Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-01-21
Introducing the Debutante.

introducing the Debutante.
How to introduce a daughter into So
Getty is by no means a simple problem
IN these days of complex living. Miss
America must needs make her debut in
most correct fashion in this year of 1905;
must needs wear the very latest style of
gowns; her hair must be coiffed in latest
fashion; she must receive more bouquets
than any other debutante Of the season
or of any other season, past or future.
Her debut must be on the conventional
lines laid down by the latest society die
tateS, and yet there must be something
absolutely original in the form of eu-
tertainment given to mark her entrance
into the gay world.
The afternoon reception, for so many
years the accepted form OF iDtroduc-
tlun, is still fashionable, and by the con
sentative element in society still cOnsd-
cred the only correct manner of intro
ducing ones daughter to ones entire
visiting list, regardless of any age limit.
1t Is under these circumstances that the
greater proportion of young girls make
their debut and, after all. the fashion
has its marked advantages, for in no
other way is it possible for a girl to make
the personal acquaintance of the friends
of the family. 1t is somewhat of an
ordeal on meeting all of the friends and
acquaintances who come to do honor to
the debutante and her proud mamma
3
the image of what your mother was at
your age, my dear (m0ther in the mean
time having lost every sembance OF
good looks, not to mention waist line,
etc.1. All the charming things that are
said to young people to put them ut their
ease from the old friend of the family's
point of view are not an unmlngled de-
light.
The schedule of events at the after
noon reception varies little. The daugh-
ter and her mother stand by the door
that leads into the drawing room, the
mother being nearer the door.
SIX. eight or ten, as the case may be,
of the very intimate friends, also debu-
tautcS. assist in receiving and are sta
toned AT different places in the rooms,
in turn officiating in the dining room, in
charge Of tea or chocolate. At the door
! is the man who announces the name of
the guest as he or she enters, and who
roster" This announcing of names IS
one Of the most sensible fashions of
the day, for in numberlcss cases guests
and hostess are quite unknown TO one
another by sight and the name pro-
nOunced III stentorian tone helps immense
/ ly in locating the individual.
Flowers and debutantes, Somehow The
two seem inseparabe and the more bou-
quets Il girl receives when she comes
out the more popular is she considered.
/ The number of bouquets is often aston
| ishing, and the most costly of blossoms
are considered none too expensive. All
| day long the flowers keep arriving ana
! excitement runs high, while the choice
of which bouquet to carry involves much
/ thought. There is great cutlery made
/ by enthusiastic flower lovers over the
/ thought of flowers being wired, but by
! far the most beautiful boquets are all
I on wires. and the reason given is certain
ba4
/ left is would be impossible to hold the
| boquet of fashionable size.
Two bouquets are generally held,
! orchids and lilies of the valley combined,
or entire bouquets of either flower in
/ the so-called showed style, with the bios
sons tied with long ribbon streamers.
All dehutante bouquets are gay with
satin ribbons, and the masses of them,
/ heaped upon tables and mantelS, present
! a gorgeous background of color. Pale
pink roses are universally fashionable
/ for debutantes. and the long-stemmed
| American Beauty roses, hut in lunches,
/ not bouquets, are favorite gifts.
| The floral decorations vary with ind-
/ vidual taste. but the most popular form
/ of arrangement consists in banking the
/ flowers together SO they viii show to
/ best advantage. When there Is a mantel
mirror strings stretched across aud fas-
/ tened to thu frame nj either side ana
make me. q Give decoration. At a
reception gwen in the Christmas hoiI-
days one charming and most effective
decoration was carried out in large
Christmas tree placed as background
10 the debutante and then the branches
held the myriads Of bouquets. the colors
showing to greatest effect against the
green.
The sum total expended on flowers
I seems incredible and in many instances
most inconsistent. For a girl none too
Wei blessed with this worlds goods
from the possible income al today
standpoint to receive flowers the cost OF
which viii amount TO hundreds Of dollar.
seems scarcely practical. and Yet that
girl win probably be happier al her life
from the very satisfaction given by the
knowledge that on her coming out day
she received as many if not more boa
uuets than did her most intimate FRIEND
who has double her income.
At many of the afternoon reception,
there is music--a stringed orchestra sta
toned. as a rule. in the hall. But mus.
is not an Indispensable factor Of the en.
tertanmeut. and at many Of the smarter
affairs Of this kind music is omitted Ell
tireiy.