Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-15

I) I)Itntroductton of Girl Into Her Motn- bf sr,s World an 0ccasion of 1mpor-
 tanoe-At the First At Hone''
 the Daughter Should Bs Simply
 oowned in White -Thereaftsr She
 VIII Need Chaperon at Public
 Functions Charity Work for the
 Society Girl.
 RY MARGARET E. sANGsTER. eCopyright, 1so5, by Joseph B. Bow'es.' Il Among the most brilliant and beau kiful of social functions, is' the deDu. bf-a daughter. During the years oi I{childhood sne is the joy and delight of her home. and in fashionable circles | her education Is watched over with the minutest care from the hour of her birth. The nursery, the kindergarten and the schoolroom have done their hest for the little maid before she grows up and goes to college. Through out this time her mother is looking | forward to the days when she shall have her as almost her second self, her companion and friend with whom she has everything in common and who IS | the object of her ambition and the crown oE her life as no other posses sion is.
 H The old couplet says:
 I"Your sons your son till he marries 9 Il wife,
 But your uaughter's your daughter all | the days of her life"
 | American mothers are not in haste to be rid of their daughters, they look forward with pleasure and anticipation to the daughters triumphant girihood. | When a daughter is to be introduced to society her mother sends cards of Invitation to an at home and so far as she may, she omits none of her own friends and also asks the young peo- pie of her friends families. Old and young throng to the house to meet and honor the young woman who yesterday was in the background and of no ac- count to anybody outside her home. Of no account socially. I mean, for until she has been formally presented a girl ldoes not figure to any extent in her mothers world. She has had birthday parties and other pleasures incidental to juvenile years, but she is not in the least parsonage, nor can she be until after her debut That event immedi- ately puts her in the front rank, a young person to be treated with con sideration, properly chaperoned and expected beyond everything else to have a good time while she remains young, beautiful and full of interest in ell that is going on.
 The daughter whose debut takes place under happy auspices is as like her mother as If she were younger sister. The mother is still young and charming, gracious in demeanor, and all fait in all the acquisitions made upon her in society. Very likely this girl has a grandmother who is still a social queen, wearing velvet, satin. lace and diamonds. with an air of royalty; {; a woman who looks back over life and surveys a series of conquests. There are sure to be courtly old beaux who remember when the grandmothe- was . slip of girl with the world at her feet.
 Society is by no means left to the sparkling beauties who are in the first freshness of their bloom. It enlists all who remain attractive. and girls and boys, though they enter it with zest. have by no means the monopoly, nor do they take precedence of older people. Yet there is nothing in the world so sweet. so bright and so bewitching as a girl in her early twenties, particu- larly if she is an American girl.
 On the occasion of ner debut the daughter receives with her mother and is surrounded by a bevy of friends of her own age. She Is robed in simple white, but you need not fancy that her toilette shall be inexpensive because it does not look elaborate. One pays A round sum for simplicity when a French dressmaker sends in her bill. Whatever this young girl wears will be certain to suit her. Youth sets or dress. and she needs no ornament of gold or jewels. Flowers are her only adornment. She holds them in her hand and the house will be heaped with them and fragrant with their in- cense. for friends send them in layisl. ly, and every time the bell rings A florists messenger will be at the door. Flowers are banked on the mantels. they stand on the piano, they fll every available space. and this. not in sum- mer. when they may be had for the picking. but in winter when they cost . goodiy sum.
 After a few words of greeting a-d reorganization to the mother who presents the daughter, a smiling ton- pliment or two to the girl herself. and little desultory chat with friends. .ae guests drift naturally to the din.ng room, where they find a table sh.ninE with silver and lighted with candles and spread with delicate vianGs. Here there are more beautiful girls. or else young matrons pouring tea and coffee. Somewhere behind a screen of palms there is an orchestra and music lends its charm to the elegant occasion. It is not eood form to finger too long in the dining room, as the guests at a large function are coming and going