The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-13
1rvE TOPICS ABOUT roWN.

Ono Of the rules Of correct social conduct
which Is becoming so well established that men
are revolving in the relief 1t brings does away
will tho necessity of sending cards in answer
to invitations to afternoon receptions and teas.
The return Of O card used to be looked upon as q
necessary acknowledgment of such an atten-
ton. That is no longer the case, and in the
hurry of New York life an invitation to any
thing less formal than u dance or q dinner may
be ignored. 1T was last winter" said a.woman
who has had experience in these matters, that
the number of cards sent in response to invita-
tions to afternoon entertainments began to
diminish. and this winter ono sees 80 few
Of them that tho old rule may DO looked
upon as having finally passed away along with
some of the other usages Of society which were
formerly regarded as obligatory, but have to-
day quito disappeared. Men in particular are
satisfied with any new rule which relieves them
Ing 'n an 'u eHSeloSp y s'' The sS i formaiiti Hs'y attending t. n %hae,
afternoon affairs have gradually diminished
pn1 WAS sn only ss g few g gears ago e' tSa 70 t &c e enests ss a
were, leaving: This was foilowod ~ a change
quickly as possible, and now they hurry away
withoSt a word 10 Of porting. This has s. Its I'd, I'd,
the habit Of sending them has gone out Of
| used to make those afternoon gatherings fairly
formal. Possibly the first cause Of this change
years e ago that they made a mistake in Wearing
full evening dress In the afternoon and that
they should wear gowns Of q much less elabo-
Many Of the visiting portrait painters who
come to New York are anxious to give somo
exhibition of their talents which shall attract
attention, and this object Is usually accomplished
best by taking as a subject some well-known
---.- l.. --l--l 49,. -I-I L. T.
tercst beyond that which the artist can give 1t.
Some of tho most eminent foreigners are anx-
ious to find such subjects. and they will fire.
quently paint them for nothing, when under Or
binary circumstances the sitters would have to
pay several thousand dollars. The profits Of
the foreign artists are not SO great as they seem,
and this can be understood when 1t Is known
that one painter supposed to get $4,000 for
every portrait he did receives only one-half of
that sum. Tho rest goes to his agent. For
several years past the field has practically been
controlled by. one highly successful foreigner,
and tho local portrait painters have had but
little success in the struggle against him. 1t
Of OF portraits painted dat by local artists have been
done for sums considerably below the custom
painted for nothing more than tho ADVERTISE
ment thai would come. But 1t is Ito foreign
f ssf T mssn as t Of m %siDfit tyRe al SaSsss f know TGsq her TO-
Only a short time ago e foreign portrait painter
of considerable reputation painted a New York
enough study under all circumstances TO havo
justified the artists selection OF her as his first
model In this country. Somebody asked him
one day why no had selected this particular
the reply, because she had such an intellectual
foot" When 1t became known that the por.
trait was about to BIO shown there was great
anxiety among tho. original friends to Know
But to the disappointment of everybody this
member was not visible.
New York is to be the subject of attack from
an opera company which is just now marching
on it from an unexpected quarter. An Italian
company which has lately been singing In San
Francisco has turned its face toward New
York, and its impresario has announced his de-
termination to give O series Of Italian per-
formances hero at popular prices. His name is
Del Comic. and his company. after having sung
In the city Of Mexico. gave O highly successful
series of performances In San Francisco. The
organization may not reach New York, but IL
satisfactory arrangements can.,be made. the sea-
sou will begin nero in about six weeks. 1t will
not DO given at tho Metropolitan. None OF the
singers is well known by name, and. indeed, a
glance at the list shows not one that has eyer
on tho strength of HIS repertoire thai, this cou-
COMPANY sings Pnocini's Boheme'' in italian.
and has given tho work frequently to large au-
Puccini never before heard in New York 10
"Manon." and that Is another work In which
the italian company will be heard IL IL comes
TO New York. The fate.sof,the latest Italian
terrors FOR the manager. who has tho same con-
iidence inss"Bohemo" that Col. Maplcson had in
Andres chenier." :