Evening Star Newspaper, December 27, 1884, Page 3

er THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTO SHEET wo NEW YORK FASHIONS, ! The Holiday Seasen in Ite General and Special Aspects—Articies of Laxury— Afrerneor Entertainments—Costumes Debutantes—New Features of Win- ter Garments, From Our Own Correspe New York. December 26. There is a great deal of talk about business depression, but it does not as yet seem to have touched those who are in the habit of spending General business is complained business, that which depends on tal and fioating popuiation, has Hent, though perhaps characterized by sess to buy the smaller rather than the larger articles of Juxary which every season present some new phase or distinctive feature of their ow There are several reasons why general holiday trade suffers in # depressed sea- aon, and one is the uselessness of the miscella- Reous assortment of wares of which it consists. Frames that come to pieces before reaching their | owner, paper stamped to imitate leather, brassy | little ink stands that will not hold ink, trays | that would prove the instant destruction of whatever was consigned to them, and plaques | that are considered desirable, simply because they are hideously ugly. Perhaps the climax of | absurdity is reached in the imitation bronze tur- tles that rest or meander about a parlor floor. their ostensible duty being to serve as relics of barbarism so suggestive as to have excluded them of late years from refined society—the ne- cessity for their presence having largely departed When money is scarce women do not Indulge | In these eccentricities. They confine themselves | strictly to the useful and practical. Thus the | dealers in hosiery, in gloves, in handkerchiefs, | in any and ail of the small and useful wares in | fact, of which up to a certain age women never seem to have enough. have no complaint to | make. New and old stock has gone off at fair | prices, and in some cases an absolute clearance | has been made so that the work of taking an ac- | count of the remainder after the holidays are | over is reduced to a minimum. It is rather | Curious that nine-tenths ofall the business done during the year in certain departments of the | great avenue stores is dune in December. Some | of these are fancy stationery, perfumery. leather goods. and made up lace articles. People of | wealth as well as culture use always a certain | Kind of note and letter paper, stamped with | their own individual dies, but the majority buy | the cheap package and “French” note paper | during the year, br out into stork: bronzed birds, esthetic maidens, and clove: mistletoe, or sprig of holly designs, after Christ mas has emptied its boxes of treasures into their laps or writing desks. THE RHINE-STONE AGE. Nearly all girls pass through a period which | has been called the “ribbon” age, when the happiness of life seems to depend on the posses- | sion of “pretty things,” wheu everything that | shows color or glitter has an attraction for them, and when their desire for cheap trinkets, | if they cannot obtain valuable ones, brings a | sense of mortification and ny sensiple | and conscientious mothers. e forgotten | their own youth and the pleasure they derived from the black velvet wristlet, with its steel or | gilt buckle. which preceded the “bangle” era. | ‘There was this to be said tor the black velvet | wristlets and necklets, however, that they were | simple, the reverse of showy, inexpensive and durable. The Rhine stone rubbish is the reverse of all these, but the bits of «lass, especially the | colored “ rainbow” glass, have a certain charm, and set in silver—assingle bar orcrescent pins— as clover leaf or tiny buckle for neck veivet, as | horse-shoe hairpins, combs. bracelets, or dress ornaments, aye many adinirers. Costly jewelry or hand-wreught ornaments are quite thrown away upon giris at this age, | and it is almost wickedness to expend what has cost much labor, time or money upon articles for their use which do not suit the freshness of their youth, and which they do not appreci- ate. It is one of the problems which eternally | dresents itself whether the desire, which is so | aniversal, should be gratided or repressed—and | within certain limits it seems as if it were better | it should gratified. A natural desire re- pressed usually breaks out worse in some other | and more harmful direction. It is, indeed, a} pity that it cannot be gratified in better ways and by genuine things—by flowers that grow | and by work done with their own hands—but { in an age of shamsit is unreasonable to suppose that could remain untouched by them. Every little while we hear tnat the bangle has been killed beyond hope of recovery. Whence then the small regimentsof them that have mar- shalled their forces in every show case and have been sold in battalions at prices ranging trom 65 cents to $5? In sterling silver the coiled ser- pent, with ruby eyes and the bangles, composed | of silver rings, plain and twisted, and held to- gether by a silver link, are the favorite styles, and aset for each arm are not too many; but the cheap and common representatives of these are many of them atrocious, vulgar, with no more value than whitened tin, and having at- tached to them, as pendants, a jumble ot pigs, dogs, men, and some sortof implements. Such things as these even the poorest girls, if they were well taught at home, or at the public schools, would refuse to buy orto wear. They would have too much self-respect to deck them- selves out with things that would disgrace the Hottentots, and that no native peasant girl who works in the flelds of Normandy or Brittony would condescend to touch. There is dignity in the silver ornaments that are handed down from generation to generation in these peasant houses, but in these corrupted strips of metaline, with their infantile attachments, there is neither the dignity of good design, nor the suggestion of a finer taste. They are simply brutal, and can hardly be called cheap, for they are not worth even the small sum asked tor them. SILVER AND THE ELECTRIC LIGHT. Within a stones throw of these poor specimens of silver reduced to its lowest terms are silver Palaces, or at least palaces where silver is to be seen in every beautiful and richly wrought form which the brain of man can devise, or the hand of man execute. During the holiday season the great ground and second floors of these estab- lisbments are thrown open during the evening as well as the day time, and clusters of radiant white lights turned upon innumerable cases of magnificent solid silver wares in dinner services and tea sets, or single pleces and complete out- Ots. The advance inthe work done fn silver of ate years is marvelous, and it is a great mis- take to suppose that plated ware has reduced the demand for sterling silver. It may havehad that effect when it was a novelty and produced with more labor and expense than now, but the fact that “everybody” can have plated ware now 3 days has made it obligatory on the rich to have solid silver—and not only silverthat is silver all the way through, but hand-wrought