The Sunday Oregonian., January 06, 1895, Page 13, Image 13

THE STJXDT OBEGOXnXAS; PO&TTjATCP; JA3STJABT 6. 1S95.
13
ABSENXE.
In the fair stranger's eyes of gray
Thine eye, my love. I see.
I shiver, for the passing day
Had borne me far from thee.
This is the curse of life, that not
A nobler, calmer train
Of -wiser thoughts and feelings blot
Our passions from our brain.
But each day brings its petty dust,
Our soon-choked souls to fill.
And we forget because we must.
And not because we -will.
Matthew Arnold.
Sfafcii CosfcOmes.
VVhat the Fnnhlonable "Woman Wears
When, bkimnilne: tlie Ice.
NEW YORK, Dec 3L The New York
skating gown is not a thing to be labeled
as such. With us the frozen period is
too brief, too given up to the vast unfash
ionable majority, to make it seem to
Mme. Mode as worthy of a distinguishing
uniform.
One must have a dance frock, a tailor
A BLAXKET DRESS.
gown and a visiting toilet; but the rig
that capers over the ice may be any
thing that suggests itself to the wearer
as warm enough, not too long as to skirt,
or blow-away as to coat tails.
For the rest, the average fair skater
bears in mind only a general scheme of
compactness for underwear and head
covering, and if these should huppen to
take the shape of a male relative's winter
cap and knickerbockers, she feels herself
all the more to be cracked up as a person
of superior intelligence.
But heaven bless the foolish little maid
who will have a frock for every occasion.
Without her. commerce would wilt, and
fashion writers die of starvation, and
since she is always an authority on
clothes, let us take a peop at her skating
costume.
BLANKET DRESSES.
If she has Canadian leanings, with an
ye toward ease and comfort, as well as
ii-V-
OX THE
picturesque effect, the ice dress may be
of blanket toboggan cloth, say white, with
a border of black and rod stripes.
If this Is vonsidered too gay. an India
Hue ground and black border may be
ihosen instead. Grant then the dainty
wearer has just turned her 16th or 17th
car only the younger fry seem to take
seriously to bkating in New York; and pic
ture the costume in two pieces, a short,
full skirt and a blouse, long-tailed blouse
tht laps well over to one side, and Is
bound about the waist with a gay silk or
wool scarf.
The striped border forms the sailor col
lar and wide ouffs that turn back over the
bishop sleeves, and a single blanket torn
in half and sewed together with the border
iown may make the skirt.
Again, when something more modish is
fancied, the skirt may be gored, and the
border applied afterwards, and to Keep it
from frisking around too madly, leaden
v. eights covered with bits of tho same ma
terial will be sowed all along th inside
hem.
2The cap. or toboggan toque of thick
7
7uorfit&L sbSSs&SmT k.l jhMBI
V r
honeycomb wool, is either worn jauntily
on top of the head or well down over the
ears.
The gloves may be of only heavy dog
skin, but if they are of" fleece-lined kid,
then are added cuffs tops of fur.
A SNUG BODICE.
But, of course, there must be some sort
of a snug eay bodice to go under the out
side blanket jacket; and now come we to
that part of her toilet, the most fetching
of all the new skating girl's get up. She
wears a sweater! It is not one of those
feminized things with laced front and
girlish shapings, but a real mannish
sweater with a high rolling collar. In
form It Js the exact prototype of her big
athletic brother's, and if the slim sister
has the true fire in her veins, it will be
sides be embroidered over the breast with
the same hieroglyphics or a close imita
tionthe same crossed flags and rings,
that to be a "man" of any consequence.
Jack must now wear over his strong chest.
These blanket dresses are wonderfully
chcap, costing complete not more than JS
or ?10.
CORRECT SHOES AND SKATES.
As to shoes and skates themselves, our
dainty skater will borrow further from
brother Jack.
The former will closely follow his hunt
ing shoes, which lace high up on the leg
over a folded "bellows" tongue, a continu
ation of soft leather at each side of the
eyelets, and which closes the shoe up like
a riding boot.
English grain leather in black or brown
is the favored hide; the toe3 being only
moderately rounded, the heels fiat, to
make sure the grip of the best skates
which are cla.nped on, and which are said
to be the correct thing in the ice world.
They are especially adapted to fancy skat
ing. Another skate, however, that the
hlper-athletlc girl is likely to adopt is one
whose qualifications are long distance and
speed.
