Year: 1876

A young lady came into hotel par Tor at Saratoga with her twenty eighth dress. She has been at the Springs fourteen days, and has displayed fresh toilet every morning and evening. These dresses cost on an average $125 apiece, or about $3, 800 for the lot.

 During this time her father has worn one cheap flannel suit, costing perhaps $35.

 And this young lady, whose father is not considered wealthy, Is supposed to be in the market. She is looking for and expects to marry some man of sound brain and good looks. She is good young lady, but not brilliant, and she is far from beautiful; but she is so well bred that she does not paint or powder. She is the average New York girl, who goes in mediocre society, but who con- stantly struggles to get into the best set. But the set here, who base their positions on family and wealth, will not receive her. She is respectable, but her responsibility is not of long stand ing enough to admit her. So the poor girl, with all her dresses, is really on probation. She wanders around, cut ting half the people in her own set, and struggling to get into the set above her father and mother both pushing her forward.

 When they ask who her father is, the reply comes !:

 "Oh, he's merchant somewhere in New York"

 "Who is her mother9"

 Nobody knows. They have only just come out. In fact, they would never have come out at all were 1t not for the purpose of chaperoning this daughter whom they love better than life. They would never have known Saratoga but for this daughter. They would now be living in little brick house down on Eleventh street. At present they live upon Fifth avenue, and spend every dollar of income, and even eat into the principal. to dress and bring out this daughter.

 It is an unhappy struggle all around. They laugh and seem to enjoy them selves, but. alas in their hearts they hate Saratoga, hate their own rich dresses, and really sigh for the little plain house where they used to live within their incomes before the daugh- ter came.

 But she must be married off.

 Who will have her.

 If she were beautiful some rich man would take her. If she were rich, some handsome fortune hunter or some thrifty business man would take her. As it is, nobody wants her. She is a dead weight.

 She is based on clothes.

 Not brain, family, or money, but simply twenty eight dresses from her stock n trade.

 If no man comes up this year to pro- pose, her dear father will carry the costly stock over another year, and next year we will see her again, with twenty eight new dresses, costlier and more beautiful than the last.

 And then, if no aristocratic lover offers, she will be offered in her own set. Even old admirers who have been rejected will be encouraged. Pride will keep her from marrying beneath her self. They hoped to make & brilliant match for her. and, failing in this, she will eventually be an old maid, and her name, instead of figuring with the old and aristocratic families on charity ball invitations, will be printed among the Sabbath, school teachers in her own little church, or may be she will manage the more aristocratic charity concerts. Poor child

 How strange the world is.-NeaO | York Sun.