in the di- verse ways in which this exqusite metal is made to give an artistic result. There is no work done abroad at the present time on silver that is at allequal to the finest work done here to the Costiiness In design or originality in workman- ship. It is uncommon abroad to find a silver tea set valued at 21.000, yet here we find them fre- quently purchased for wedding presents at trom $1,000 to $3,000, and magnificent dinner sets— early English in design, partly hammered and partly in repousse, with covers tothe great dishes and candelabra uniform in design—at | much more than doubie this sum. Marine and , “Corinthian” water designs, with a water god | In the midst of the pecullar wave-like eftects | Seem to be favorites Just now: and shelis for | Spoons, with reedy, twisted. coiled and decor- | ated handles, are in great demand. Of the new “five o'clock tea” sets of teaspoons a number | have been sold, and they really make an origi- nal and inexpensive wedding as well as holiday present. The silver is oxydised. Each spoon is different and takes the form of a leaf, a shell, Sspatula with turned edges, or something of that sort. and each has a slender stem-like dec- orated handle. There isa dozen of them, laid im a semi-circular oriental looking case, for $16. After dinner coffees are placed ju a case with a| set of pure lapis lagul! blue china cups and sau- cers, with Just the faintest line ofgoldforrim. A cream jug, with cover forms partof this set,and hasa slender leaf-like border decoration upon | & body of burnisted silver, the design matching that pon the spoons, and the whole exhibiting the utmost refinement. The workmen in this silver house have many of them grown up from boys, and there is not only great pleasure in the execution ofbeautiful work, but hed orton spirit of Ey and rivalry, very pleasant to see. Under their trained fingere the silver seems to be ductile as clay; they fold it over; they make figures withthe daintiest drapery, the most charming grace and expression. Flowers, vines, the reeds and the river grow under their-hands. and contain so much individual thought and expression that the worker becomes an artist as truly as the painter. Etching is quite anew process as applied to silver in our day, but some excellent work is done in it—work ¢o delicate that it Is applied only to small articles, such as a les, pencil cases, match boxes. tea holders and glove umers. Some of the finest ofthis work has done by a gentleman still young, who inherit- eda fortune from bis father, but hasa true genius for this art. Hetried the work tor “fun” on pepe tarserd apm cs ofhis own, andsucceeded 80 ly that he took an order for which he was at the usual rates. The money was the drst he bad ever received for work, and he was very proud ofit. Since then he bas ex- eeuted the designs upona number of special NEW YORK TWO INCHES AHEAD. The run, in gifts for ladies, bas been upon | is at once convenient and becoming. seent botties and ‘pungents” of the exagger- ated sizes, which is the latest craze, the end jorming an elongated point. A lady who has recently returned from Paris brought with hers bottle eighteen inches long and rejoiced ina possession which she believed could not be atched in New York. Her disgust can be im- ‘ined when her sister triumphantly displayed one of Gorham manutacture that was twenty niches from end to end and with an etched top much finer than her own. The cut glass bottles with silver tops range trom @5 for the small sizes up to $25. and even more when the silver top is hand-wrougbt. But cut glass does not compare {pn beauty in my opinton with the cameo «lass In which the designe are executed in cream white. in relief, upon tinted grounds. green or adecper yellow. Some of these have solid gold to and are sold as high as @80. Small and very dainty gifts consist of long slen- der leaf-shaped flacon of hammered silver, which are slipped In the gloves aud are a delightful ac- companiment toa box of these ever weleome articles. The cost is only $5. Gentlemen as well asladies have been made happy by bei ith hair and clothes brushes with solid silver backs, some hammered, some elab- orately wrought in repousse. Whisk-broom handles are also made in solid silver artistical! wrought, the top of course being removable, the backs of the brushes, so that they are good fora life time. A feature introduced by the silver house alluded to, some years ago and since adopted by others, is to inclose all smali articles in silk plush bags of correspond | ing size and of a shape which makes them suit- able for ladies to carry as recep! for fan, purse, opera glass or handkerchief. The finest art shades are selected—a rich India stuff in small pattern and blended colors used as lining, and silk cord in two colors—one, that of the plusp. employed as drawing string. It may be imagined that the bag is sometimes as much prized as the gift. COSTUMES AND COLORS AT RECENT ENTERTAIN- MENTS. Quite a sensation in some circles has been created recently by the appearance of ladies, well known in English society as the wives of artists or as poets and authors, on their own account, in Independent, more or iess pie- turesque. but perfectly unconventional cos- tumes. Pfeiffer's stay here was brief, and her st: invitations, but at the few entertainments where she was seen she attracted great attention by the graceful adaptation of her costumetrom the Greek idea, which she attempted to revive by letter and by Mustratious in the English Queen some years ago. Unlike most physicians, she has strictly taken and adhered to her own med- icine, and has certainly obtained a dress which The basis of it is the Chiton, a perfectly plain, simple and straight underdress, high at the neck (where it is finished by a narrow standing band) and with long sleeves. The upper dress is a square of any soft material, which forms a prince over- dress falling nearly to the bottom of the first skirt. This is drawn plain across the front, is draped up at the side, falls in Arabtolds at the back from the waist, and is clasped with stone cameos on the shoulders. The round neck haif Jow and the edge all around is braided in the Greek key pattern. The underdress in this case was of white brown velvet, the upper dress of wool in a lighter shade. Another dress worn by the same lady was of Liberty silk, a combina- tion of Rumehunder and Mysore, the latter gold embroidered. The draping and style of making was the same asin the preceding, and the ef- fect not unlike that of an ordinary closely draped gold embroidered dinner dress. On the same occasion a dress was worn by a lady past middle age—at least her brown hair begins to show gray and white lights in it— which deserves to be noted, because it was so exactly suited to her years and style. It was of a rich wood-brown velvet, very deep, and with white lights in it, which seemed to reproduce those in her hair. It was softly draped at the neck and upon the sleeves with cream (Burans) lace, and her ornaments—delicate stones cut intaglio and framed in the lightest knife-setting ot gold—made her a charming study in soft