Delaware gazette and state journal., 1900-01-25
PORTALS new YORK LETTER.

New York, Jan. 10. My Dear Phyllis:
New York is the most remarkable city
in the world for creature's comfort.
1t is city in which, il we follow the'I
pace of the large mass Of humanity,
makes US food for the worms, but it
is fascinating, nevertheless. The God,
of course, worshipped here is the golden
calf, and he has omnipotent sway.
Money Is necessary to pleasure, and
although we may live in poverty as re.
ligious orders do in cloisters. 1t is OF
vital Importance to feel that the wolf
is not standing outside the door.
Celeste Interrupted me just then, she
always seems to come in Just when
am beeinning to get philosophical.
Probably she knows her cue and saves
me from actual mental eclipse. 1t is
pleasure to have Celeste. even IL she
has not grown old and white haired
by long service in your family, but was
| procured By service agency. Celeste,
the most delightful of French maids,
| who pliers my handkerchiafs and laces
| and who opens my letters before she
brings them to me, and smiles dis
| creetly when my weekly box OF roses
come Speaking of roses, reminds me
OF that odious Tom Alrich. He came
| to very formal dinner j gave last
night in short coat You know you
must not call it Tuxedo any more.
That never was its name. 1T is a dinner
coat. and as its name implies it is one
| that is used as dress negligee, bear
ing the game relation to man as n tea
gown DOES to woman, although there
Is more latitude to the etiquette OF the
dinner coat. 1t is coat that is worn
in the evening on all occasions that
are not formal. 1t really is house
coat disguised. 1t is short. and man
dancing in short jacket with srlen-
didly gowned woman appeals to me as
incongruous and ludiorous. A man may
wear this dinner jacket at hotel din.
ners, or at his club, to stag dinners and
informal theatre parties, or when he
dimes at heme, or when he dimes with
yon en- fammile; but for formal din
ner, oh, no.
But enough about Tom and his
clothes; he never did know any better.
Phyllis, | ain in despair about skirts.
What are we going 10 do. They all
louk SO ridiculous now, with their plain
backs. No sooner did we stretch and
pull and have them tight across ouI
backs like glove, than Dame Fashion
saws it is out and bad form. just rs
we did away with all placket holes,
snd seams, this capricious dame shout:
"rlsats,' and pleats it must be. o
course you have your choice of thu
triple Eox pleat down the middle OF th'
back. the three box pleats, one dowI
: the back and one on each side, or singh
pleats all around these stitched TO thu
knee and flare in the most approvet
fashion. saw one today that wa
pleated all around and IT had a mos
: chic air. OF course the fabric wa
8 lightweight. This season OF pleat
/, will bring back ali the clinging ant
! thin woolen fabrics.
"Oh, your hats. 4" | was actual
2 thinking of h aving my broueham to
J raised bit, that the plumes and chiffo
u fixings my milliner had piled on m
: when the Czar of hatmakers orders fla
hats. They look like buoKwhea
cake pitched over ones nose. Sti
s they're au fait. No trimming at a.
d must stand up. Tc be "in it, 20
% must have perfectly fiat toque. sa'
e stunning one at the Waldorf yestei
Q day. 1t was o fiat turhan of sable, {
o couise no higher than the folds, whic
p were of pleated chiffon caught in th
10 back with rhinestone buckle. A b
J. Of the chiffon hung down few inche!
a Another one that caught my eye wa
n ore of three shades of American Beaut
10 led velvet, with a roll of sable aroun
'e it caught in the back with gold pir
J; Phyllis, you must have one of thes
d hats and 1T must have fur on it. Yo
., see hats of all kinds from the 81
al turban of milady of Fifth avenue, wit
70 its sable trimmings and whisperings
IS Russian steppes and perilous hunts,
m the huge punches Of yellow fur of I'll
ss Sixth avenue shop girl, with its whil
90 ing tales of midnight concerts en- Il
le back fence. Remember. my dear, th
9, these fiat hats must be worn in clio
90 proximity to the nose.
as Another cachet will tell yo
20 Phyllis, you must wear big buttons {
ir your shirt waist and relegate the lit
es ones to the passe bag. Three large on
be are the thing and they must either
n, of gilt, porcelain or pearl.
D. How are your New Years resolution
st Have you broken them yeti. Portia.