These are promoted through the me
dium of a slender runner that projects
far beyond toes and heels with dashing
snow-shoe effect, and that sends the
skater to cutting the wind with the swift
ness of a bird.
Bui though they are allowed the wearer
of petticoats is advised against the new
long skate; there is an arrangement of
straps about the Instep and ankle that is
said at times to stop circulation and pro
duce cold feet.
IN BLUE AND BLACK.
And now a peep at the skating girl, who
is all girl, and hasn't the least wish in
the world to ape her big brother.
"When next the horns of sport sound the
invited to the park, you will know her by
her sweet blonde head and her dress of
hussar blue cloth trimmed with Alaska
sable.
The skirt Is short and full, and is
bordered with a band of sable, as is, also,
the bottom of the natty round Prussian
basque, the throat and wrists.
The basque Js double-breasted, and over
the front cords arc draped in true hussar
fashion. When the wind blows the skirt
aside it will be seen that the little lady's
high black boots are topped with the same
fur that trims her frock. She carries a
big brown muff and wears a fierce brown
beast about her throat; and cocked dain
tily to one side her flat, saucer-like tur
ban of blue cloth and fur, lifts stiffly up
over one eyebrow a black spun-glass
aigrette.
A BROWN-EYED MAID.
Or again, look for a dainty, brown-eyed
maid in scarlet and black, and with a big
Persian lamb cap drawn well down to the
lips of her ears. At one side of this a
red bird Is perched, or two scarlet quills
crossed, and her muff and short, round,
double-breasted jacket are also Persian.
The skirt of scarlet and black broad
cloth is exceedingly novel. First, there
is a skirt of the black moderately gored
and stiffened. Over this falls a killed
second one of scarlet, that is unshaped
ICE.
and lifted slightly over one knee, and that
is almost short enough all round to per
mit view of the black lower jupe; the
least movement spreads It out like a bril
liant fan.
Both of these last two skating costumes
are songs of pure luxury they aie re
spectively J'aqum and Felix models but
they could easily be copied in less expen
sive materials.
For Instance, instead of the rich cloth
of the husbar blue, flannel, which is sold
at one-quarter its price, could be used,
and any of the cheap dyed black or brown
furs would make an effective garniture.
Astrakhan could be substituted for Per
sian with the scarlet and black, or again
the entire costume could be made of cloth.
Or. still again, since after all It will be
worn so little, there could be a lower skirt
and jacket of black elder-down flannel,
that would make a rich velvety back
ground for a kilted drapery of scarlet
cashmere. NINA FITCH.
"Will Tent Yonr DinpoMitlon.
Kate Field's Washington.
If you want an accurate measure of the
sweetness of your disposition just take
your temperatitre very carefully, then
read over ihe regulations for collectinr
the income tax and take your tempera
ture again. If no appreciable rise can be
detected you are fit for that other world
in which the government is so simple and
the public works so substantial that there
is no taxing or collecting of taxes.
CAPS FOR MODEST HEADS
Caps that adorn the heads of women on
the shady side of 50 are lovely in design
this winter. Their shapes have altered
somewhat, perhaps in concession to the
fashionable English bonnet that clings
far back on the coiffeur and droops over
the knot. The new caps adopt that droop.
They are built on a crescent of crin
oline carried back to a point, and fall
almost to the nape of the neck, obtaining
a less sprightly but more graceful effect
than formerly.
Point d'esprit is the favorite material
out of which to fashion them. It bears
"doing up" better than other laces, and
has more freshness. A new web lace
brought over from France is adaptable
for the very dressy ones. It represents
as nearly as art can a dainty bit of cob
web caught on the head, whose divisions
are outlined with narrow ribbon. It is
most effective.
These caps are the easiest of headgear
to fashion at home. Some of the ultra
stylish affairs for morning wear are made
of handkerchiefs. Fine linen with a bit
of narrow lace rolled on by hand, daintily
embroidered ones with scalloped
edges, even sheer muslin with tiny dots
(or) fieur-de-lys in color, are used.
I saw some that were most artistic in
this variety displayed in a Broadway lin
en store. The foundation was the useful
half-moon of stiff muslin, a rucning of
d'esprit lace laid on to soften the face
line. The handkerchief was put on in a
jabot, the extreme point falling over the
knot of hair at the neck, and bunches'
of baby ribbon in palest colors ornament
ed itl - - r
Others h,ave four full plaitings of point
d'esprit about a tain o'shanter of fine
muslin, with a broad, flat bow in front.