half-tints what suited well the brown ey the pale, clear complexion, and thoughtful, expres- sive face. It fs often a difficult thing for ladies who must go into society, yet have passed into what Is usually considered an uninteresting age, to dress so as to fulfill all the requirements. Two dresses worn recently seemed to do this. One was a very fine dark shade of prune-colored satin-de- lyon, ruffled and draped at the V-shaped neck and upon the sleeves with fine gold embroid- ered, cream-tinted lace and a dark « ine-colored satin merveilieux, trimmed with beautifully beaded lace in iridescent colors—garnet, ruby, bronze, amber and sapphire. Some old lace— softened by age to the required tint—was worn with this; but nothing looks worse with a mod- ern art _colorin fabric than hard, crude, white lace. This is fully understood by French mo- distes, who use this season what are known as art colors almost exclusively, and always put cream, gold embroidered, or coffee tinted laces in conjunction with them. Among others may be mentioned in this connection a dinner dress of shrimp-pink satin, brocaded with cream, lined with pale gold satin, and draped with deep point at the back of the throat with hand-run Spanish lace, the front open and arranged as a fichu. The leaf-shaped basque of this dress was cut in huge rings, surrounded with thick cords in the two colors of the satin, and draped sash ends, finished with pale gold tassels drawn through. Another elegant dress was brocaded in smai! clover-leaf pattern in dull currant-red velvet (frise) upon a bottle-green sround of satin-de-lyon. The skirt was straight, the front plain, the back full; both of plain yelyet in a still darker shade of red. The sides were com- posed of the brocade. The upper dress was a long gown with basque effect at the back. form- ing a double gown, exactly like the style I have mene in previous letters as worn by Ellen erry. A prune colored satin and velvet exhibited a decoration which has never been seen before the present season. It is a silver embroidery upon the velvet which has all the effect of etch- ing and is used ior the panels, the collar cut in points, and vest. The pretty curved design, the incised effect, were very artistic and would look as well on some leaf shades of brown and green as on prune. A velvet Waiking sujt worn at a “tea,” with bonnet to match, was trimmed with feather bordering in all the shades of the dark smoke shade of the velvet. This color is talked about a great deal, but it is impossible almost to find it. Dealers sell fron grays and blue grays tor “smoke,” but even these are scarce, while the new stone shades, mushroom browns, smoke and mouse colors, which possess a depth and softness quite unlike the coldness of ordinary grays or the dullness of ordinary browns, aré not to be obtained ex- cept in small quantities and as an incidental piece of good fortune. They have, however, come to stay. Manufacturers are experiment- ing with them. They are more becoming than the thin. crude shades, which preceded them, and they can be worn by women upon whom the usual gray makes a tombstone erected over the grave of their lost beauty. DRESS FOR APTERNOON RECEPTIONS. It is quite common for ladies who givea “tea” to receive their friends In an elegant evening tollet of white or light satin and brocade with long train and sleeves of lace, or no sleeves at all. There is nothing incongruous in this with her own surroundings. Darkness is closing in upon the early winter afternoon. The rooms are brilliantly lighted with lamps and gas or candles, shaded with yellow or rose coloured screens. The fires blaze in the open grates. Flowers | bloom in the available spaces. The silver and | china ofan exquisite tea service glistens through the long perspective from an inner room. But this beauty and brightness, this care and dis- jay seem sadly out of harmony with the in- formality with which the guests rush in and rush out again, their attire often only an ordinary walking suit. their gloves, the worse for wear, and their anxiety to put into one after- noon as many events as possible, anything but a compliment to their hostess. A handsome short costume is of course the proper dress, but it should be of silk or silk and velvet, not of cloth, and the bonnet should be handsome, matching it in some of Its component parts, but eariched and illuminated by the pretty Jewel-like dashes or color, which the embroidery and special methods of ornamentation give to the cos- tume bonnets of the present season. Of course the non-possessors of a particular kind of cos- tume need not prevent a lady from accepting an invitation; but it is not the want of a proper dress, it is careleseness or want of appreciation of the proprieties in this case, which permit so many women who believe themselves to be well bred, to insult their friends by unseemly haste and unsuitable dress. ‘The bad taste Is still more conspicuous when it is a reception given for the purpose of intro- ducing a daughter into what is to be her world. The event to the young lady and to her mother is only second in importance to that of her mar- riage. Her life hitherto, her education, has led up to it. She has been eepered like any other Pee of bs Pte ip me this transter to a place and a ition among her peers; and it is soctety that places its hall-mark upon her and stamps her as belo to its kindof currency, ‘There isa certain kind of consecration in this Proceeding, and it is recognized by the setting aside of the emblematic white dress, for this oc- casion, as for others of importance in the lives of young maidens—the white muslin for confir- mation, the white tullefor entrance into society, the white satin for the marriage 3 White tulle are now so much the debutante that they are avoided by bray bc isa eee7 ae and cousins. Indeed rishable for girls who go much into society, fer though the silk ‘underdress will stand the mounting of several successive eries, yet still it Is costly and troubieso and fe girls can stand either, much less both ia re- lation to their wardrobes in general or any part of it in particular. Tulle dresses are expensive for another rea- son. They are always made to order and for the occasion. They cannot be made and kept on band. They are too frail and delicate. They almost melt on being exposed to the air,—they do quite on being brought into the least actual contact with warmth and moisture, so although 8 white tulle dress is the ideal of costumes for a lovely young maiden, its actual use le necessa- rily limited. “Sprigged net, embroidered uet or epungied net takes the piace of tulle—after one or two blissful evenings—and then the illusion is over in a double sense. A PUZZLING QUESTION. Sometimes, however, a problem like this pre- sents itself: A girl may be young and handsome, but ina large style which needs toning down and cannot stand the wave-like expansion of tulle or the actual Increase in size created by the wearing of an all-white toilet. Such a ques- tion was solved recently by the substitution of ale grey silk muslin, draped closely over soft and trimmed with fine white