The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-25

nARIS, Dec S.-Everything points 20
a brilliant holiday season Many
of the old families have returned
to their ehateaux and propose to enter
tain their numerous guests in the good
old seigneurial style. There will be
hunting and riding parties. followed IN
the evenings by dancing for the younger
element and cards and tapestry work
for the elderly countesses and duchess
es who do the matchmaking
shouldn't be a bit surprised if a great
many matches were the outcome OF
these apparently innocent family gain
erings. There's nothing so wise as an
old woman of the world. When Nine
la Mere has a young daughter. she does
not invite men to her house parties BE-
cause they are brilliant conversation
alists or good fellows to help entertain
as is sometimes the foolish custom IN
America. The fmpressionable made
rnoiselle might possibly be too strongly
attracted by these fascinating crea-
lures, and then. then-mon Dieu! NO.
indeed; only men who are eligible par
It's are invited, and they share IN
those delightful tete-a-tetes when Nine
Ia Mere is looking the other way.
That she is looking the other way ex-
pressly does not occur to mademoiselle,
and she proceeds to fall in love with
the man of her choice, as she thinks ana
firmly believes After that it is simply
a question of the blessing of the par
ents and the preparation of an elabo-
rate wedding rousseau.
But 7 think I had better drop this
discussion of matrimony and tell you
of the latest things I have seen. There
is the pretty little De Sambucy girl
for instance. who has just received
from the tailors a costume warranted
to turn the head of any man. It is
made of dark green cloth. the skirt
reaching to within three inches of the
ground. Instead of being stitched it is
banded with row upon row OF narrow
black braid and tiny gilt cord The
Jacket is blouse-she has a trim little
fgure-and it has a belt of black and
gold You can never guess what the
lapels are made of-sonAething much
more chic than fur, simply the furry
beaver felt that our childish hats used
to be made of. You know, it's all the
rage just now and comes in all the del
icate shades These Iape1s, then, are of
the most delicate cafe au 1ait beaver
and are coarSeIy embroidered in gold
thread The hat is of the same mate
rial and is trimmed with a scarf of the
most Iustrous green panne that ever
saw and there is big bunch of holly
berries and leaves to the left side. Just
for the fun of the thing, her brothers
English canemaker has turned out for
her a little walking stick of green
wood with little gold knob. Won't
she feel nannish when she carries that?
Do you remember that little English
girl who used to go to the convent with
US, the one who had such a beautiful
complexion2 Well I met her buying
toys in the Bon Marche the other day.
She seemed very pleased to meet me-
and we finished our shopping together.
She went to her dressmaker's to try on
a new house gown. Tt is one of those
old fashioned Romney effects, and she
looks like a picture in ii. You can see
by the sketch how pretty it is, with its
quaint fichu. I think that is a great
scheme to tuck the ends of the dchu