The sun., 1901-11-03
IN rHE DEBUTANTE'S HONOR.
FORM4LITY OF INTRODUCING
A GIRL TO SOCIETY.


tatnment - societys Busy Time.
From now till about Christmas teas and
receptions for debutantes will be feature
among the social events in this city While
siris are introduced to society all the year
round, It Is at this season that the greatest
number are presented.
In no other part of the world Is the society
bud put on pedestal as she rs here. Thus
In England the social debut Of daughter
Of good family takes place gradually, un-
ostentatiously. The only exception is
when, as sometimes happens, she Is pre-
sented at court. Otherwise her position is
In the rear, rarely In the foreground.
England Is a paradise for the young
married woman, but not for the young
GIRL" is the verdict Of women who have
lived much abroad.
II was not many years ago that the COM
ing-out reception with Its bevy OF pretty
girls was introduced to New York. Further
back in the social history Of the city elab-
orate ooming-out evening parties whioh
included feasting and dancing, occasionally
fell TO the lot OF daughters Of the rich. but
the majority OF tho girls Of that time had
no formal introduction TO society.
The afternoon reception does not COM
pletely monopolize latter-dsy debutantes.
Large dinners followed by dance to which
more guests are asked are another kind
Of function. favored by the wealthy for
bringing out a bud, both here and at New
port, but the favor OF the dinner dance
IN not vet SO great as that Of the tea, for the
reason, undoubtedly, that 1t Is not only .
much more expensive form OF entertain
II. x,,hiok rilv HYnita
the number Of guests.
The debutante OF to-day, II has been
pointed out, is not quite 80 youthful AZ
the buds of other years.
-One reason said an authority, is that
girls are better educated than formerly.
They scarcely get out OF the schoolroom
under 1s and an advanced course takes
O year or two longer.
Preparations for a debutante's reception
must be begun several weeks in advance.
The debutante must early turn her attention
toward securing the required number OF
aids, task not SO easy as might be ina gined
even though the list Of her friends Is long.
None but girls who have been out not
more than one season or who have just been
introduced or who expect to be introduced
the next season may be included in the
reception line at debutante's tea. Owing
to these limitations the debutante fire.
auently finds il far from easy to make her
selections. For this very reason 1t is all the
more important that she should not post
pone coming to a decision.
would you believe it, pouted a pretty
iebutants Of last year, "out of fourteen
intimate friends to whom l wrote only four
were free to accept my invitation simply
because l didn't ask them soon enough.
The other eleven were already engaged to
receive at other teas
A month ahead Is none too soon to con-
slider the personnel Of a receiving corps, par
ticularly IL the reception is scheduled foI
December. By beginning thus early the
debutante can select a day for her tea,
which il rot already overcrowded with
functions of precisely the same kind.
Saturday afternoons Of recent years have
been most in favor for debutantes' teas
Sixteen girls. moving in much the same
social set. chose the same Saturday after
noon for their receptions last season. The
result was disappointment all around.
Society. however willing, is scarcely equal
To the task of visiting dozen or more
houses situated anywhere and everywhere
bet tween Madison Square and the upper
end Of Central Park between the hours of 4
and THE time allotted to these entertain
ments-and for this reason IL Is now the
custom for debutsnte 10 make public her
date as soon as possible for the benefit OF
others who have vet 10 make choice
As soon a. the debutante secures the re-
auired number Of friends Ia help her OH the
important day she should Immediately call
far "A Gf,pstllf "A All sakaTaI
important points, one Of which Is gowns.
The modish dtbutants's gown il pure
white and of more ar les diaIhanous ma
terial Satin, silk brocade are all barred
for a bud, swept aside ia favor Of chiffon,
mousselDe de sole, point d'esprit silk net,
but here is no hxed rule in regard Ia the cos-
TUNES of her assistants. except that, like
that Of the debutsnls. they are cut high
In the bOdi6"
II h mos, desirable though. that har-
mony Of color should prevail. aud therefore
,ls giTls must by al "Aciange of Con-
hdsBoes. seek 10 avoid the di-agi'eabla
.fect ~ two 90 thre- gowns of as many
conflicting rhAdes ~ blue, pink 80 green
Ia clo-s proximity IN the re"rpti"n linz.
In. oon-ultation al-o d"ais whh he
d.llcais aus -tion ~ which aud how many
81 ~. gifl- siali fro-l," in IA. drawing
ruom and whioh shall mak. tl'uHsi,"s
charming in th. fsifrrlu"ni ru"Iu Just
nos fashion r.,iali-s tlAi dfbutant"
shall stand ~ fir sidr oi boz u.niisr uf
tls n.iaii," Nhu Introduce irf. vlfh thftu
or four 90 tnni. ~ b"I youhful hlIsfs in
hns "n is,f uii,sf iand aId iiiai slul" ~
them sitau o. aus 81 Tie niirf snd ~ il,a
afa StnF nspir aid tn ii. diflnE nsofu