orieatal he dowers were a large bouquet of deli- | cate pink roses, Tulles are usually made with | low bodices and with only the lightest puif or { strap for sleeve. Satin bodices are also still em- ployed with a drapery of tulle in the form of Grecian folds—folds crossed to one side—or they are laid over and to outline the bust and to form the curve under the arm, the back folds jeining inastraight line or descenfling in a point. Low bodices are less used by married ladies and all ladies of mature age than last season, | ries because the season of balis has hardly eeun. one could say that it was a permanent improve- ment, caused by grown women of the lack of dignity, sense and propriety in this exposure, particularly in a climate which at other parts of the 24 hours is | supposed to require cloth and seal-skin for | comfort. | e of health prevented the acceptance of | ii is a velyet visite, very short upon the back, almost straizht across, but having e little ful- ness pleated and held in at the waist line by an interior belt, and a fur collarette, which is rounded upon the back, but desceuds to a point infront, where it is fastened by a bronze, ox dised silver, or carved wood clasp. The lini s of thinly quilted satin, and the garment which js In any durk shade ot velvet that monizes with the costume. sits very close and jauntily to the figure. A pretty costume is made, for example, ina light shade of wood brown, braided in slender diagonal straps or bars with narrow braid ashade darker than the material, the heading tiny round knitted silk buttons, which form a double row—a second one upon intermediate bands which are shorter than the principal ones. The visites worn with this dress will be of dark brown velvet, trimmed with natural beayer fur. The bonnet will be of the velvet also, with shaded feathers, and the muff of natural beaver. Long silk cloaks are tast disappe urally they are worn by those who poss but they are no longer recommended and are not seen atmong the late importations. The latest style of long cloak is of cloth, fin finished or wrought. as preferred. The finished are lined with silk and have secondary silk-plaited fronts; also a long narrow silk lined hood with revers of cloth. The sleeves are a revival of the moderate flowing sleeves of twenty-five years azo and are shortest upon the inner part of the arm, where they are turned up with silk. This isa most useful and lady-like morning walking cloak, and may be used for riving or traveling in’ mild clit . Very handsome cloaks ot roughened camel's hair have the loose sleeves and are very warm, but they are light in weight and finished with Kussian collar and wide bands down the front andaround the sleeves of natural lynx, a long yellowish white fur that is immensely stylisn In etfect for an exceptional purpose of this kind. Exclusive and very elegant dress wraps for visiting, much used for ceremonious calls and afternoon receptions, are made of embossed velvet, hand embroidered in out! nille and fine cut jet or dark irridi pnt beads. This work is done by expert workwomen toorder, | and Arnold & Constable have made a specialty of such garments, their productions far sur- passing those received from Paris. There is also another advantage in these specially-made wraps, that each part is individualized; fringes, buttons, ornaments, all are made for it, and ifa lady chooses to pay the cost will be seen upon no other. This special workmanship is a char- acteristic of the finest houses, and is the secret of the high prices demanded and cbt. Fabrics are specially dyed, designs specially made, aud the workmanship specially done down to the smallest detail, and no inexperi- enced person could possibly understand what it has taken to produce the undetfinable effect until they try to match a shade, a pattern, a bit of trimming. and then they discover that they are unmatchable. To show the pains taken I will use an actual occurrence. A lady wrote to well-known house for a costume of mou colored velvet. Samples were sent of greys and stone color and mousse (moss green), which she returned with the declaration that these were not what she wanted: she desired actual aud veritable mouse color. The firm sent abroad for it. The color was not in existence. The foreign dyers experimented and finally succeeded in producing it. This year—one year after her application—the costume was obtained and the lJady proudly exhibits it—the skill of two conti- nents having been required to produce that innocent-looking gown. EMBROIDERED HANDKERCHIEFS. Handkerchiefs are now genuine articles de luze; it could never be dreamed they were meant for use. The French take the lead in the pro- duction of these pretty toilet accessories, and the styles of the season show a great variety of the most exquisite embroidery design in jardi- ntere colors and patterns. Few of the borders have a straight edge. Most of them are daintily fluted or plaited or festooned or finished with button-hole stitch in delicate points or scollops. Borders are deep, sometimes composed of minute dots, sometimes of lines on a colored ground, sometimes of lovely small sprays of flowers thrown upon the dotted lines. Others have half wreaths in the corners, which are filled in with sprays or leaves or initials; and stiil others drawnwork, with fine yine-like patterns be- tween, and wrought edges. Quite a new design has an Initial in satin stitch to match the tiny plaited edge, bronze or garnet, for example, the pretty design in needle work being executed in | pale pink and blue. These handkerchiefs range from $3 to $10 each, and, of course, are of fine batiste—too fine for any pretence of use; but they are employed to tuck In a vest pocket or reticule so that the corners will be displayed, which is the reason why corners in handker- chiefs are so elaborately ornamented. Jenny June. —————-.__ ‘The Power of the Imagination. From the Baltimore Sun. In the corridor of the registered letter and Money order annex of the post office there are two stoves, one near the Second street entrance, and the other further down. Both are large, and as one suffices to heat the annex, no fire has been built this winter in the one near the door. The majority of people who have busi- ness with the money order or registry depart- ments come by way of Second street. Among the first visitors yesterday morning was a police- man. He stood near the Second street door, and having hammered his hands and stamped his feet around the fireless stove, took another turn around the public buildings, looking as if he was very much warmed by his sojourn in the annex. Then he went back to try it on again. When he arrived halt a dozen people were hug- ging the stove, which tor the first time he per- ceived had not a particle of fire init. In fact, there was not even a lighted candle inside the stove to keep up the appearance, as Col. Sellers did. Calmly reasoning that where “ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be wise,” he kept his dis- covery to himself, and stood back to watch and meditate on the power of Imagination. Twelve hands were stretched out around