Evening star., 1938-12-18

= and of taste are aware of the complete
change that has taken place in the relative
influence of town and of country upon present
day life Until the very last few years, the
city set the pattern for the town. and the
town in turn set the pattern for the country
But in todays composite picture of social
life, it is the spirit of the country that doml-
mates both the city and the town.
Yesterday those who lived in the country
lacked the Cultivatng advantages of music.
of theaters of lectures. of contact with not
able people which only those who lived in
the great cities could hope to enjoy Today
all these assets are within reach of the farth-
est and smallest rural districts. Rotogravure
sections. cartoons, special news correspond
ents commentators. newsreels keep Noun
tainvile and Far Valley functions as well
informed of last minute news as are the dwell
ers in the greatest metropolitan Centers
The miracle of radio not only literally
gathers together all existing music. but brings
moreover the living voices of those who are
taking part in the making of history or
science even from the tarthest corners of
the earth - to every family sitting at its own
reside The marves of the motion picture
present, to the patrons of every smallest
theatre tirst-hand acquaintance with world
events as we'll as with comedies and dramas.
which sooner or later include most of the out
standing successes in the capitals of the world.
Art exhibitions and personal contacts.
night clubs = dancing oneself to the best
known orchestras instead of listening to them
on the radio. or looking at dancing on the
screen are still lacking. But it is only fair
to grant the city some advantage as place
to 60 to! But to live in. How many of us
would live in city like New York if it were
practical to live elsewhere?
We have only to think of the city houses
a generation ago to realize how much the
country influences us today. The object OF
every decorator in the COS was apparently
to make house as dark and heavy and
suffocatingly stuffy as possible. Windows
seemingly were not intended to let in light
and air Every well-furnished window had
three coverings: many had five - glass cur
tains first, then shades always down to the
hallway division between upper and lower
sash, then long curtains of lace with perhaps
an outer layer of draw curtains of silk gauze.
and over these of course. the heavy curtains
velvet or broCade.
Typical furniture covering was thick and
as dark as possible: and every table or book
shelf top was cluttered with ornaments. and
nassed parades of picture frames. True there
was sometimes middle (windowlessl draw
ing room. used only in the evenings. 1t had
fragile furniture upholstered in yellow or pale
blue satin or brocade. upon which hostess and
guests sat gingerly' lest the sudden jar of
an over enthusiastic gesture cause it to break
beneath them.
ground Clothes worn in the daytime by
ladies were of darkest hues, stiffly boned and
of street sweeping length. For dinner. the
whole social world put on evening dress
even if one member of the family dined alone.
Until the dinner coat was introduced at the
Tuxedo Club and the silk lounge suit followed
it. this meant that man in society wore
tails" every evening of his life At late after
noon parties. such as debutante teas. the
debutante and her mother appeared in eve
ming dress, as also did the few young girls
receiving with her. Young men of fashion
wore frock or cutaway coats and striped trou-
sers and grotesquely high stiff collars. and
ascot ties.