A crisp little one of rose plaited lace has
a stiff pom-pon in front with a bow of he
liotrope velvet, one loop standing erect,
the other falling to the back.
A very few have the ubiquitous buckle.
A small rhinestone crescent fastens a
flat bow of pink velvet, two tiny gold cir
cles form the base for a couple of narrow
ribbon rosettes. However, when an or
nament Is used on a cap, it is generally
conceded that the occasion of its wearing
should be of much formality. H. H.
FOR SOCIETY WOMEN.
Among women who are devoting time
and btudy to sociology a new need has
arisen. The wonder is that no one
thought of it before. Learning to apply
first aid to the injured is of much practi
cal advantage to young women who work
in college settlements, or tenement house
chapters of King's Daughters, to care
for the sick and show the benefit of hy
gienic living.
As many of these students are chosen
from the cultured and smart sets in va
rious cities, this society is made up from
the ranks of the haut ton. A woman
surgeon visits each clique of women who
meet in some drawing-room twice a week,
giving them lessons in how to assume
charge of an injured person. Bandaging,
setting bones, applying plaster, and stop
page of blood constitute the curriculum.
The advantage of such knowledge Is
too evident to be detailed. Its applica
tion should not be confined to women who
work in the crowded districts, where an
injured person is liable to die for want
of proper treatment before an ambu
lance arrives. Wherever life is, there
danger exists, and the present woman
who is given over to athletics should add
this surgical knowledge to the list of her
other acquirements.
It is an excellent society to form in any
town, whether taken up for reason of its
practicability or novelty.
A few churches are forming classes
among their members, and some of the
pupils, who are society belles, say it is
the most interesting study they have yet
taken up. If society keeps on in its
healthful programme of this season, with
Its cooking, surgical and sociologic class
es, the latter-day girl will bid fair to out
strip the women of all ages.
CLAIRE CLAXTON.
ABOUT TRUFFLES.
"Ten thousand dollars worth at a time
and three orders a year," was the reply
of one New York firm when asked if
America liked truffles. This output from
one establishment emphasized the fact
that New Yorkers like the stimulating
French mushroom.
But the land of sunshine has not a
monopoly on the truffle trade; England
and Germany are taking quite a bit of
interest in the yield; still the opinion
of the chef agrees with that of the mil
liner, France is the country for perfect
truffles, as well as bonnets.
The French variety is very dark, with
out attaining the blackness of the Ger
man species. It is found in loose, light
soil, about a foot from tlie surface, pre
ferring the ground where chestnut trees
grow. Its whereabouts is discovered by
pigs, who scent out the palatable acorn
and root it up, trained, however, like
good pointers, not to despoil their prize.
In Wiltshire and Kent, where the En
glish kind has been discovered, dogs, in
stead of pigs, are used, and the folks of
Kent divide their time between hop
picking and truffle-findimr as a means of
livelihood. Great Britain, seeing the
enormous profit to be made in this vege
table luxury, has been endeavoring to
grow It. rightfully fearing that it will
soon cease: but so far all efforts have
failed. The last attempt of the French
to force the production was in Poiton.
There they sowed a profitable bit of soil
with acorns, and they claim that whjn
the oaks are large enough to shade the
grounds, truffles will be found in abun
dance at their roots. This is certainly
FOR ELDERLY DAMES. '
dealing Ir. futures, and the sower's great
grandchildren must r.ap the reward.
A trial that may prove of quicker benefit
is watering the ground from rinsings
where parings of the truffle had soaked.
This method has already had a small
harvest, and it is the hope of epicures
that the genius of tillers of the soil will
find some way to originate and perpetuate
the culture of this succulent bit of veg
etable growth.
It has ben reported to the fish com
missioners that lobsters will soon be a a
appetizing dream of the past, and if
truffles also are to be numbered among
the by-gone luxuries of the palate, what
will the world of fashionable dinner
givers do then? HENRY STIRLING.
TOBOGGANING.
3Irs. Levy P. aiorton. nail Mrs. Joltu
D. Rockefeller Orvn Private Slides
Enthusiastic Tobogganer.
About New York, in New Jersey, on
Long island, and through the northern
country generally, the tobogganing season
Is just commencing.