the cold iron It would indeed be a hopeful sign if} the actual realization among | | was with che- | | Ville tr: AN UNEXPECTED HUGGING. How An Oil Ct pa Boy Be- Messe! came An ject of Oil City Dispatch to the Philadelphia Times, 24th. As the Allegheny valley railroad train bound northward stopped at the station on Monday evening a half-grown girl, accompanied by a man,descended to the plattorm. The man looked around anxiously, as if in search of another train. The girl also looked around anxiously, but she didn’t seem to care about another train. She was pretty, but there was a restless expres- sion in her eye which indicated an aching void that trains could never fill. ‘A telegraph messenger boy, strack with her beauty, gazed at her with jom that at- tracted her wandering attention. Just as the man who accompanied ber stepped into the sta- tion to inquire if the Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia train was on time the girl flew at the admiring messenger boy, folded him in her arms and hugged him raptuously. “Oh, you dear, darling. sweet little thing!” exclaimed the girl, ina voice tremulous with unrestrained emotion. Again she showered kisses upon his cheeks, which were blushing as only those of a new-to-the-business messenger boy can blush. Again she frantically pressed hima to her bosom and broke out into passionate words, uttered in equally passionate tones: | Don’t turn } “Kiss me again! trom me.” The boy evidently didn’t know what to make of it. He would have enjoyed it more if a crowd had not assembled to witness the proceedings, but he was too bashful to hug before a crowd. He tore himself from her embrace and ruvhed down the plattorm. The girl tairly flew after him, like Atalanta in the mytholovical race. She aining: would have been hugging him at the end ot the platform, when the man emerged from the sta- tion door. Jello!” said he, as ne looked at the spot left the girl, ‘Where is——?” But the direction which the crowd of loungers had tal de it unnecessary for him to finish Oh, do kiss me! d but firm voice shouted. *‘Nellie!” started as if she had been shot. The Messenger boy. who was still running r messenger boy ran before, had no attractions tor her. Timid and subdued , us though fearful of reproof, she re- Joined her companion. Just tien the Titus- came up and they got aboard. said the handsome station agent. asylum. Of cours hugging a little el disappeared in dis se she crazy. ‘The idea of ap like that, when—” and he CANNOT GEF HER CHILD. A Father's Abduction of His Off-Spring not Legal Kidnapping. Deacon Edwin J. Toof isa manufacturer and a prominent citizen of New Haven, Conn. Anna Elizabeth Reeves ishis daughter. Her husband 1s Rollin J. Reeves, who now resides in Des Moines, Iowa. Reeves and his wife have a daughter, 6 years old, and when they lately quarreled and separated the child became a sub- ject of bitter contention. A dispatch from New Haven, December 22d, s On the 30th of October Mrs. Reeves was with her child at Dea- con Toof’s home, No. 126 Wall street. Reeves had frequently declared his intention of steal- ing the child, but the wife, after Jocating her- seif in New Haven, felt comparatively out of his Teach. On the night of the abduction it was rainy and grew dark yery early. About 6:30 k, While the Toof family were at the sup- per table, there came a violent pull at the door- bell, which was answered by one of the servants, As the door opened in sprang aman whom they all recognized as Dudley Stewart, a close per- sonal friend of Reeves. rof strange men. Instinctively the mother guessed the truth of the situation. Stewart had until one of the men, directed by Stewart, me toward her and tore the screaming child trom her. The mother fell to the floor, imploring the strauger to give back her daughter, while her father and brother joined in the demand. But the men speedily made off, carrying the sobbing child with them. The kidnapping party were next heard from at Danbury, on the way west. The officers here, asked if the party should be arrested, replied that they had no authority from the city attor- ney to order Stewart's arrest, and so he went on with the child, and they are now in Des Moines. Renewed interest was given the case to-day by an application from State Attorney Doolittle ov. Waller for an authorization for Sheriff to go to Des Moines with a requisition for Stewart and bring him back to New Haven to answer to a charge of forcible abduction and st her will. Goy. Wailer J he act com- opinion, kidnapping in the aw. Afather cannot kidnap his own child until the custody the law vests in him is changed by the decree of a court, and a person who aids iim in taking the child does so under his legal protectiot Goy. Waller said after he had tirst intimated his disinclination to sign the requisition papers that he had con- sulted the supreme court, and their informal opinion was given him. Other legal proceed- ings are to be had in the interest of Deacon Toof to bring the child back to New Haven. Deacon Toof is ready to spend much money to insure his daughter’s happiness. Strength for To-day. Strength for to-day 1s all that we need, As there never will be a to-morrow; For to-morrow will prove but another to-day, With its measure of joy and sorrow. Then why forecast the trials of life, With such Sad and grave persistence; And watch and wait for a crowd of ills ‘That as yet has no existence. cylinder, and kept at such a distance as to avoid being burned. Then a big man in the fur cap opened his overcoat and took off his gloves, stamped bis feet in satisfaction and went off to write out a money order blank. His place was filled by another mau who had just come in. Then the others dropped off one by one, new arrivals filled up the gaps. The clerks in the annex had by this time taken In the situation, and were quietly enjoying the scene, which kept up during the day. Murder in Boston. A WOMAN FOUND DRAD ON TOP OF A RAILROAD CAR— HER SUPPOSED ASSAILANT ARRESTED. A Boston dispatch of last night says: The body of Mrs. Wilhelmina Stanley, who lived on Rutherford avenue, Charlestown district, was found lying on the top of a car on the Lowell railroad this evening tn an intoxicat ent to Ded. Later she got up and left the house, It seems a tn the neighbor- hich she was ejected by the proprie- tor. G Oliver, Lees yg my lowed her, and (did not, “return ils, Joduings o'clock morning. room mate he said the woman was dead. The Strength for to-day—what a precious boon For the earnest souls who labor! For the willing hands that minister To the needy friend or neighbor. Strength for to-day—that the weary hearts In the battle for right may quail not; And the eyes bedimted with bitter vears Tn their search for light may fall not. Strength for to-day, on the down hill track, For the travelers hear the valley; ‘That up, far up on the other side *Ere long they may safely raliy, Strength for to-day, that our precious youth May happily shun temptation, And build from the rise to tue set of the sun On a strong and sure foundation. Strength for to-day, 1n house and home, ‘Zo practice forbearance sweet deeds, Still