The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-09

There is only one day in the year
when Dame Fashion permits her fol-
lowers to appear on Fifth avenue on
Sunday and that is when the bells are
ringing In the story of the Easter JOY
and all the world seems happy and
bright. Then Miss Fuss-and- Feathers,
whose father numbers his dollars by
the millions. and Miss Blue Blood.
whose father has fewer dollars and
more ancestors, with Mrs. Velvet, are
seen in the most wonderful process
sion of the year. II starts just after
church, and IL Is all over about 3
tions Of gowns, and OF IL are all sorts
and conditions OF souls. Then the
avenue looks like a flower bed. The
most dignified old lady is radiant in d
bonnet covered with violets, while any
body under 20 - and nowadays 70 Is
only counted elderly--wears a head
dress whereon the flowers or the field
and those OF the conservatory meet in
great masses and reckless abandon.
The gowns are not so gay. There is
distinct liking among the matrons for
heavy black satin made rich with ruff
fles edged with fine French lace, while
the younger women are In perfectly Mt
ted frocks OF some soft wool that is
either the new blue. a silver gray,
set black or one Of the popular shades
CT purple.
Purple reigns supreme. The milliner
tells you that there are AZ different
shades Of Il. so that IL may be adapted
10 any type of woman from an ashen
blond to the darkest brunette.
The men in the Easter parade look as
only New York men do look-smart, not
only to their finger but to their boot
tips. Their frock coats are made OF
English CLOTH but are cut and fitted so
exactly that one 10 certain no English
tailor ever had his scissors in them.
As you are popular man, you have
been to church A popular man always
goes to church. You are walking up
the avenue with the intention of lunch
ing at your club and watching from its
window the parade of living flowers
that will pass by. Your hand is on
your hat every minute. First you bow
20 dignified, rather fair woman whose
face Is more intellectual than beauti-
ful. whose costume is decidedly English
and who has the reputation--and you
the best women writer's in this coun.
try and belonging to one OF its most
aristocratic families. Mrs Schuyler Van
Rensselaer,, jolly Frank Griswold's sis
ter.
A minute later and you are bowling to
= stately, richly dressed woman whose
gown hints of Felix In It's superb black
satin. with Its jet trimmings end queer.
quaint. coarse white lace--a dark hair
ed, dark eyed woman with that air Of
having been descended from the few
families who swan around in special
ark OF their own during the flood. Her
air 10 peculiar to Philadelphia women.
You say peculiar to Philadelphia wo-
men? You mean peculiar to Philadel-
phta women OF the exclusive set, and
surely az you greet with extreme defer
ence MIRA Cadwallader Jones you con-
Tess her charms and her intellect, but
most Of all her blue blood.
Another PhiladeIphian! How Phila.
4elphia women do marry New Yorkers.
But this Is q younger woman, a pretty
woman, though dark woman, q wo-
man who is beautiful-yes--but then
you hesitate and remember when love.
~ Marion Langdon. with her patrician
ar and her finely cut features, was the
beauty of New York. and you look
again and think, ''Yes. Mrs. John Jacob
Astor is beautiful woman. but her
beauty 10 a little too intense for per-
tectlon. Her hair and eyes are too
black. and her color Is too high.
Here Is another dark beauty. one who
has gained the catch OF the season. the
one to whom the greater number OF the
Mackay dollars will go--Miss Katherine
Duer, gay, Sashing girl who is very
popular. Her friends call her kitty"
and she has been credited with having
had more proposals than any other OF
the lovely girls who were the brides
maids Of the Duchess OF Marlborough.
You wonder IL I'm this procession all
The beauties are dark. II has only been
= little while since the golden haired
Gir1 did not need to be searched for. but
could be found everywhere. Here is one
of the beauties Of the season. and of
course she has been to church--dark of
oyoo, fair Of skin and with hair OF the
lovely mahogany shade that you see so
tften IN New Orleans and so seldom In
any other place. Is IL strange that Miss
/ FIG Potter should have a.? No: Il
ZONES difcct In The maternal line. Then
there Is' another fair haired glrl. Miss
Ruth Woe. f8T III that deIcafe way
. that suggests German, frauleln and
which tells that not very tar back
there d kncli<H blood ore 81 his sea-
str'e df11anies The. 1nughter ~ an
mn frrfiy rich man society is wcnder
->at t ~ Al, -t.et fiie r-r~----rf z-rrr-rr
<pt ne q lgty ~ 'dtn.
tI|D ,'ajst tonf d 4 % a deshlne wom-
HH ItfIf ne ltDld y.,l use a woman
~hs .e ks 80 u fear were unknown to