Although snow is rather an important
factor in this game, it is not an absolute
essential. With plenty of water and
freezing weather, the slide is ready at any
time.
SKILL IN STEERING.
Tuxedo is the place where the sport is
carried to a high state of perfection.
There is a slide which is beautiful to
survey; it appears to be about two miles
from start to finish; It really is less than
a quarter that length; at night, it is bril
liantly illuminated with electric lights.
The slide is divided into several chutes,
each of which is about the width of a
toboggan. This arrangement renders
steering almost unnecessary, and reduces
the risk of an upset or other accident to
a minimum. 1 1 4 ,?
It is notable. howet er, that 'the young
women usually prefer to intrust them
selves to the helmsman who has the best
record.
The steersman sits or reclines on one
side, the weight of the upper part of his
body resting on one arm placed in ad
vance. With the foot to act as a rudder,
ho can guide his "vehicle" in any de
sired direction.
There are accidents, of course; where
would be the fun without the spice of
possible danger? Occasionally a tobog
gan rushing down a hill at a tremendous
rate reaches the circular sweep at the
foot and refuses to be controlled, with a
JIAKIXG READY TO START.
mighty bound she goes over a snow
bank or fence eight or ten feet high,
andJands her astonished living freight
Pfigfably in an adjoining state or county.
It is exciting, of course a rusn, a drop,
a struggle to hold on, then a mad whiz
along the slide until the end is reached
This is tobogganing, and the fun Is fast
and furious.
FASHIONABLES ON RUNNERS.
Among those members of the Tuxedo
Club who take kindly to tobogganing,
TITAT LOXG CLI3IB UP.
who are, in fact, enthusiasts, are Miss
Fift Potter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
James Brown Potter; Mrs. Fernando
Yznaga, the Lords, s-ome members of the
Lorillard family, notably Mrs. T. Suffern
Taller, and the family of Mr. Lawrence
Breese.
The particularly interesting feature of
tobogganing is the clubhouse. It is qui.e
as important as the slide. It is fitted ;ip
cosily and prettily; it is warm and bright,
and often gay with flowers and other
decorations; and here a jolly little suppc"
is served for the merry coasters, with a
dance to follow. A fancy dress party
was given by the Lansdowne Toboggan
Club, of Montreal, at which the governor
general of Canada and his wife were'
present. Something of the same sort is
in contemplation by a toboggan club near
New York.
TOBOGGAN COSTUMES.
Out in Orange, the members of. the
Athletic Club are devoted to tobossan-
tag, and make good and constant use
of their slide, which is complete, and as
nearly perfect as a slide can be; perhaps
the best of any in the neighborhood of
New York. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Sum
ner Teall are among the members of
this club who own sleds and toboggan
costumes, which, by the way, are always
made of gay colors. In which scarlet pre
dominates, with coquettish little caps for
the ladies, moccosins and warm gloves.
Others of the Orange Club are the Cole
gates, Hydes, Falrchilds, Potters, and
Bairds.
The private toboirgan slides are, one at
the Rockefeller place, Tarrytown: an
other at 3Ir. Levi P. Morton's, at El
lerslie. As to the practical side of toboggan
ing, the best toboggans are made of oak
or hickory, with the strlosrof wood bev
eled on the under side, and hnished with
steel runners. These cost form $i3 to ?20,
and hold five people. The toboggans are
of all lengths, from three feet, just about
long enough for one small boy, to eight
and a half feit in length, the largest
size made.
At the Rockefeller slide all the tobog
gans have silver-plated trimmings, and
are supplied with cushions made of cor
duroy. DIANA CROSSWAYS.
m
A FLORAL REVIVAL.
The Significance of Bmls anil Blos
soms Diligently Studied.
Hunt up your old floral handbooks, for
the revival of the use of floral language
is among the latest fads of the gay world.
When the mothers of those of us who
are not too young were buds and belles,
all the beaux were popularly thought to
believe that
"A maid is like a floweret sweet,"
And all the gilded youth of both sexes
studied the language of flowers with more
assiduity than seme other topics that
might have been more useful, if less orna
mental. And now circling society, that accord
ing to the optimists is really moving in
an ascending spiral, has got round to the
poet's way of thinking once more. Flor
ists who cater to the Brahmin caste, and
the head gardeners of large private con
servatories, say the demand for all man-1
ner of floral oddities has been slowly de
veloping for seme time, and now the hue
and cry for special flowers because of
their sentimental meaning approaches a
craze.