trusting in God completely. Strength for to-day 4s all that we need, As there never will be a to-morrow: For to-morrow will prove but another to-day, ‘With its measure of joy and sorrow. WHAT TO WEAR NEW YEARS A Frock Coat En Regle. The New York Clothier and Furnisher says: When theregular season sets in for full dress the question generally comes up: “‘What is proper to wear for New Year's calis?” Thegentleman always consults, in dressing for any occasion, the habits and rules of the society he moves in. It is as much an offence to wear full dress in some places as it is to appear ina business suit in others, for the reason that either would make him conspicuous, and that is to be avoided. One of the laws rigidly established in fashion is that a gentleman should always wear eyen- Ing dress whenever he appears in society at dinner or after dinner, and the dinner floar makes the division between day and night. Another is that he shall never under any cir- cumstances wear that in the day time. A change of costume at nightfall ts, therefore, im- peratively necessary, if the rule of fashion can enforce anything. Readers must not be missied by the fact that they have learned to call after- noon “evening.” That isa local application of the word, and obtains in certain sections of the United States. Everywhere else “evening” begins at about the hour of dusk, or say 6 o'clock. In some communities a man would be as conspicuous to wear 8 swallow-tail coat at any hour as it would make him to appear with- cut any coat in other places. Now, if his New Year's calls are to be made in the evening on pecple with any pretensions to elegance he will wear evening dress; but no man with any knowledge of good manners will appear any- where in an evening suit in the daytime. A New Year's call is generally a ceremonious visit, and should be paid in “ dress,” which constitutes a trock coat, either single or double breasted, which must be in dark color, black being considered the most elegant. The coat this season is shorter than the one made last year. The vest may be cut low to show an elegant shirt front, or high ifto be worn with a scarf. It cut low it should have four buttons. The trousers may be of a fancy pattern, and even ot alight color. A silk hat should be worn during the day, and, to be in epee with the “very best usage,” an opera hat in the evening; though a sili hat’ may be worn after dark. A Deacon’s Lirrte EscaPape.—Deacon George M. Terry, of Northville, L, L, who eloped with Pas- tor Downs’ wife about six ago, returned to Bie boss te nia Poa oe pd reconciled to 01 fhas algo Fe ton, LL Nx between on him, and in one minute more | He looked down the platform | he’s taking her to the North Warren | THREE THUNDERSTRUCK MEN, bf om SP Raed Serer PP From the Oswego Palladium An amusing incident took place the other night at a house in the 5th ward. where woman lay dead. At alate hour three young men who had known the deceased went to the place where the body lay for the purpose of at- tending the wake. They entered the door quietly and passed into the front room, where several women were carrying on @ conversation in alow tone of voice. The excellent qualities of the deceased were being rehearsed and all seemed to be bowed down under the great affliction. On a sofa in a room lay the form of |awoman. The three young men crossed the | Hloor softly, knelt beside the sofa and uttered fervent prayers for the welfare of the spirit ot the departed. The women in the room ceased talking when the voung men knelt down, ap- parently awed by the solemnity of the occasion. The prayers were finally concluded and the young men rose to their feet. In rising the skirt of one young man’s coat touched the tace of the form on the sofa. Instantly her eyes opened wide and she raised herseit on her elbow. The teeling of the young |men can better be imagined than described. Their hair stood on end and their eyes bulged out, but they did not move. the number gave vent to a piercing yell and ran from the house, closely followed by his com- panions. The corpse was in the next room and the person over whom they had been praying was a relative of the deceased who had Jain | down for a short rest. +92 —______ MASQUERADING FOR MOOSE. | How an Old Maine Trapper Brought Down the Wary Animals. Correspondence Lewiston (Me.) Journal, The first time I saw Nate Moore was in 1861. We were driving ina sleigh up the Kennebec | road, above Bingham, to watch for foxe ing ahead up the road we sawa man with an x on his shoulder a He was wallowing through the light snow that fell the nigit before—eighteen inches strong. My horse was also wallow- }ing, but of the two the horse walked the fastest, and the man and the overtaken. ‘What will you take for that 2” says I. (I was buying fur.) “A dollarand a ,” says Nate, for it Was he. “I'll take him,” says I; “where did you get him, and how, with- out a gun?” "Oh," says he, ‘I killed him with my axe. The snow is so Hght and deep he couldn't get away from me. I drove him into a holiew log, and that ended his chicken hunt.” That same morning, alittle further up the river, one of Seth Adams’ boys saw a fox trymg to travel not far from the house, and he caught a him, and soon overtook and dispatched hin The fox, in trying to escape, would turn some | snow fly like dust on a dry road, but he couldn't | get ahead. So I bought two in the flesh aud had them to skin and dry. But to return to Moore. pressed at first sight with him. He we shaped, of a solid hunter form, and carried an honest face. He is the best hunter within w knowledge—aimost al successful. He is good trapper, but hi Title. i the moose and caribou is he is good on bear and ¥ spring gf 1861 ten caribou in Moxy | Somerset county. His manner of hunting them was to wrap himself ina sheet and stalk in anor a herd,waiking siowly, and with as little noise possible, and if one should lift his head to lis | he would stop, standing erect and looking fo! the world like a stub of a tree covered with As soon as the animal would go to feeding he would be able to select one of the herd that he wanted, and to approach as near as h wishedto them. He told me he started twent seven inone drove on Moxy Pond once, at shot seven of them. They got confused and | came near running him down. Atter he cou ) enced to fire, they would run toward him just good while. The melee ended by the mainder of the herd making off up the moun- tains. Moore lives and Moosehead lake, but he knows every inch of the ground. When he goes out ona bunt he don’t come home empty-handed. Nate is acrack shot, too. One timelast yea I think, he took a party to a certain pond in the | solitudes ot Somerset county for sporting, and | after camping near the pond, he went down to a pail of water preparatory to cooking din- | ner, and looking up the pond, he saw a large, | black animal coming down the shore toward where he was. rifle, while they kept quiet in camp. Nate got behind a tree just in tiie to see a large moose round the pointin tront of him and withinrange. The moose immediately smelled him and threw thought unhooded on him. The