New-York tribune., 1902-10-19

belle and the marvel OF the miIliner's dress
makers art from Paris. Papas and mammas by
the score. with heavily lowered daughters. devote
themselves to the search for eligible sons-tn-law
of either title equivalent fortune Then there
hosts OF winning brides the arms Of their
proud lords and masters, among whom is large
percentage Of English couples.
The life is one Of luxurious comfort and lavish
laziness. First there is breakfast in the dining
rooms Of the hotels facing the sea- then the morn
ing promenade and a hour at the KursaaI on the
shaded terrace. while the orchestra rehearses its
programmes. Al II the daily dip of the fashion
abies. with rush and scramble bathing
chimes and crowd of admirers along the waters
edge. lingering In the hope of catching a glimpse
of La Belle Otero, cleo de MSrode or Lame de
Pugy, as she steps from he~ cabin nimbIy and
gracefully into the water. After The bath cones
the operative at the kursaal again and then the
promenade and beach suddenly deserted and
fashionable Ostend retires dejeuner la four
Ghetto and from the hea. Of the midday sun To
blossom forth again between 4 and in all the
glory OF tht most artistic blending of coloTs and
folds for afternoon tea the kursaal Terrace
Then dinner between go and forms one OF the
most brilliant functions that the place affords.
Soon after ostend lights up. and from the Old
wooden pier at end 10 the huge Palace Hotel
AT the other the transformation Is TO scene
from tairyland while the rising moon wearing
hue of golden red. shines like a huge Chinese
lantern all.
wildering scene as the visitors pour after din
ner some c3ntented on the terrace and en-
JOY the cooling hreezes from the sea while others
make at once for the gambling rooms. wearing
the unmistakahIe look of eager expectancy By
o'clock the symphony concert is over when the
dancing begins and the real life Of the habitues Is
revealed Here many a match is made and the
nance name the mother-in-law. the bourgeois beau
vile; may be picked out on either hand. What
a IninSlng Of natonalities. Of all sorts and con-
hitloiS OF social HE what n cOSmOpoIitau "
To the tune of StraJsss most seductive waltzes
and what glimpse AT human nature in one Of itS
most superficial. artificial phases. The prince is
10" 20 elbow with the bourgeois unawares for
mere neither title condition is discernibe in
man man or woman 1t is all one huge. ever Changing
tba iiSht "ps TI bright hued humanity. hathed In
midsummer moon 80 " ~
Aiong the beach or along the promenade there
viii L i'oIl tlhe to time an unassuming figure In
viii uuck trousers and waistcoat "A loose gray
{{IChtt anu simple straw hat OF a former season
snnias Tia1 WIN the crowd. bows here and there.
sHu5S pleasanty and umps. The stature the
whose indefatieab promenades along the snS
daily '"' OF three walking companions
And yet to all this there is a dark side. there
- III, SaInhling rooms cast "A SOmhre reiec-
iioh over the glamour of tho place but fortunate
istence Where theSe rooms r'T oDiv eX
n r,,niInni i gambler, with more money than brains
evening ana far into the wee sna bonrs!. @ enf s,,
before had tsasn lss AMI American girls. who never
tbe Tnu mothers stood behind their chairs, showing
staEa t"ey Hushed with excitement how To
ho,ts ,1r ti,er shining louis. There We're beardIess
tbSSt l.suhs all they possessed. dOwagers PLAYING
vbto systems for all they worth and
~ some won. the greater part showed
nervous twtchinE of their connie
'hdt fortune against them but
th tleS ins SAD havoc The stakes are even higher
-Iohte carlo. and fortunes that have taken
-. IONS IONS 10 accumulate have been frtttered
$500 "1S there IN less than week Young men by
sa,'S OF fortune and the brightest prOsDects
man "een ruined materially and morally while
sLI"ilS young woman has left rooms vyith
.ueis never before dreamed of In short the ps
teHu gambling rooms are fashionable he'll Ia ha
aT sWuyu ~. above all by the young. Belgium ma,
y, Ihahh her legislators for purging the country
appeared from the land. VIZ