It's a fragrant notion, this of sending
your daily floral tribute to your fiancee in
blossoms that express in varying language
the ebb and flow of your affection. There
are the tender blue violets that spell
"love," and the white ones that breathe
of "modesty." The althaea says "I am
consumed with passion," and cape jas
mine's speech is "transport and ecstasy."
Corchorus means "impatience of absence";
dahlias,"forever thine"; wood sorrel stands
for "joy"; and spindle-tree, "you are en
graven upon my heart." Ranunculus
says "you are radiant with charms";
peach blossom, "this heart is thine"; the
white lily means "purity"; and myrtle,
like the blue and costly violet, means
"love" of an equally loyal (but less expen
sive) variety. "I love you devotion" is
the message of the heliotrope (Peruvian),
and the tiny forget-me-not expresses
"pure love."
Of course there will be a quarrel, and
this opens up the way for a fascinating
correspondence. With a spray of the pret
ty flowering dogwcod he will ask contrite
ly, "Am I indifferent to you?" and then
tuck in a bit of hazel to ask for a "rec6n
clllatlon." Of course she will reply with
jonquils, which mean "I desire a return
of your affection," whereupon he should
put in an appearance with a sprig of lung-
wort for a boutonniere, since that says
"thou art my life."
All the dear 39S friends of the betrothed
couple have in their"turn a practically un
limited Held in which to cull their senti
mental massages for them. Tne rejected
suitor, for example, may take his revenge
by dashing the. lady's happiness with a
pang when sho shall receive his bouquet
of the glowing American marigolds with
their hidden message of "cruelty." Or,
perhaps, he will be more merciful, and
send instead some dog roses to speak of
the "commingling of pleasure and pain"
that is his. Or purple fuchsias will say
"the ambition of my love thus plagues it
self," while marigold and cypress together
will wail of "despair."
Cheerfuller friends will dispatch gar
lands of roses, if they wish to convey their
belief that the sweet maid has won a lover
as a "reward of virtue;" corn, to wish
her "riches;" Austrian roses to say "thou
art all that is lovely;" China roses for
"grace;" Jacqueminots, because they ex
hale "tender love;" tea roses for "always
lovely;" white mulberry, meaning "wis
dom;" horse chestnut if their wish is for
"luxury;" yellow jasmine because they
think Maid Margaret is all "grace and ele
gance." Pansies are always for
"thoughts;" double red pinks for "pure,
ardent love;" pear blossoms stand for
"affection;" orchids for "beauty;" cel
andine, "future joy;" rose acacia, "friend
ship." In addition to the durable birthday gifts
that are made to new-born heirs and heir
esses, it is a graceful and growing custom
to send flowers to the mater as soon as
the cards announcing the arrival of baby
are received. Trailing arbutus for "wel
come," is a charming posy under the cir
cumstances. American startwort, the
language of which Is "welcome to a
stranger," is also a quaint conceit. The
primrose, which stands for "early youth."
is pretty for a floral gift under the cir
cumstances, and with it moss, which
speaks of "maternal love," may poetically
be combined.
Flower figures in cotillions may be made
the mecAim for merry flirtations by a
measure of preparation on the part of the
guests who are to carry on the festive
frolic with fair flowers.
To make the flower messages really in
teresting a great variety of cut flowers
must be provided. A clever leader of the
german could carry out this idea of flirt
ing with flowers even if the guests knew
nothing of it beforehand, by providing
cards setting forth the messages of the
various flowers as interpreted by the lead
ing authorities on the subject.
There ought to be tulips In abundance,
since they mean "a declaration of love;"
then there should be maiden-hair ferns
for "discretion;" yarrow, which is a "cure
for the heartache;" and sweet William,
meaning "finesse." DINAH STURGIS.
I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER.
I remember, I remember. '
The house where I was born.
The little window where the sua
Came peeping in at morn;
He never came a wink too soon,
Uor brought too long a day.
But now I often wish tho night
Had borne my breath away!
I remember, I remember,
Where I was used to awing".
And though the air must rush as fresh
To swallows on the ning;
My spirit flew m feathers then,
That is so heavy now.
And summer pools could hardly cool
The fever on my brow!
I remember, I remember, - -
The fir treus dark and high;
I used to think their slender tops
Were close against the sky;
It was a childish ignorance.