moose gave one or two plunges and fell over dea ENCKE’S COMET. Nearing the Earth. known to be connected with the solar system. which make thelr appearance; their orbits ex- tend so far into space that it is not known whether they have visited the sun before, many centuries ago, or whether they have last come from the neighborhood of some other sun. In 1818 acomet was discovered by M. Pons, the orbit of which was computed by M. Encke and identified with that of 1786; and from that time vals of a little over three years, and this is the comet now visible in the great telescope of the Halsted observatory at Princeton. There are none with a period s0 short as this. Its nearest approach to the sun is at a distance about one- third of that of the earth. Its greatest distance from the sun is about tour times that of the earth, which is within the orbit of the planet Jupiter. I have not seen any statement of the time the comet is expected to reach its peyine- lion: but trom the epbemeris of Dr. Backluyjad I should estimate it to be in the latter part of next March, at about which time it will also be near- est the earth; but it will be so nearly betweep us and the sun at that time that it will not be conveniently observed. Xt summer, after having passed the sun, it will asain be visible in the telescope for a considerable time. Pro- fessor Young describes it as at present a faint object in their great telescope. Of course it cannot yet be seen in ordinary telescopes, al- though I first saw this same comet, on its re- turn ten years ago, on the same evening when it was first seen in the great telescope at Wash- ington; and, as it is growlug rapidly brighter, it will soon be easily visible. It will not, how- ever, become visible to the naked eye. Its chiet interest to astronomers lies in the tact that for the first fifty years after its discovery its period was shortened about four days, and was sup- posed from the resistance of an interplanetary medium in space. Its later returns have not confirmed that, and it is still an unsettled ques- tion. Just now it will be specially interesting to observe for another reason. It isnot yet settled what is the cause of the red sunsets and sky glows which have attracted so much attention tor the last year. While many, and perhaps most scientific, investigators attribute them to the volcanic dust from the it. eruption of Krakatoa, there are others who still conceive them to be due to interplanetary matter, like showers of meteorites. The fact that the comet is so nearly in its predicted place Indicates that it has not yet encountered any such perturbing influences; but it is hardly yet near enough to the sun to meet with such disturbance. During the next six months, however, it will through the very region filled with such matter, if it exists at all, so that we may reasonably ex- pect that theory to be either established or over- thrown by the observed motion of Encke’s comet. It will hardly be claimed. if a body so excessively light as a comet shall pass directly Suddeniy one of | Look- | fox were | | stick of wood from the wood-pile and went after | : sauits and roll over and over, and make the | I was fayorably im- | § well- | He was followed. by a | Moore would again walk on, and in this manner | ' | as often as away, and it was lively times for a It isa wild country between where | He ran back and told his party | what he saw, and they sent him back with his | up his head and swung around to run, but Nate | was expecting that maneuyer, and ‘quick as | Interesting Details of the Comet Now The New York Herald publishes the following letter from Henry M. Parkhurst in relation to | Encke's comet: “The comet which has been! found by Prof. Young isin some respects the | most interesting connected with the solar sys- tem, and for that reason, although so frequent a visitor, it may be usetul to note some tacts relating to it. When first seen, in 1786, It was not ‘This 1s true of a large proportion of the comets to the present it has rezularly returned at inter- | about a dozen other comets of short period, but | Underground Exploration in Austria. From the London Times. The extraordinary underground phenomena found in certain portions of the southern snd Adriatic provinces of Austria, Including miles of underground caverns, lakes that disappear and reappear at regular seasons, and rivers that are swallowed up by the earth and come to the surface again at many miles’ distance, hare re- cently been the subject of much attention on the part of the Austro-German Alpine club and ot the Club degii Alpinisti of Trieste. A section of the members of the former body determined some time ago to institute a systematic explor- ation of the subterranean course of the River | Reka. Rising in the Schneeberg, in Carniola, this mysterious stream suddenly disappears in the so-called di Duino, 20 miles distant from the sy the Reka is lost, a river of corresponding mag- nitude Is found issuing from the foot of a hil until the p made practically te members of the Austro-t who had resolved to exp meandering of the river, | reconnoissance on Mai j the celebrated c: | the Reka pours nee from npt bs ti een, demonstrate the ta ; A The | i ary ting from however. it w | to proceed with the work of exploi the month of September, when a se dition started. The third attempt the 9th of the present m | which had with great t | min the cavern in March had | sudden rush of wate h boats w vided for the second attempt Starting from the first Rudolph’s Dome, the expedi | four pe eventful voys tioned the rive i | row channel between two perpendicular wa | of rock, estimated to be upwards of 100 y in height. At the end of this channel th plorers, | ted by the 1 in a Vast Fastening | 8 distan l rapids. They f without much dif tance after leayiny tin keeping to the levt they reached a spots to & width of barely ‘ d to cro: pe- as made on A boat r alls twelve fe S to the rij ith them diMcult, the exp! forward by creepin 3 came to the sixth waterfall, which the 'y Was unable to pass. The rive * runs n two perpendicular y ‘ idenly takes a downward | From the Rudolph start was ims to th distance ts quires half a to accomplish. ttempt the four gentlemen formin: expedi- tion succeeded by help of suitable ladders and other apparatus in x over this cata’ vancing sow nd it. They however, came t ath waterfall, dd to turn back. Th further progress it | b At th third | Ww either s lar walls of rock. udergrou to make the approaches to t cavern asy of access to public. A cave ered in Sept is of far greate: than the Ruéulph’s Dome or any aves of this dist Its height td easily contain the ca- ral of St. Peter's at Ro With regard to the Ital | committee has during th | some good service by ren ern ot Trebitsh, discovered by Hi forty years azo, accessible to the ory ourist » cavern can only be | by descending a d have hitherto had to clamber on the bare rocks. | The Club devli Aipinisti have now caused a | series of ladders, ty-four in number, to be | fixed. ‘The Trebitsh cavern is 300 feet high, 400 feet in width and 1.000 feet in lenzth. 