New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-19
FASHION CHANGES, NOT WOMAN.
Fragments of Criticism on The New Home
and Dinner Parties

That admirable writer az thirty or forty years
ago, Fanny Fern. one Of the first women to protest
popularity against various existing conditions. made
many d criticism which j. full of force to-day
Out Of a little book named Ginger Snaps
taken these fragments of her cTicicisnl-comuaents
indicating that the fashion may change out not
the heart OF woman.
IN The New Home" everything is spick and
span. thorough and fresh. from attic TO cellar
the comment names conditions dear 70 womans
heart. Pretty carpets and pictures, glass, silver.
china and pretty bride for the mistress Recep-
tons over she looks about her. Hank! What is
that? A mutiny down stairs. She did not foresee
so speedy a gr4pple with intelligence Offices, even
if any at all She never thought Of being bothered
in this way when she was married. 1t was all TO
be 4 rosy dream OF love and quiet and comfort and
immunity vulgar frets- Well. she goes into
her kitchen and inquiries into the mutlny, and hnds
that the chamberlnaid and the cook standing
In the middle OF the floor like two cats on top OF a.
fence. She tries 10 pacify them, but they out
scream each other, till her head cracks defending
themselves. She goes up to George and he says.
with executive of his conjugaI hand, send
them both off, and go to Intelligence office. my
dear and get others" He thinks that IS To be the
end Of it. He doesn't take into account the char
acter' that is to be hunted Up al the last place
Sally lived in. up in Tweuty-t housandth-st.. the
mistress Of which will keep his little wife waiting
hour, while Sally is meantime airing her heels
in the intelligence office whittier the new bride is
to return and report Automatically or the reverse.
end Of II. Not bit Sally is 10 be instructed
an hour or two every day where to find things and
where and how TO use them. and at the end Of a
weeks vacation she will never once set table
without narrowing mistakes If. at the end OF
that time. her opinion OF other servant in
the house does not necessitate her finding another
place; because. though ignorant Of all she pro-
fessed thoroughly TO understand when she came
she objects TO being followed round"
It's true the new housekeeper might dodge the
hold
servants Ievee for several days in her parlors or
she might take a list of advertisements. and scour
the city in disagreeable localities UP pairs or stars
innumerable ind the advertiser lust engaged
Either way the grapple is to be met, in the person
of cook. chambermaid waitress or all three
every few weeks And all this. though the little
bride may ask no questions as TO the speedy disap-
pearance Of the household stores. or how many
people unknown TO her are fed at all hours OUT OF
them She may prefer not 10 that her damask
table napkins are used for dish towels, or that
the mattresses are never turned when the beds are
made. She may also choose 10 be silent when told
that a closet has been cleaned and put in order
although 70 her certain knowledge Il has not oeen
touched For IS not the virtuous and indignant
reioinder always ready. Dye think I'd lie mum
Now what comfort is her pretty silver, haII
cleaned and seT5Isd heg With the handles knocked
OF? What pleasure her china nicked at the edges5
Which way soever she turns. waste 1sh'F1-oe an
obstinacy stare her IN the tace .,,-. 70 .rfs
I 90 not say there are not exceptions . 20 .'!S
gloomy nicture. but they rare. Sometimes a
godsend OF aunt or housekeeper stands between
do it, But till intelligence Offices have something
besides the raw material 10 ofer on tne ol.e
or on the other servants who Insist upon periorl-
ing your work las Mrs Jones did" and who resent
az an insult the uildest ntimation that you prefer
your own waywhile this state o. thihss -
the mistress be she young or old must aseas IaHq
her existence watching the arrival OF enigTa-lS
rtpncerning Dinner Parties. Fanny Ferns de-
scription and summary are striknsiy appTa3 rags
a. UossfbIe 10 the social machinery OF to-day
runs the older-time commeut-seeIIs 10 20 'e -,
TO fear will gradually be smothered n the proc
ss Perhaps {as ray p Th0 dinner With her friend
MGS 9 Bromn Thsn ali the elaborate dinners she IS
han rFe likes wines and French cookery and would
consider anything else poor cot'i-iiN4s"' :"
And navg what are these fine dinners? Just this:
Al 1ieasant arrav of silver glass and china; a
rbaPTEinE DISPOSITION OF fruit and flowers; great
deal Of dress, uudress on tls par oI ~
Brains-as the gods please but always proces-
sion Of dishes, m'rcilso o Ia h6mrs during which
the requisite number OF tedious hours 60 H..
YOU eat you know not what. because you must uo
avis atrlhs ~E.r ~ snd fnisb up with coffee:
sink supiney into soft chair, and the Ieeo -
Everybody there feels just you do Everybody
would like To creep into some quiet cortsI emu %
h aione Pe ere good Providence puts It into
the distracted brain Of the hostess 70 ASK bat
he DIavs or how hard he thumps. BlessedLto te.l'
ra1 al
$4,000 or which you know little and care less
This over YOU a gentleman coming Iowa.
,-ot How fun OF deceit Is his smile, as IL. taSIa
his eve on you. thinking YOU Will talh- NIl91a 80
man. You exchange rev comm oIilihoap tt-es ss,
and then glance furtvey about TO see u that pLaiI
playing young man really means 20 ieare
ty,1isT ma sstaged. he does. 5ut-reAeL-Cnete
Comes YOUR h.rband. How glad he Is TO see you,
II is worth going TO the dinner party 70 witness NE
afrection for you at that moment. lie even te..s
,-ou from verV gladuess Of heart that ne ooeSIt
80 mn YOU look as we'll any woman IN ire
room" You only needed that unwonted display OF
~iza inn
7ate though yuu should in doinS u, rush madly on
your own -. - .. o., w. chit. man and
women empty their purses. and MI their decae!S
and wardrobes. and merge their brains III t'iSi-
stomachs and-are IL the fashion -,
Better is leg OF mutton and caper sauce, anu
,oucb lively talk whatsoever and WheresoeVeF u
friend with or without invitation. cares en9Isn
abo,I+ Won and yours with imprOmptu 1rlendsHIP
10 1rnn In Best clothes best dishes. best VIM
hest parlors-what are they. with rare exceptions.
mi exringshers OF wit and wisdom and dlBsStlOh
ana genIaIity. Who viii inauSurate little COM
mon sensef