But now "Us little Joy
To know I'm farther off from hea en
Than when I was a boy.
THOMAS HOOD.
A Lifetime in Twelve Years.
Scientific American.
A remarkable case of rapid growth has
recently been investigated by the French
Academle des Sciences. A boy at the age
of 5 began to grow a beard and to chantje
his voice. He seemed to be a man of 20. At
6 years old he was 3 feet 6 and strong
enough to lift and carry en his back bags
of grain weighing 200 pounds. At 8 his hair
and beard turned gray, at-lf) his teeth fell
out and hl3 hands and legs became pal-
aied, and at 12 he uitd.
TEEWOESOFWOMM
CLEl'ER. BAB DISCOURSES EMPHAT
ICALLY ABOUT THEM.
Rheumatism as an Evil Ethics of
Apple Dumplings Lot- Corsages
Defended Scenes la Shops.
NEW YORK, Dec. 31. (Special corre
spondnce.) The only thlnff that ever
Seemed to m hnmnn In thn rnrlvte fnmlK-
was that Jane Welsh herself was excess-'
Ively proud of her ability in the "cussing"
line. She gave free scope to this great
talent when the neuralgia held her in
possession; but I wonder what she would
have done if the rheumatism had come to
her! and I wish, oh, so earnestly, that
she had willed me all her cuss words.
There is nothing that quite expresses all
its possibilities. It appears like a thief
in the night, and gives you severe pains
when you least expect It, and then takes
entire possession of you until ycu
scream with agony and wonder why the
district messenger company raised its
rates, making it impossible for poor peo
ple to hire a boy to do the desired swear
ing for them. At such times, when the
pains are dancing all around you like
little devils doing a cancan, you are
certain to have somebody near you who
tells you it i3 for your own good.
I can never be brought, to believe this.
I regard the rheumatism as one of Satan's
weapons, intended to make humanity de
sire to go where there will be no difficulty
In getting flannels heated. It does nobody
any good, for it Incites in them a desire
to say short, quick, wicked words. It is
calculated to make even an angel cranky.
and although women are more desirable
than ange)s, it has a mysterious effect
upon them, causing them to wonder why
they were born. I often wonder myself
why some people were born. They don't
seem to be very much use, and are no
pleasure to the' world at large. Who
brought into the world, without first mak
ing an excuse to womankind, the dress
maker who takes your sowns in August,
and in December, after you have spent
your substance in telegraphing to her,
writes you a moat affectionate letter and
says she is going to be quite frank with
you, and tell you that your material Isn't
even cut. but that it will be soon. She
thinks her frankness excuses, everything,
while you wish you lived in a country
where a string- of pearls and a fig leaf
was all that was necessary for even the
most elaborate affairs. Frankness is not
altogether a desirable thing, and I wish
that the people who have more of it than
they need would put it away as one does
old love letters, and never bring it out.
However, I am not going to trouble
about unnecessary people or undesirable
frankness, but I am going to try and re
member that the Christmas egg-nogg was
very good and realize what a pity It Is
that people only have it once a year. It
is funny how people go on about the
world being full of folly and sin, when
it really is a good world. If there is
rheumatism and broken hearts, there is
also no end of good things good things
to eat, and good babies to kiss, and good
friends to care for. Charles Lamb said
that nobody could eat an apple dumpling
unless she was in a state of primeval In
nocence like Eve. I ate two last night.
and I feel so proud of myself I am bound
to tell It. You see it is very comfortable
to know that one is innocent, for in
nocence and truth go together, and be
tween the throes of the rheumatism. (I
like that word throes, it sounds so dra
matic) I can hurl the truth like a rubber
ball at anybody I think ought to hear it.
The first sad truth is the appearance of
the average girl in cold weather. If her
gloves or her shoes are a little bit too
close-fitting, then her nose gets red, and
if she is donkey enough to use powder
while the thermometer is near zero, she
presents the appearance of a walking
ghost, for the combination of cold and
powder results in a blue skin. But then
it Is pretty to see her (?) when she is on
the avenue with the one dearest to her
heart. She looks like a toy terrier out
for exercise as she prances along, for,
like most New Yorkers, her walk is
abominable, being really a something be
tween a prance and a trot. The chances
are that her beloved will look down on
her as she shivers away, and say, "Now.
dearie, isn't this bracing weather?" And
a meek little voice, really suffering for
true love's sake, as most of us do, will
answer, "Oh, certainly." Oh, material
woman! She knows she Isn't telling the
truth, and she also knows that once she
gets in a warm room, she will have a
good cry from sheer nervousness, and her
heart's beloved will pat her on the back,
hold her hand and call her "poor little
woman," and feel dreadfuly sorry for her.
