The Washington herald., 1908-02-16


New York. Feb IA comparison OF
the present Sunday observance with Sun
day observance ten, twenty. thirty. or
more years ago shows, for one thing. the
effect that a rapidly increasing popula-
ton has on New Yorks social customs.
A woman, well known socially traced
the other day some Of these changes
from the time New York society was
well within the 100 mark and met socially
three times every winter at Ward Nc
Allister's subscription dances. held in the
old Delmonico ballroom at TWenty-sixth
street. That was before the influx OF new
people had become very noticeable and
before splendid private bathrooms began
10 multiply, TO say nothing OF restaurant
and hotel bathrooms easily hired for pri-
yate uses.
when I was a child, said the lady re-
ierred to. 'the Sunday dinner was quite a
feature Of the week. Usually II brought
all the family together.
Married sons and daughters came
| home for it, also unmarried sons whose
business or profession kept them away
on other days. Very few formal dinners,
though, took place on Sunday. It was
not a favorite day for entertaining at
dinner nor for making many calls in the
afternoon.
More Walking on Sunday.
AT that time society did more walking
on Sunday afternoons than It has ever
done since or probably will ever do again.
Few Of the richest people. who owned the
finest carriages. dreamed Of taking them
out on Sunday. Churchgoers walked 10
church and back. and after the dinner,
which was apt TO be prolonged almost
everybody but old folks went walking.
the favOrite promenading being up and
down Fifth avenue.
Twenty years ago. II one wanted 70
see any particular person Of a Sunday
afternoon, all he or she had TO do was TO
take a stroll on the avenue. Nowadays.
Of course, fashion carefully avoids Fifth
avenue OF a Sunday, except at church
time, but it was not so then, and the
sight was a very pretty one.
no, it wouldn't be possible 10 revive
the custom, for the reason that every
body is now doing something else on
Sunday afternoon. Mind you. I don't
mean that the Sunday midday dinner and
the absence Of much entertaining were
due TO religious scTUples only. for they
were not. IN society then as now there
were many persons who had no religious
scruples whatever
Newcomers, with larger fortunes and
a disposition TO spend money and have a
good time. made their influence felt, al
: 81 al -
from the conservatives before they made
much headWay. One OF the first 10 in
stitute Sunday evening musicales I re-
member was Mrs. Paran Stevens.
She had a splendid house. plenty of
money, a decided talent for entertaining.
Nevertheless. at first her invitations were
refused right and left.
Then came the Sunday dinners IN the
new restaurants and hotels which we're
opened. and included small private din
ing-rOOms. At one tine 10 dine even az
Delmonico's Of a Sunday would have
given society in general a shock
Sunday Suppers Unknown.
Thirty years ago gay Sunday suppers
at a public restaurant were practically
unknown, and not till after evening din
ners on Sunday came into fashion did
Delmonico's or other restaurant men
show much disposition to cater TO Sunday
trade
After that, however, Il was very DIFF
ferent, and during the next five years
Sunday observance in society underwent
tremendous change. Men began to pay
their dinner calls on Sunday afternoon
which meant that instead OF an informal
dropping IN Of relatives or neighb0rs Of
hath carac for in rqsss,of
rooms began 70 I'LL UP about 4 o'clock
with men mostly.
THE Sunday afternoon parade fell of
because every woman. young or old.
wanted TO stay at home to receive her
men friends. Il became an understood
thing-up TO within the last two or three
years. I mean--thst Sunday afternoon
was the most likely occasion on which
one's men friends would call and the
time that women would be found at
home. These afternoons frequently were
turned into musicales, imprOmptu and
otherwise, by the smartest hostesses. as
everybo knows. and they were far from
being as dull as the average weekday
reception is
What with the elaborate Sunday
luncheons Sunday afternoon al homes,
late Sunday dinners. followed by a pro-
=
or music without the cards. or cards
without the music-New York society's
observance Of Sunday began TO come IN
for a lot Of uncomplimentary criticism,
much Of which was Undeserved."
CburchgOinK Then and Vow.
about ehurchgoIng to-day? How does
that compare, in your opinion. with that
OF a quarter of a century ago."
Il think just as large a percentage OF
society goes 10 church IN the morning to-
day as went 20 church when I was a
youngster. It is the poor who don't go TO
church not the rich
go to any Of the large churches where
society 'worships of a Sunday morning
and you viii see nearly everybody there.
ST. Thomas. ST Bartholomew ST.
Georges, Grace. Trinity Chapel, the
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian. the Incarna-
ton. and a half dozen more are filed
with pewholders who often have to listen
to eloquent sermons about keeping Sun
day in Puritan fashion
NO 7 do not think churchgoing has
fallen of at all II there is any merit In
attending church. New York society Is
just as good as Il ever was"
Berlin American WOman's Club.