1 it flows a river which seve authoritie to be identical with the K the hypothesis is repudiated by many other observers. The question can only be setttied when the Austro-German Alpine Club shall have accomplished the interesting task it has taken in hand—that of following the subterranean course of the river Reka from its beginning to its termination. Alpine Club, its pring the spl T Lind t Saturoay Smiles, “Pa, how funny this looks in this paper. printer has got the words all mixed up, in no sense to it.” ~No, no, my ehild. a new poem by Tennysou.”—Maralhon Indepen dent. Don't fret if you cannot get into society. The oyster is often present at a supper when he | Would perhaps prefer to be at home in his bed.— Boston Courier. At the opening of Congress Mr. Cox was com- plimented for his efforts m_ behalf of the life- saving service with a floral ship, witha bottle of wine on either side. The wine was more typical of our navy than theship. It went down 80 easy.— Norristown Herald.. The latest thing in wraps—A new baby.—New York Graphic. The winter bonnet-strings must match the material of the © cess. We hope this will put a stop totying on the bonnets with a clothes-line.— Oil City Derrick. Don’t squeeze any small, square and suspi- cious-lookine envelope that happens to come in your wife's mail. It will probably contain her new bonnet.—Fall River Advance. In view of the craze for roller skating, a cor- set-maker has patented a corset intended to give freedom to the hip for those taking part in the sport. To make it perfect, there should be an arrangement of springs to prevent con- cussion ot the brain when the beginner lets go of the floor with her teet.—Mirror of American | Sports. At bard pan: Two gentlemen met on State street this morning. id one to the other: “How is busine: Poor,” was the reply. “I met with a little accidei Night before last burglars broke into my store. but left without taking anything. Everything was marked so low they came around next morning and made purchas Albany Journal. The thermometer’s announcement: In sympathy with the business small, And with the n’'s rigors, My weather I have marked coral, Down to the iowest figures. —Louisville Courier-Journal. Showing how cold it gets in the Sierras: “Very cold last night, Mr. Townsend.” observ: the reporter. I should say so. Went home; lit a candle: jumped into bed; tried to blow candle out; couldn’t do it; blaze frozen; had to break it off.” replied Mr. Townsend.— Vér- ginia City (Nev.) Enterprise. The metempsychosis ina drawing room. “I,” sai a witty younz man, “remember that way back in the days of Moses and Aaron I was the gol- den calf. Since thenI have been changed—” “Yes,” said a lady thoughtfully,*‘time has worn off the gilding.”"—From the French. By the sea in summer: We parted and mine eyes were set; ‘Thine, too, I think were brimming. With tears or brine? Love, 1 forgot. Could it be both? I think not. Yet You know we were in swimming. The Century. Capped the climax: An Englishman, French- man and American were discussing the merits of painters of their respective countries. The American, after listening to all the others had to advance in favor of their countrymen, re- marked: ‘Wall, yes, 1 guess they did some tall painting, but there was a young fellow in our Village and he got a piece ot marie and painted it like cork, and darn me if it didn’t float.”— ugusta Cnronicle. sien Another Clovis-Hugues Affair. Cablegram from Paris to the Balto. math, A tragedy similar to the Hugues-Morin affair has occurred at Tonnere. An architect named st n is known as the Timavo, which \takes a westward course, and dis its waters into the Bay of Montf As to the identity of the Timavo with the Reka there ot be doubt, although | ds | ; | doub is upward of | ‘p shaft down whieh visitors | Fencing—a fair touch: They are discussing | An Independent Newspaper of Democratic Principles, but not Controlled by any § rolitict Mnniru- lator; Devoted te taking all the News of the Day with the creates! pow { Goverament, Soolety and a i RA . BY MAIL, POSTPAID: DAILY, per ¥e 86 00 | DAILY, per M _ 2 SUND\Y, per ¥ 1” | DAILY and SUNDAY, por Yea o WEEKLY, per ¥ 10 Adar | _213-sdew.st ss, THE SUN, New York City. ne Sranparp wre" Tur Wow ow eek ot rrr? Ere www W Ru UTC WWW ker on of BE | wy ew ot uot «6 woewikKK Tf KEE BEST IN TRE WORLD. EVERY MACHINE WARRANTED. WYCKOFF, SEAMANS BENEDICT, LE DROIT BUILDING 413-3, Paes Hine MES AND LITTLE MONEY MAKE THIS A GOOD YEAR TO BUY oo Tir 0 0 " 1 oo F 9b 09 ILLL 00 = T BUT \EXTREMELY HARD RELIALE CLOTHING DEALERS, | We | may dex, em iy the You know we mcau what we say, 3,80 that none uit or an Overcoat. A $10.00 Suit at 2.5 A $13.00 Suit at Overcoats at $4, | ere worth 59 per ce nd npwards to $30, that t wore thau we are asking. *s Sult at $3.25, . 24.00, and upward, Children's Suits at from $2.50 upward that are worth Boys’ and Children's Overcusts from 2.00 upward. | 2.000 pairs Pants, from $1.00 up to $6.00, thatare ‘worth 50 per cent more, LONDON AND LIVERPOOL CLOTHING CO., | | q, CORNER SEVENTH AND G STREETS. | ~ | Frrsr Cyrano Save OF THE SEASON, Hl KING'S PALACE, 814 SEVENTH STREET. Fifty thousand 4 Cloaks and rs" worth of Children's and Ladies ¥ to be closed out, We have come » save money for ail in unt are useful as well as. sock of Millinery and of the season, and as this is ed of HOLIDAY PRI ical. to reduce ourext | Clouks at tnis carly stag | our First Clearing Sale tock at prices that will insu aces 4, 6.8, 20,12, 14 400 Misses’ Newmar- shand nice, from age 6 and 10. kets, leading sli to 16 years, at Wraps, in Dia mal, Otton mans. Jackets at 5, $6, $7, $5, Dest and finest from $10 to #20, wo: Extraordinary bargains in Plush Wraps. We will sell egant Plush Coat at $23, worth $35 29, worth $40; elecant Plush Cost at £15, worth $50. There are only left 85 of the Plush Costs tobe slaughtered. $25,000 worth of Millinery are bond to besold. Remember now is your chance 4.000elegant and stylish Felt Hats, in all the leading shapes and de- | sirable colors, at 75c., $1, $1.25 and 1.50. Birds, Plames, Tips and Wings of the latest iiuportations. Ribbops, Velvets, V ens, Kid Gloves and Corsets, and othe: articles in the Millinery and fancy Lin GIVE US A CALL BEFORE PURCHASING. KING'S PALACE, $14 SEVENTH STREET. } 1 as | Pone Aso Isvioonarixa ‘Those who may wish to purchase, either ass Geli- cious beverage or for medicinal purposes, an TNADUL- TERATED WHISKY, are invited to make « trial of the celeurated brand. u PPP pre. P This whisky, upon an analytics! examination, bas Proved to be free from Fusil oil, and indeed of any of the modern ingredicnts which are used to gives ficti- tious age and flavor to this popular driak FOR SALE BY Browning & Midleton, Terex: & Hamiltom, . C, Bryan, WASHINGTON. D. 0 H. & H.W. CATHERWOOD, Sole Proprietors, 14-3m Pauixtixe JUDD & DETWEILER, PAND 422 11TH STREET NORTHWEST, QNorth of Star Building.) NEW BUILDING, NEW PRESSES ‘The Largest and Most Complete Printing Officeis ‘Washington, employing nearly 100 workmen. BRIEFS, RECORDS, — Ts, MEMORIALS xD BOOK AND JOB WORK Ofevery description executed on short notice and st air prices, caches