Mexico Missouri message., 1906-03-08
by MARGARET E. sANGsTER.

| Among the most brilliant ana Deau
| tiful of social functions, is the debut
! of a daughter. During the years OF
childhood she 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 of her life as no other posses
sion is.
The old couplet says:
"Your sons your son till he marries a
wife,
But your daughters your daughter all
the days of her life"
American mothers are not in haste
to he 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, mean, for until
she has been formally presented a girl
does 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 a 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
all 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
au fat in all the acquisitions made
upon her in society. Very likely this
girl has a grandmother who is still
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
q slip Of a 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 80
sweet, so bright and so bewitching as
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 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
1t does not look elaborate. One paws 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
ldornment. She holds them in her
nand and the house will be heaped
with them and fragrant with their in
cense, for friends send them in LAVISH
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 fill every
available space, and this, not in sum-
ner, when they may be had for the
picking, but in winter when they cost
q Eoodly sum.
After a few words Of greeting ana
congratulation to the mother who
presents the daughter. a smiling com
pilmert or two to the girl herself. and
a little desultory chat with friends. .ie
guests drift naturally to the dining
room, where they find table shining
with silver and lighted with candles
and spread with delicate viands. Here
there are more beautiful girls, or else
ankV
Somewhere behind a screen OF palms
there is an orchestra and music lendg
It's charm to the elegant occasion. Il
Is not good form to finger too long In
the dining room, as the guests at a
large function are coming and going
ami must be served in successive re-
lays. Never should one protract her
stay in a crowded house, and a house
is usually crowded at reception OF
| this Importance. Do not forget to look