The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-30
PERSONAL AND SOCIETY
AN INDIANAPOLIS WOMAN DESCRIBES
MRS. AYERS PARIS LIFE
Her Lavish OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Girls Minstrel ShOS-The Extray-
agance of White Gloves.

The rage for handsome silk petticoats has
brought about a new style for holding up
the dress skirt. The woman who desired
to hold her skirt from the pavement used
to gather ii in her hand and draw 1t around
to the side; now she takes hold of the ex-
IRENE back of the skirt and lifts it high,
and in thus doing it she shows the fine,
gay-colored skirt beneath. 1t is no more
graceful to do it the latter way, but the
woman who can do it to perfection can
show her clothes and save her gown at the
same time.
One of the greatest extravagances of the
day is the rage for white gloves. They
are worn on any and all occasions. The
woman going to market or to shop who has
a pair of party gloves too far soiled to
wear with light gown will wear them
then. Nearly every woman who goes to the
matinee has on light gloves. and they are
worn by the hundred to afternoon recep-
tons and teas and to church. The woman
who thinks she is economical says that
white gloves are not extravagant, because
she can buy 10 cents worth of gasoline, or
one of its equivalents, and clean her own
gloves. And she might have added that she
can put them on and wear them to a re-
ception, where the crowd is thick and the
air hot. and every one in her vicinity knows
she has on cleaned gloves. The soil shows
on light gloves, and as the dark wool
gowns and furs are not clean after few
weeks wearing, they soil the gloves. The
silver corners on the fashionable card cases
and pocketbooks help to soil, the confec-
lions at the teas stick to the gloves, and so
do the cakes; sometimes the spoon or cup
used adds to the soil, and twice or three
times wearing spoils the gloves. Added to
all of this, the hands look larger in light
gloves. and it is wonder that the fashion
has prevailed as long as 1t has.
A far-sighted husband gave his wife a
box Of fine cigars for a Christmas gift, so
that when she wanted to treat him to a
cigar she would surely have one that he
would be willing to smoke. Not many weeks
after Christmas the husband and wife had
a few friends in for the evening. While the
ladies were talking, several of the men slip
ped up to the dressing room to have a lit
tie smoke. The husband knew his friends
smoked and as he knew his wife abomin-
ated cigarettes. he thoughtfully placed the
box of cigars, from which not half dozen
had been taken, on the mantel shelf There
were not more than six or eight men who
went up for a smoke, but when the guests
had gone an empty cigar box was all that
was left to tell the tale-except the small
boy. He was around enjoying himself in
his own way, shaking hands with the few
who noticed him, but for the most part APP
pearing wherever he thought it was the
most interesting. When he saw a handful
of men go upstairs he naturally wanted to
know what they were going 10 do and he
heard the stories and saw their enjoyment
of the cigars but he also saw more. He saw
the number of good. straight Havanas that
went into the pockets, and he told the
family just how many each man smoked
and how many each saved" for another
time.
The minstrel show by society girls still
holds sway over the country and about once
a month an exchange comes in with an en-
thusiastic account of how the entertainment
is patronzed and how much money is
turneS into the Golfers of the various chari-
ties. and of how much pleasure the par
Elephants and the audience got out of the
show. The young ladies enter into the show
with heartiness and learn new songs for the
first part, become adopts at making jokes
and learn to do specialties that charm with
their grace. There has been frequent talk
of such an entertainment here, but no one
sum always follows such show. Several
committees that have served in the ORA
matte Club have had the thought of a
vaudeville entertainment, but rome has
dared to give it, There is some good talent
in the club for a vaudeville, including musi-
clans and specialists in various lines. The
audience side of the club would enjoy it.
The club takes its fun out of the enter
tainments IN criticism anyway. so that fear
Of criticism ought not to hinder the desire
being gratified.
A woman of this city was in Paris four
years ago. and a member of her party be-
ing i'll, Dr. Collins, resident of the hotel
where they were stopping. was called in.
DR. Collins was the private physician of
Mrs. J. c. Aver, wealthy American, who
died in Paris a few weeks ago. DR.. Collins
and his wife both lived at the hotel, and
Mrs. Collins called on the Indianapolis
woman. One day Mrs. Collins told her that
Mrs Aver was to have a reception, and
asked her If she would like to go with her.
The Indianapolis woman accepted and thus
DESCRIBES her acquaintance with Mrs. Aver;
''fier house was simply grand. There were
nine men in livery before we reached the
dining room, one at the curb TO open the
carriages, one to open the door, one to take
your card, one 10 announce your name, ana
the others for various functions. Mrs. Aver
seemed to take fancy to me. for she in
vited me to dinner. to two receptions and
a party while / was in Paris. do not be-
lieve all this stuff that has been written
about her having so many new dresses and
having them placed ON figures after she had
worn them. She had big house, but it
was not big enough for that. l saw her
wear the same dress three times. 1t was
an elegant green silk, trimmed with point
lace, and a kind of greenish lace studded
with jewels. She wore her emerald set, the
second finest in the world. She had large
stomacher. one stone as large as the upper
joint of your thumb. She had a dog collar
bracelets, rings, buckles, and all of the
most beautiful emeralds. She may have
had the turquoise set at that time. but she
never wore 1t when / saw her. The recep-
tioE was much talked about, for her re-
freshments were so elaborate. We would
not think they were unusual in this coun-
try, but in Paris it is not considered good
form to serve anything but a cup of tea
and a wafer at an afternoon company. She
had an afflicted son. The papers have never
said word about him. and / have won
mnm~zzzuuzsuunnu~-znAx
Official fac-simile OF Medal Awarded