Men have an idea that women like exer
cise. They don't. Women like warm
weather, good food, fresh bonbons, good
wines, interesting books and laziness. I
don't mean, of course, that all women
are lazy, but if it were possible, I think
they all would be. Women are delight
fully material, and I don't know but what
it is the best thing to be. We can talk
as much as we want about the spiritual.
We can realize all our fondest dreams of
Idyllic life and spiritual companionship on
paper, but before we do this, we have to
be a bit material and get the paper, quill
and ink. Poets and writers give us
books about the delights of the
spiritual. Painters attempt ,to put
it in color on canvas, and! what is
the result? The spiritual verses, the spir
itual essays, iacklnng atmosphere and ac
tion, are not read. The spiritual pictures
are apt to be of rather skinny women,
wearing but little and so displaying their
bones to an unappreciative world, while
they have immensely large eyes and look
as If they were starved. Nobody buys the
pictures, and the artist thinks they are
not appreciated. To me. that most beau
tiful picture. Titan's "Sleeping Venus,"
shows that It had a heart in it. -There
was a strong brain attached to the phys
ical beauty of Pauline Bearnhardt, and
certainly there were loving, pure-souled
women among those who faced death by
the guillotine, dying for their king and
their religion. Did Carlyle yearn only for
spiritual refreshment when he was writ
ing the "Life of Frederick the Great"?
Certainly not; he wanted the best supper
that Janie Welsh and her devoted hand
maiden could get up for him. Was Charles
Lamb, in his loving, beautiful and sad
life, thinking of astral bodies when he
wrote the essay on "Roast Pig"?
Did De Musset, Cautier, Heine, Du
mas, Rossetti, or Swinburne write their
warm, glowing, passionate lines under
the influence of the spiritual, as shown by
two peacock's feathers and a glass of hot
water? Nonsense. It Is the most re
markable thing, considering its age, that
the world is so foolish. There is nothing
so exquisitely beautiful as material of
the finest. It may be the skin of a wo
man; it may be the Uusb on the side of
a peach; it may be the brocade that
makes a petticoat, or it may be a dainty
supper table arranged to please the eye
and delight the taste. We are having a
little taste Of one woman's idea of the
Highest of all in Leavening Power.
material in the diatribes that are pub
lished against low bodices. Now, per
sonally, I believe in low bodices, with a
proviso. The proviso is that the neck
Is white and well-shaped, and the bodice
so cut that the neck and shoulders show
to the best advantage. Of course, there
are women who have little real sense of
the beautiful, but it is more than prob
able that in time they will learn what a.
mistake they have made.
A woman who wears her clothes in
sections Is vulgar, when the absolutely,
nude may be exquisitely modest. I see
some cranks have been objecting to
"Trilby" and calling It Immoral because
the heroine posed for "tlie altogether."
I suppose thore are seme people who are
Innately coarse, and these are among
them. A woman's arms, round, white
and well-formed, are things of beauty;
a woman's throat, well-shaped and white,
is & marble i-olumn supporting a well-
shaped head, which presumably holds a
sufficient amount of brain to draw the
line between what is beautiful and per
fectly modest and what is common and
uglj. I have always thought modesty a
complex virtue, and to be immodest to be
ugly, but, having given my opinion about
it, I will leave it to the cranks to light
it out among themselves.
It is funny how womankind is dominated
by the lady behind the counter. I wit
nessed what might be called an episode
the other day. A lady, quietly dressed
one who believes that quiet dressing is
proper when the- is shopping was anx
ious to get some underwear suitable for a
servant, but of course she did not ex
plain her affairs to the young woman
who condescended to wait on her. She
said: "I want to see some plain, un
trimmed nightdresses." There was put
before her a huge pile, trimmed wltit
cheap and glaring embroidery. She ven
tured the remark: "Perhaps you didn't
quite understand me; I asked for plain
nightdresses."
With a toss of her head that made her
Psyche knot tremble, this answer wa3
hurled at her: "Well, I am sure these
are cheap enough, and much more fash
ionable." The would-be buyer meekly said: "I
didn't ask for cheap things, nor fashion
able things, I allied for plain things."
