The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-15
LIVE TOPICS ABOUT TOWN.

Bishop Potter has never been to theatre in
New York as he recently told gathering Of
actors. but he does go sometimes to club
IN which actors conRregate In small numbers
He mot there recently one member. not an
actor. who has the reputation OF saying clever
things and lives up to II moro frequently than
many others who acquire that renown. The
Bishop sought to hear specimen ofhis skill at
eugram The dignity OF the Bishop embar-
rassed even the club humorist, who Is rarely
put into such n frame OF mind. This fact
made such an impression on him TINT 1t gave
his final com pliance with the Bishops request
somewhat more rersonal character than his
WI, usually rGssGsscs b @s'Gess n 1sh II nfG s
power which the Bishop heard and smiled at.
Again the woman with the cigarette has
tested the diplomacy 81 II fashionable restau-
rants head waiter. who was as firm in enforc-
ing the rules OF tho establishment as others
have been compelled to be before him. No
fashionable New York restaurant has ever al
lowed women to smoke in the public dining
rooms and the prohibition Of such indulgence
Is nearly always accompanied by embarrassing
circumstances The women who begin to
smoke are usually Of n kind Objectionable on
no other score. Most Of them are foreigners
or they have lived abroad and become accus-
toned to the liberation OF the practice there
There il nearly every other characteristic OF
those European resorts to be found now in
New York. In many Of them the men
are privileged to smoke whenever they
are ready; This permissiio,n had much
to do with the popularity OF two or
three places and the tendency in that dlrec-
ton becomes moro general cvory year Put in
respect to the women there has been no dispo-
sition on tho part Of the proprietors TO show
any greater liheralty. The manner in which
hs the is
ia the usual course But woman in French
restaurant refused the other night TO yield so
foreigner. middle aged and of ordinary appear
ance. The man with whom she was sitting lit
his cigar after dinner and her cigarette follow
monstrated in French. She seemed as'onishsd.
then indignant. but firm throughout. :, She
while herself. and then told the waiter she
would finish her cigarette then, whatever the
rules OF the hotel were. There was no rre"e-
dent for such rebellion and she had her way.
Neither the Rainy Day Club nor any other
organization is needed now to impress the ad-
vantage OF the short skirt on New York women.
During the last few weeks the number OF
short-skrtei women in the shopping district
has been SO large that they scarcely attract
attention 1t Is not probable that they all
came directly from the golf course to the
shops. nor do they bear the appearance OF hav-
ing recently travelled on bicycles. but they are
prepared for either sport Ono EXPLANATION is
that the nformality OF summer dress in OF or
particulars has made the short skirt see m
appropriate, particularly when it carries with
1t the suggestion OF a soJourn out OF town.
The ability OF bootblacks to pay $1,000 q year
for the use of ten chairs in an Office building
AMI still make money was recently discussed.
and some facts have been developed as to the
incomes which may be made from this humble
pursuit. One proprietor OF half dozen stands
who was not many years ago an active worker
NJ tIn hItgi pnG "a nj CT n
horses. One Of these is already the favorltc in
u coming race and IS said to be valued at Slo.-
600, His owner is likely to make a small for
allied lie ' The 'i b,ootback who rose t" fortune
was always popular figure in Juvenile fiction,
rne He usua spqn only his
tcnderest years with the blacking box slung
over his shoulder and PASSED through many
stages before he became u bank president.
Nowadays he remains In the business. extends
his field into every part OF the town aud makes
his fortune out OF the same Kind OF employment
he began in.
Theobald Chartrain. the artist is building
beautiful home at Neuilly in Paris and has
gratefully recognized in some OF It's details the
ountry in which he has been so successful.
The new house. which is said to be the hand
somcst in region OF elaborate homes, has
been chiefly designed by the artist. He has
shown his appreciation Of American institu-
tons principally by the number Of bathrooms
with which he has supplied the house. Their
number is unprecedented in Paris and is said
to be causing great establishment to those Of
the artist 8 friends who have seen the designs
for his residence. NJ Chartraln will return to
New York again next winter His
been larger than in any previous year
and the Paris establishment is large
to hav" gone last sprng TO London and had
arranged for an exhibition OF his pictures. but
decided
new house He has not been in the English
capital for many years and went there first to
do some portrait supplements for an illustrated
weekly. 4 New Yorker who recently returned
from London brought back with him rare
specimen OF this work: was a portrait OF Sarah
Bernhardt done in 1878. His last picture
OF the same subject was quite different
thing. Three years ago he painted her as
GismOndd while the actress was in New York.