The sun., 1909-02-14
CHEAP SHOWS AT HOTELS.
women Able to Get an Afternoons En-
tertainment At Small Expense.

tertainment At Small Expense.
Big hotels elsewhere offer no such
privileges "a may be obtained in this city
at little or no expense.
Three women sat In q row near the
entrance to the tea room Of one famous
New York hotel at the hour whom New
York begins to file Id for It's exchange
Of gossip over the teaoups. They were
plainly not New Yorkers. Their clothes.
also their rapt expression and satisfied
air proclaimed that.
They had been sitting there since early
afternoon, just enjoying the spectacle
before them. Now one woman turned
and looked at the woman next her. then
both looked at the third. who rose at once
and led the way into the tea room and
to a table commanding q good view OF
the entrance.
They ordered pot Of tea and buttered
toast, costing, including dime TO the
waiter rs cents. or a quarter apiece. For
nearly one hour the trio sat there slipping
and feasting their eyes on young maids
and matrons. dowagers, gay youths and
older men; on marvellous creations In
hats and gowns representing all the
latest. most startling OF the fashions
which have been introduced to long
suffering New York this season.
When one long limbed object lesson
Of extreme fashion stumbled because Of
the cioseness OF her draperiee the eyes
| Of the trio frightened with excitement.
"Her skirt trails in front and at the
sides as well as in the back one whis-
pered, as II making the discovery Of such
a fashion for the first time.
How sweet" murmured the youngest
Of the three, not referring to debutante
done up in white furs and drum major
white felt hat just entering. but to an
air from -Faust" played by a string or
chs stra at the end of the room.
| 81 could listen to that orchestra all
day answered enthusiastically the
woman who seemed to be the leader Of
the little party.
A little later with an air Of reluctance
and many backward looks at late oomers
from the matinees. the three visitors
passed through the swinging doors and
made for the Hudson tunnel, not to re-
peat the delightful experience for months
perhaps and happy over the thought that
| for the sum Of rs cents each they had
spent hours at one Of the most fashionable
hotels in the world
Il suppose we give free entertainment
10 more women visitors than any other
hotel in the world an attendant said
At least one-half Of the women visitors
who drop in at this hotel during the day
without definite purpose come Just before
the lunch hour. having first lunohed out
side at some less expensive place. their
object being TO get good seat In the
approach to the res taurant. Fashion
/ in it's best and smarteet street costume
may be seen there from 1 TO o'clock
Nudging one another in awed silence
as startling and Imposing examples Of
| the dressmaker's and milliner's art
pass. women from the suburbs expert
ence thrills Of excitement which none
but women strangers TO imported clothes
two spent in viewing the lunch contin-
gent is only part Of the afternoons pro-
gramme.
Now for our letters whispered one
woman in a last years hat 20 her friend,
and the two passed into the writing room,
taking possession Of two desks equipped
with handsome stationery marked in
gold with the hotels monogram, fresh
| pens and blotters.
IL was not a note these women wrote.
but long letter. describing evidently
some Of the wonderful things already seen
and telling Of others yet TO come, After
the letters are finished the two. with a
glance at the tall clock. hurry TO the dress
| ing room to freehen up before taking
their place among the rows of spectators
lining the approach TO the tea room.
Towels. soap and face powder, combs
and brushes and hand mirrors and cheval
glass were used without charge
Improved by the freshening process,
the visitors finished the afternoon listen
! ing TO soft orchestral music and looking
at some OF the prettiest women 10 be seen
the world over, decked out in the cost
liest Of furs and feathers, velvets and
chifions.