The times., 1898-02-06
THE REIGN OF THE DEBuTANTE.
Its Success or Failure Depends on
social Advertising.


From a social point of view, the
months Of January and February are
TO winter what July and August are
to summer, the chief differences be-
tween the two pairs of gala months be-
ing in the motive for each. The winter
pair is almost wholly devoted by the
society mother to the social interests
of her daughter-a1tending to her in
PRODUCTION into swelidom, her lunch
cons, calls and, above all, to her gov rs.
In summer. however, she gees away 10
rest from winter obligations well full
filled, and sets about to enjoy herself,
leaving the younger members of her
household TO take care Of themselves.
Just now is the most critical moment
in many an anxious mammals whole
year. Most of the debutantes of the
season have been brought out. but the
problem of keeping up social interest
in those same buds is as difficult 10
solve as that of any advance agent for
a corning soubTette, or q promoter of
interest in some new kind of soap. The
fact is, the debutante requires adver-
tising quite as much as any CONNER
cial commodity, and though it must all
be done in delicate sort of way. it is
none the less a piece of high-art ad
Yertisement through the columns of
some society leaders mansion where
the young lady in question is 10 be the
guest of nonor at luncheon or din
ner. This requires the enlistment of
ones friends interests instead of the
newspaper paragraphs at so much
line which are the usual thing IN less
delicate matters; yet the favor is one
which can be. and usually is. returned
in kind. so that after all il is only
species of barter in which no money
passes from hand TO hand. In many
cases. ones relatives do this sort Of
social boosting.
Very often, also, as in the case of
Miss Josephine Drexel, of New York,
there is no need of any outside as
sistance to the top of the ladder. and it
is only gone through with as a matter
of form. as well as TO give the debu-
tante a good time and chance to dis
play her natural powers of fascination.
Miss Drexel has had the good fortune
of an opportunity to make an impress
sion in two cities in the first year OF
her coming out. through the generosity
of her Philadelphia aunt. Mrs. An
thony DreXel. who has attained social
celebrity for both herself and her capti-
waiting niece, by spending nearly $4,000
for the young woman's coullion faVoTS
alone. 1t will be a long time before the
guests of that cotillion VIII forget this
fact.
And at the same time that all this is
going on in the exclusive circles of the
wealthy. the plain, ordinary daughter
of the middle classes. who doesn't both
er herself about coming-out balls, be
cause. like Topsy. she has jus crowd
up'' in her own particular set, and
doesn't need introductions, is having as
good a time in her own way as any OF
the girls in higher social strata.
Among them all, however, there Is
none who so thoroughly enjoys herself,
and who so materially contributes to
the enjoyment of her associates, as
does the college girl, which term may
be broadened to include the girl who
comes under the influence of the college
envifonment-in short. the college
mans girl. who comes in for all the
fun attendant upon college life. That
this girl is the most interesting of all
the various types of the season may be
assumed from the fact that she nnds
favor in the eyes of the college man.
for this useful embodiment or lnde-
pendence is bound by no considerations
of wealth or birth in the choice OF her
whom he is pleased to regard as MS
best girl.