the
way of WEAKNESS and taking cold, yet by
Sunday l must be in perfect trim, just as
though the entire week had been a con-
secration to tina end. The nexorableness
of the Saturday night rehearsal is an
other thing that in time becomes very
much of a tax, just as the being Obliged
to be on hand every Sunday is. Away
for over Sunday makes an outing most
grateful to the ~workaday woman, but
with rehearsal as well as service in mex
orable prospect, there are never any such
opportunities for me. But by no means
the least of the trials entailed by choir
singing are it's infringements upon Sum
day mornings inalienable rights. / must
never linger in bed, as might then AVE
to hurry to get to church, and hurry is
the worst sort of infection for the voice.
Neither can 1 luxuriate in a late break
fast. 1t must be eaten, If anything, some
hours earlier than usual If I expect to be
LII 6Oo0E d O&ol OAlA 0y L l. kf tLA3o
it must always be of the lightest, most
easily assimilated sort, no extra indigest-
ibles. such as usually load the Sunday
morning board, being permitted to the
choir singer. Indeed, know many choir
singers who forego Sunday morning
breakfast altogether"
1t is a p~hilanthropic woman. interested
il the applicants at a church employment
agency. who has discovered a profitable
occupation for ambitious poor boys in a
profession, entirely novel on this side of
the water, that of serving as private
pages. Now, in England every household
of moderate means and some social stand
ing employs a page. This is done where
the dignity of a masculine presence at
the front door. on occasions of entertain
ment, is requisite and where necessary
economy will not permit of a butler in
full c~anonicals to attend on and announce
visitors.
Hitherto in America we nave been quite
content to nave a maid servant answer
the bell, but in our big cities every
woman yearns after something more
ceremonious, and the philanthropic per-
son. getting a frantic note from a friend,
suddenly deserted by her waitress, hus-
tied one of her small. poverty-stricken
proteges into a suit of livery, gave him
an hours lesson in tending a door and