The words that came were very posi
tive: "I should think I'd been long enough
in the business to kuow what ladies
wear."
At last, because she was really too tired,
to go to any other place, the unfortunate
woman asked again for plain ones, and
this time got them. She selected what
she wanted, paid for them, and gave her
name and address, that they might be
sent home. Then the lady behind the
counter remarked: "Goodness gracious, I
shouldn't think you were that man's wife
when you buy such truck!"
That was the last straw, and the shop
per departed, taking a most solemn oath
that she would never put her foot in that
shop again.
Now, a similar experience happened to
me; I wanted a yard of pink ribbon:
I stated the width and the shade;
I was told that blue was most fash
ionable; I said I wanted pink
satin. I was then informed that moire
made up into bows better than satin. I
said I didn't want to make bows, and ro.
much against her wishes, the young
woman was at last forced to give me
what I wanted. But as I left. I had the
pleasure of hearing this farewell remark:
"She don't know the difference between
what is and what ain't, and 1 don't care
about her old ribbon."
Well, it all comes about in a life-time. I
may mention, by the bye, that the young
woman who was so unwilling to sell me
pink ribbon had been interrupted by me
when she was reading a dream-book. You
know we all have our little peculiarities.
BAB'S SUPERSTITIONS.
I don't like to dream of black beetles,
because if I do, somebody I am fond of is
sure to be taken sick.
A friend of mine believes thj if she
dreams of gold that trouble wn come,
but bank notes will bring good luck.
I don't suppose, you are superstitious,
still, If I were you, I wouldn't sing before
breakfast, because if you do you will cry
before tea.
If I were you, when the palm of my left
hand itched I would rub it on wood, be
cause then, for certain, you will get the
money that is meant for you.
If Iwereyou and mynose itched.Iwould
have an extra place put at the table,
for you are going to kiss a stranger.
If I were you and saw a pin, I would
pick it up, for then for sure luck will
come that day.
If I were you I wouldn't walk under a
ladder, for the devil is waiting on the
other side to take you.
If I were you and dreamed of white
horses, I would look up my black dress,
for I would know I was going to a fu
neral. If I were you, and a mangy-looking
dog followed me. I would encourage him.
because he would bring a handsome
blonde husband.
If I were you and saw a hairpin on the
floor. I would grab it at once, for then
the letter than you were looking for
would arrive.
If I were you I would have a little pa
tience with the small superstitions of
women in general, and one in particular;
she who carries a rabbit's foot in one
pocket to bring good luck and a horse
chestnut in the other to cure the rheu
matism. Who is she? She is yours for
health BAB.
French. Draiilntie Authors.
New York Tribune.
It is said that the receipts from the per
formances of "Madame Sans-Gene," in
and outside of Paris, have amounted al
ready to more than $500,000, and brought
a fortune to the author. The, profession
of dramatic author, however, has not al
ways been so remunerative in France.
Before the formation of the Society of
Dramatists, St. Romaln, the director of
the Porte-Saint-Martin, bought the rights
for the presentation of a piece for ?50 and
gave the author in addition $1 SO each
time the piece was presented.
In 1SS5 the income of the author from
pieces presented, at L'Amblgu was fixed
at $9 20 a night for a piece of three acts
for the first 24 times; after that point was
passed the author received only $8. "Le
Sourd," of Desforges, which made the
fortune of the Palais Royal, brought the
author $120, and "Madame Angot," under
the First Empire, which added $100,000 to
the treasury of La Gaite, enriched the
writer by ?120.
A Flibbertigibbet.
All the Year Round.
A "flibber-gibbet" is a living knave or
sycophant; so. in "Latimer's Sermons,"
folio S3, we get: "And when these flatter
ers and fllbber-gibbets another day shall
come and claw you by the back, your
grace may answer them thus," etc. A
secondary meaning of these words seems
to be a vexatious, tormenting spirit.
Bishop Harsnct, in his account of tl.
Spanish invasion, tells of 40 fiends cast out
by the Jesuits, among them Flibber-gibbet
doubtless another form of the orig
inal word. So the fool In "King Lear:"
"This is the foul fiend Flibber-gibbet; he
begins at curfew and walks till the first
cock; he gives the web ana tne pin,
squints the eye and makes the harelip,
mildews the white wheat, and hurts the
I poor creatures of earth."
Latest U. S. Gov't Food Report.