The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24
Societu Topics.

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dainty parcels. All week long these
women (for only women can glow, glisten
and tie parcels gracefully have been
tired to DEATH with shopping. This is
the season when woman spends one week
chat before Chrfstmas) buying, and the
next THAT after Chrisfmas) exchanging.
This is not a bad idea from a philan-
thropic point OF view, as it gives emf
ploysment to the thousands of "extra'
help taken on in the big dry goods stores
for the holiday trade. They are retained
the week after Christmas to exchange the
articles they sold the week before. Inc
story is told of a Philadelphia woman who,
though sharp at a bargain, was never
satisfied with anything after she once
got it home md must needs take it back.
Nor was she ever satisfied with her
Christmas gifts, which were treated IN
much the same way. On one occasion she
received an umbrella. It was a very nice
affair. but did not suit her. Back It Went
and was exchanged for a better grade.
This did not suit either, and the same
thing was done, and SO on, till by
paying just a slight difference each time
she eventually got a very handsome arti-
Gle. which she afterward exchanged for
a vase. 1t was a novel idea, a sort of in
stallmenf plan Investment on a pay as
you please basis.
Last week was Fair Week. not as to
the weather, but as to Christmas, with
its long line of charities and charity
sales. Three fairs were disposed of-ohe
sDoil Sale for the benefit of the Chil-.
dren's Home, the Home of the Homeless
Fair and the Keramic Art Exhibit,
where, in this instance, charity began
at home" This week it is the schools
and churches. Whittier Hous Kinder
garten has had its tree, which now stands
in all its glory in the kindergarten
room. and the Jersey City Free Kinder
garten has had its tree. This year the
children of the latter institution Jared un-
usually well. First, the ladies of the
Philanthropie Committee of the Woman's
Gu filled large paper bags with
s.goodies'' for the youngsters stomachs.
I and then-though< up to last Tuesday
nothing of the kind was expected num-
Der of toys and dolls were sent in by
Mrs. Talbot Chambers. Mrs. Spencer
Weart. Mrs. Brsnkerhoff and others. So
that zach little girl clutehed a doll and
each boy a toy in one hand and candy
in the other. the latter being kept in
close proximity to their mouths. But
that is one of the privileges Of Christ
mas and happy childhood.
"Grace, Grit and Greenbacks Grimly
Greet Gripr, Everybody nowadays has
the grip. It seems at the present mo-
ment to be the only name known for a
common cold. 1t is an epidemic, not un-
common at this season of the year, when
women are worn out with shopping and
pale from a continued diet of Charlotte
Russo. cellars and chocolate, or, worse
vet. the latter taken in a hurry, at
Huyier's. without any other nourish-
ment. All the pains of back and head,
and even the clamor of the stomach for
supplies are charged to the account of
grip. OF course there are some really
severe cases of the dreaded disease, but
nine out of every ten, where the patient
SAYS she because this applies to women
more than men) is suffering from the
grip. and still continues to shop, are fit
subjects for the Faith Curists.
~
1t is with regret that the members of
Mrs. Horace c. Waits Current Topics
Glass realize that those delightfully."- in
structive and interesting Monday after
noon lectures are fast drawing to a close.
On Monday last the class said goodbye
to Miss Anna Beaston, who has been
taking care of the political sfde of the
question. Miss Beaston's lecture was on
Spain, and in thai discourse she brought
out a few facts which led up to the pres
ent unenyiable condition of hat country,
as for instance, the 700 years of continued
strife within her own boundaries, which
should make the people at large just a
little bit more lenient in their condemna-
ton of the once prosperous nation now
leveled to the dust.
On Monday, January 9, Mrs. Wait will
complete the course, that being the tenth
lecture, with a talk not upon the 4Ad-
ventures of Francois, " as previously stat
ed. but upon @Ayiwin,'' and the Pre-
Raphaelistic School OF. Art, which the
book represents, as well as a few re-
marks upon Romantic Literature"
SWISH swish, swisht The death knell
of the silk petticoat has been rung.
Swish, swish, swish, 1T disturbs our
meetings. says the club woman. 1T has
grown 50 terribly common says the
woman of fashion. So the elubwomen
hoist their flag and march forth, a cru
SADIE against the silk skirt. Tommy
Rot.' exclaims Dame Fashions up-to-
date daughter, who manages to live on
ten thousand a year, and believes more
In Bohemianism than woman's rights,
rwe are simply tired of the thing and
must lave a change" Thus it goes,
those two contending elements, dress re-
form and fashion, for once, though with
distinctively different motives, issuing
the same decree. THE silk skirt must
go."
But what next?" asks the Crusader, AS
she swishes across the platform, putting
the President to the unmovable discofn-
fort of having to clinch her own Knees
and sit like unto our great grandm3tliers
in church. lest the swish of her pretty
neither garment be heard, while the cru.
sader holds forth in a lengthy written dis
course on the pros and cons, principally
the latter. of the silk skirt, heartily APP
nIauded. from time to time by her sister
crusaders. to the musical accompaniment
~ as many more swish swashes.'
s.But what next?" asks the fashion
Mate. The silk skirt has had its run. It
has been pretty. 1t has been musical,
and above ali It has had a tendency to
give the wearer a dainty, graceful, though
acquired. appearance, as she trips along
the street. or toes the light fantastic on
: hail room floor, one hand ever draping
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