Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-03
GREATER NEW YORK.
NATIONS AND MAIDS CONTEND FOR
HONOR OF TYPIFYING FIGURE.
MEN THINK OF TAKING TO The WOODS
One Citizens Clever Suggestion for
Ending the Amusing Controversy
Each thorough Thinks Its Girls the
Fairest of the Fair.

Correspondence of the Dispatch)
NEW YORK, January 29.-Already there
is strife in the Greater New York, and
the cohorts of the leaders of the several
boroughs comprising the enlarged city
are gathering in support of their respec-
tive chieftains. Lovely woman is at the
bottom OF the trouble. Envy, hatred,
and malice brood like a trio Of furies
over the second largest city of the world.
No great enterprise could be attempted
without the hand that rocks the cradle
having some share in it. Greater New
York having been the outcome of mans
work alone, the women concluded that
they were at least entitled to share in the
glory, and so a competition was begun
for a prize that is offered seldom in
lifetime-the honor of being the woman
who should typify the spirit Of Greater
New York.
The competition is not conducted by
any newspaper, as it's circulation would
be endangered in the boroughs that failed
to capture the prize; Also no august COM
mittee of public officials or art critics have
dared to sit upon the all-important ques-
ton. And yet the awe-inspiring fact re-
mains that there is the keenest feeling
over the vexed question as to who is
really the beautiful belle of Greater New
York.
1t was, of course. essential that none
but the fairest creature within the con-
fines Of the combined towns should be
chosen as the model for the new figure,
which is to be known to fame and TO be
handed down to posterity as Miss Greater
New York.
With this Introductory explanation, ii
needs no great stretch OF imagination
to discover the cause and effect of the
war that is now raging with increasing
bitterness In the city over which Mayor
Van Wyck presides. Every citizeness
considers herself the belle ideal of all
that should be comprised In the figure
desired. and the judges to whom will
some day be referred the matter Of de-
Gliding which of the vast army of appli-
cants for the title Of Miss Greater New
York should bear off the palm are think
ing Of taking TO the woods until the con-
tending beauties have been reduced by
the simple process Of internecine strife to
a sufficiently small number to make de-
cision comparatively easy.
Should Miss Greater New York be a
tall damsel Of statuesque proportions,
with a face clear-cut as a cameo ar
rayed in classic attire. and posed like a
heroine OF ancient Grecian days? Should
she be a self-reliant lady with a modern
face, the attire of Fifth-avenue maiden,
and the attitude of a girl who could give
the ancient Athenian the whsle pack Of
cards and beat her attitudinizing?
Should she be a well developed and mat
ronly woman upon whom the cares
OF life sit lightly, because she has at
tanned to the philosophical age at which
a woman rises superior to the petty cares
of existence? Should she wear bangs, or
should her hair be smooth? Should her
nose be a natural one, such as ordinary
people are accustomed 10 see. or should
she have the impossible nose of high art?
These and a multitude OF similar ques-
tons. far too numerous to enumerate, are
reading the smoke cloud OF battle, and
making themselves heard above the sound
OF the contending parties. AS In all
such struggles for supremacy. the men
are being drawn into the fight. Each
city official OF the Greater New York has
his own particular idea OF what consti-
tutes female beauty. and knows at least
a hundred living representatives OF MS
ideal. Then the prominent citizens VINO
consider that their voice Is OF equal
weight in settling the affairs OF the
Greater New York are adding TO the DIN
by demanding that their fayorites be
given an even chance with those OF the
municipal magnates.
II has been suggested that the matter
be left In its initial stage to a jury OF
matrons. The astute individual VINO
makes this suggestion argues that the
Jury of matrons would speedily extin-
gush the last hope OF nine-tenths OF the
applicants for the coveted honor, ana
that after their labors are completed
theirs VIII be Rttls left fer the men ~ o0i