Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-30
ELLEN OSBORN'S LETTER
BEAUTIFUL COSTUMES WORN AT MIDWINTER DANCES DELIGHT TN
RECEIVE.

New York, Dec. 29.-Since London set
the fashion of receiving ones guests upon
the stairway landing New York, whose
stairs are built, as a rule, upon a less
generous pattern, has been more or less
puzzled.
In old-time houses the reception rooms
are usually on the first floor, and even if
they are not, the stairway is long and
straight, unbroken by landings. Unwill-
ing to refuse obedience to a fad, some
hostesses living in houses of this de-
scription AVE been receiving of late at
the head of the stairs. But there is a
certain awkwardness about this eNpedient
which will cause it to be ridiculed out
of possibility.
In the modern city house the entrance
is almost invariably on the ground floor.
and the guest is indicted into a hail oc-
%cupying, in many cases, the entire width
of the house and pretty nearly it's entire
length, the magnificent stairway being
quite at the rear. The second floor of
such an establishment is devoted to the
ball room, music room, Conservatives
and parlors, the living rooms of the
family being on the third floor. These
living rooms II the ball room are
reached by means of a dainty uphol-
stored elevator.
Right here, when entertainments are
in progress, appears a difficulty. In the
words of a hostess whose fairy palace
was thrown open for the first time during
holiday week:
IL l stand on the stairway 1 shall
never see half my guests, for they take
the elevator. Now, ought l TO be at the
foot Of the lift or at the top?'
At the top has been the general deci-
sion, and in spite of London, guests are
received much as they were last winter,
IN the parlors that admit to the ball
room.
That other london custom according
to which a guest goes first to the dining
room to partake OF champagne and sup
per and then--Or never-seeks his hostess
has not yet been transplanted. Aneri-
can social life is still a little more cour-
teOus than that of the English metl'cpo-
lis.
forded a chance for the display of many
beautiful costumes. and ave brought to
/ light at least one necessity.
In these days of the multiplication of
jewels more than n matron has felt
the need of a more secure fastening for
her tiara. To see a circle of gems Slip
ping in rakish fashion from side to side.
now perching over one car and now the
other, and occasionally hopping into the
air in the livelier movements of the
! dance is 4 spectacle that Of late has ex-
! posed stately aides 10 the giggllns ridi-
Guile of irreverent youngsters.
Unless one has abundant locks or very
secure pins, it needs but the change of
a word to make it Still sadly true that,
uneasy lies the head that wears a
crown"
Evening dress both for debutantes and
matrons is more regular this winter than
last. That is to say it is the fashion 10
have two sleeves alike and not to at
tempt clownish contrasts between the
sides of ones bodice. The result is great
! er dignity and elegance of dress, with
now and then a slight sacrifice OF pic
turesquenesS.
A Wilderness of transparent stuffs is
in vogue, especially for the young girls
whom December introduced into society.
| Miss Mary Croker who. as BELTS a null
! ti-millionairess, is credited with wearing
an evening dress but twice before dis
carding it, has appeared in a lovely gown
of two sorts of lace over two petticuats,
one of chiffon the other of satin.
The upper part Of the dress is of an
exquisite creamy silk net draped at the
corsage to give a clinging jacket effect,