New-York tribune., 1901-03-04
NEW PHASE OF OLD MANIA.
BUTTER PLATES AS SOUVENIRS ARE
NOW RATED AS PRIZES BY THE
DINER OUT-A GIRDLE
OF DOLLARS

quite the newest phase Of the collecting mania is
that which yearus toward individual butter plates
and anneNes them when and where II may. greatly
10 the distress of the hotel proprietor ana
rant keeper. monogram across the plate only
adds 20 its value.
The mania attacks all sorts and conditions OF
men and women. and under its influence common
honesty takes flight. Hotels and restaurants are
vctimzed 10 such serious extent that in many
instances they are replacing good articles by the
cheapest procurahle.
Spoons stiu seem 10 be especially favored Of the
collector" particularly when they bear the name
of the hotel. although might suppose that that
would be deterrent. 4 well known American
woman, hiCh in The councils Of the Daughters Of
never mind the rest!-and Of much social distinc-
tion, has spoon collection that represents pretty
nearly the known world. Being rich and untram-
melled, she Is almost literally bird Of passage"
and fits 10 Paris. London, Rome, Vienna. Cairo or
AlGiers with little ceremony as the ordinary
New-York woman would go TO Brooklyn. Her col
lection consequently embraces souvenirs Of the
leading hotels In all those cities and many more,
in addition 10 similar mementos OF queer and
quaint little restaurants and odd inns Of Of the
way places. This collection embraces about one
hundred and fifty spoons, artistically arranged in
a velvet lined cabinet in the dining room.
funny but embarrassing situation resulted last
summer from a young Woman's fancy for souvenir
spoons. She was dining with a friend at a fash
ionable hotel overlooking the Hudson and secured
a coffee spoon as a mementO Of pleasant hour.
When the dinner was ended she strolled out on the
piazza while her escort paid the bill. He Joined
her after prolonged interview with the waiter
and said carelessy: by the way, YOU let me
know the next time YOU want a souvenir and
will have IL put the bill at once. Ii has taken
all this time 10 square the waiter. as now the
proprietor insists on their making good any ar
tcles sto-I mean taken-as souvenirs The Young
woman IN telling a friend OF the experience said:
II wanted 10 throw myself in the river. I felt so
cheap II has cured me Of the souvenir mania"
Whiskey wine and cordial glasses also appeal
strongly the feminine collector. one fash
ionabe young woman in New-YorI who is fond Of
the unconventional and hkes 10 organize little
parties 10 dine in the bohemian restaurants has
q charming little cabinet filled with such small
glasses. of quality that she never would think
of buying. But they are souvenirs, so she is i'm
mensely proud OF them.
Individual salfCellers and pepper shakers are OBJ
.ects of interest others, and least one woman
IN New-York has collection gathered surrepti-
tously in divers places Of refreshnent A particu-
larly ambitious specimen is a combination OF the
two Of size that makes one wonder how she con-
cealed it on her pocketless person
Bottles have claimed the attention OF the col
lector, and, commonplace the word sounds, the
fad has been rewarded by many interesting finds
Some are beautiful in form, some in color Others
are bizarre IN shape and fantastic in decoration.
Indeed. one knows the possibilities OF bottles as
q lad until she has tried il. A in pretty
nat belonging 10 bachelor girl has fringe OF
bottles all around suspended by loops % wire from
the picture moUlding-the graceful Chianu bottles.
The artistic wicker covered olive oil BOTTLES from
Italy, champagne and cordial bottles absurd little
stone jugs that once held Whiskey, long. slender
brown jugs redolent of Holland gin. and perfume
bottles Of fanciful outline and sometimes exquisite
tnts.
A happy married couple have menu fad. They
monotony Of life by dining away from home every
saturday night. and have saved menu from every
such dinner. These range from decorated cards
~ the most fashionable hotels Of large cities in
Europe and America 10 imprOmptu bills OF fare
written on brown paper leaf from A notebook
rants.
Coins and medals another form OF the col
lectnE mania. Some Of the victims eclectic in
Ihelr tastes, and arnoN any old coin. Others adopt
american or English or other nationality As an
exclusive object. Mrs. Marie Robinson Wright.
noted Tor her travels IN Mexico and South America.
has collection that is probably unique, II con-
slsts of silver dollars of every republic that has
~ arrangement as Ia conception. being made into
girdle with three pendant chains, in effect Of
almost harbarlc splendOr. This Mrs. Wright calls
her 'girdle Of republics" Many Of the foreign ex-
anpes were given TO her by the presidents Of the
fffuhhCs represented. and although they not
called dollars they are Of approximate value.
Lhe American dollars In the girdlc Of the rare
Issues. and the foreign in many cases have ceased
70 be coined because the republic that made them
10 longer exists The value of the girdle is said
10 be about S2.Ot0.