Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-02-22
PORTALS new YORK LETTER

New York, Feb. 16. They were all
the seedy aristoorats, the on-the.cdge
of society, the half world and theover-
the footlights, at Mrs. Langtry's
matinee bazaar. The women went to
look at the gowns and the men went to
look at the women. 1t is perfectly
reasonable that Beth'i mind should be
bit unbalanced by this gorgeous affair
when even such satiated person as l
waxed a trife enthusiastic over rhs
clothes show Tuesday afternoon. The
money taken in for the hospitalship
Maine was large enough sum to please
even the Shylock temperament OF Mrs.
Hugo de Battle.
l said 'they we're all there" society,
too, but the exclusive few keep them
selves and their skirts from sweeping
against the too-well-known, and sat in
their boxes all afternoon. 30 the not
socially ambitious Jersey Lily did not
gain the foothold she desired, But
went to watch gowns, and tluly to see
the beautiful women Of stagelapd out
in best bib and tucker vas 2 rare de-
light. We noticed Mrs. Nat Goodwin,
May Robson, Blanche Bates, Edna May
and Anna Held. The gowns were new
and striking. Mrs. Langtry, resplendent
in lace and ermine, was regal looking.
One gown of PINK cloth, embroidered
in gold, was beautiful. Truly, each
thing seemed more beautiful than the
last. Materials have never been more
beautiful and varied than they are now.
One thing i noticed was the pre-
dominance of combination OF light
blue and violet, the most chic affair
being light blue cloth skirt and 4
violet panne velvet waist, worn by a
tall blonde. This combination in mil
linery is particularly fetching. III the
! new gowns worn at Sherry's Tuesday
afternoon by the leaders of society and
bellies of the stageland echo the coming
modes, the triple box in the rear is
doomed. 1t is becoming to SO few
women and SO difficult to make without
having the skirt drag about the feet,
that Partisan women nave tabooed it
and the more graceful thing and the
style which seemed generally adopted
on the gowns i saw Tuesday, were
small side pleats, which are decidedly
more graceful.
Separate waists? No. 1t was not
separate waist coterie. Every woman
was out on parade and had creation
for the occasion. But whisper about
the separate waist. 1t must be related
in some way to the skirt, If only by
a remote cousinship. Thus, if a black
skirt be worn, its waist must have
touch of black to show it is connection
of no base family upstart, If only by
velvet bow. This is a rule rigidly
observed by the best-gowned women.
Since Adam and Eve held their fruit
party in the Garden of Eden and ate
apples to Cupid's seductive songs,
women have had a prediction for eat
ing to music, and now every up-to-date
cafe has a Hungarian band or some
sort of rag-time music. Fashion de-
mands it. The quality does not seem
to make any difference. The mere noise
compels your attention and your mind
follows as the children followed the
'Pied Piper of Hamein." You take
your soup to slow waltz music, you eat
YOUR fish to a rag-time polka. The
consequence is you haven't time to
, mink out the bones, but next comes a
selection from Wagner and that sends
the bone down. fcu take your fillet
to 1.-THE Belle Of New York;" you put
your salad away to the dulcet strains Of
"Hello, Nah Baby;" you rattle off a
| rum omelet to symphony In q, and
YOU bolt your cheese and coffee to ballet
music from Carmen. 1t IS delight
, full, this eating to music.
After having finished a m'Jic dinner,
and slipping my coffee to the SLOW
, strains of 1.-THE Angel Serenade," |
I cast my eyes on girl with sailow com
! plexion sitting opposite, goyned IN
. Violet, Ii was an exquisite gown and
! fitted faultlessly, but it ruined her,
and l sat there in my coffee-reverie
j thinking how often it is that just
I a little thing altogether skaters 2
0 woman's artistic appearances. This girl
. was not bad looking, and the sallow-
! ness OF the complexion would not have
been noticed had she not elected to
: Mace next to those yellow-ti cheeks
the color of all oolors which will bring
$ out the jaundice hue. Some queries
|. came into my mird, such as:
Why will the girl with yellow in hel
skin always have penchant for laven'
: der?
d ankle wear plaid stockingsY
! Why it is a woman can seldom refrair
o from saying II told YOU soY'
I, Why do nine out of ten women TAX
chocolate soda?
Why is it that the weakest character
are often the most luvable?
It Why does the woman who adopts thu
g broad "a" Push it so hard to the wal
d that she makes fan" rhyme will
J. pawn"
e Why do men give jerk to the knee
!, of their trousers when they sit down
Is which exposes an unnecessary quartz
h of ward of homely hosiery?
Y Why don't most women attend u
IS their own affairs, and, above all, VIII,
If doesn't Pcrtias
a
"a for yIts&inr Man.