E2l5ioSHsRBM t7T$KfT?iZ?vZ!!2 I 20 THE TEA IN LONDON. Keally a Very Enjoyable Affair None of the Crash and Excitement Incident to the American ASaIt Fashion From the En glish Capital. COKRt6r0XDEh'C Or THI DIBPATCn.J LoxnosAprilS. Tea. A nuisance! My first week in London, and it ii necessary to go to such a formidable affray as a 'tea." I think of the crush ing, the crowding, and the heat, and my American mind reverts to the sad misfortunes attend ant upon a joggled elbow and a plate ful of jelly. How ever, it was kind of Mrs. Tomkyns to call and leave a card lor her after noons, and it mav be a pleasant interlude to the round ot Bight-seeing, tbeater-gojng, and dinner eating. This was the card, just like an American one: .. ......"" ; 1KS. BARSABT TOMKTSS, 45, The Gore, Kensington, Thursdays, 4 to 7. : ! When Thursday afternoon arrived I "got into" my very swellest London spring gown, summoned a hansom, which, after the man ner of London hansoms, proceeded at a break-neck speed through crowded Btreets up crooked lanes, across crescents, and through cirensses, till I finally arrived at my desti nation a charming house in London's most fashionable district. Several carriages were passing up and down the street, but I noticed none oi the "outward and visible igns" of gayety within the closed doors. The blinds were not drawn down, nor was there any awning stretched from door to pavement, although it was raining, and the steps were muddy. A small "buttons" opened the door in answer to my modest knock and ring, and I was conducted upstairs to the drawing l.iom, where, to my surprise, I found my 1: 'Mess sitting near a blazing fire, with a i ii le of pretty girls who had just put tlf.in their tea enps. An awful thought ft'-jck me; I had come too soon I But no; il. Tomkyns welcomed me cordially; gave nre a cosy chair, a cup ot tea, and handed me a dainty plate with two compartments, For a Cost Spring Morning. in one of which reposed delicately thin bread and butter, and in the other a few slices of cake. While the two young women were making tbeir adienx I collected my scattered ideas, and glanced at my surroundings. A charm ing room, which had not been subjected to the dismantling that is an almost necessary rule in the case of our "bic teas;" the hostess was prettily draped with the usual long-tailed full-fronted tea-gown, and had a straw table laden with lovely cups of pure white fluted china, with dainty little silver spoons, and an old-fashioned cream jug and sugar basin. Lots of flowers in pots and queer-shaped bowls were placed on tables and wicker stands about the room, and a silver-footed lamp, with a gauzy apple-green shade, diffused a peculiar light in a corner by a piano, which had as a "back" a huge screen filled with photographs of celebrities of the operatic and dramatic stage. After the usual chit-chat incidental to a call, my American desire "to know" came to the fore, and I inquired of my charming hostess the meaning of English "tea." I told her first what proportions one of our atternoon entertainments of that name al ways acquired, and the amount of prepara tion necessary, and she listened with aston ishment. Then she told me that all English women who made any pretense at having a ttMi'Dg list had, as we do, a certain day for receiving their friends printed on their curds. This signifies no more than that tcey remain at home on that day within the prescribed hours. 2so preparation is made beyond having thin bread and butter, rake and tea, the latter never standing, but al ways freshly made lor each new batch of visitors, and always by the hostess herself. Sometimes very few people come, and some times the room is full, yet everything is done in the simplest and quietest fashion possible. Very often, if there are a lot of people in the room, and a man or a girl happen to be able to sing prettily to the ac companiment of a piano, a banjo, or a guitar, they are asked to contribute their quota of entertainment a proceeding that is always appreciated according to its merits. The only affair given in England that ap proaches our "tea" is the evening reception or conversazione that is only held in big mansions, for English people are more .feasible than we are, and do not attempt to kl put 100 people into a room that is crowded with 50. At these crushes, refreshments, similar to our alternoon menu, are served in the dining room, but, of course, for coffee and tea is substituted "stronger waters," for very few English houses have "temperance" principles. All these things my kind enter tainer explained, and was also greatly inter ested in my description of the various differ ences between the entertainments of the two nations. Those lengthy, elaborate, and. I think, most tedious things, called ladies' lunches, are quite unknown here, the mid-day meal never being a meal of ceremony. The London season is such a busy one, that there is never time for the countless excuses for feeding the multitude that we indulge in. Drives, rides and shopping occstpy the mornings, while the afternoons are taken up with calling, "private views" at art gal leries and S o'clock teas. Then dinner, theater or opera, balls, and various other entertainments occupy the time till well into the morning hours. Altogether, my hostess told me, as I rose to leave her pretty room, a London society woman is very hard The Fichu Cape With Tabs. worked, and when a drawing room is "on, she is fain to -take her lunch and a sly nap in her carriage, so weary is she of the duty of pleasure. As I was leaving the house, two carriages drove up to the door and dis charged three or four ladies, who were going to receive the same unostentatious and hospitable courtesy I had just left.and my determination was, as I stepped into my humble hansom, to inaugurate a series of "afternoons" after the English plan upon my return to my native heather, and eschew the crashing discomforts of a "splash tea." The Expensive Description Interest I was told by a carping critic the other day that the "fashion articles" written by women, and for women, were wrong in their fundamental principles. He (none but a man would have made such a criticism) said that dresses and materials described, and set forth in glowing language, were all of the most expensive, while no descrip tions or directions were given to that great majority who were forced to make every penny tell its tale and every bntton have its use. I agreed that this wis a fact, but I also said, and I think most women will agree with me, thjt "economical" fashions are not attractive, nor do we want to read about them. Good ideas are only found at "good" prices, and it remains lor nimble, feminine fingers, to steal the "good ideas," and work them out according to some won drous model, that has all the grace of trne art and all the elevating influence of per fect coloring and outline. Therefore, I hold that a clever woman with little money, and much good sense, can look at a French or English "model," and adapt the delightful lines of a skirt, and the curving drapery of a bodice, to her own small stock of mate rials and a narrow purse. A Pretty Walking Gown. I saw a vcry.attractive walking gown of fawn color and dark blue the other day. The skirt was of fawn-colored cloth, which came only to the knees, where it was cut in Totfe by Worth; Bal by ViroU Gown of cream-colored faille and otter-brown velvet; all black hat of chenille and lace with black aigrette. square "tabs" about fonr inches deep. Under this top skirt was a fnll flounce of blue silk. The bodice was peculiar in de sign, and ill suited to bare words. It had a waistooat of cloth heavily braided with blue and silver the other portion of the THE basque was three-quarter length in the back, but instead of opening straight down over the waiscoat, it was brought over the chest and fastened by a huge silver clasp in the- middle of the breast, then, as if turned back to show the blue silk lining, It was taken under the arms over the hips and fastened to the full "tails" at the back by two other silver clasps, The sleeves were of cloth and heavily braided with bine and silver, and with deep turnover cuffs of blue. The hat to be worn with this gown was of dark bine chip, with fawn and blue feathers. The latest London Bonnet. One's head is in a whirl after a little ex cursion along Bond street to Piccadilly, and thence down to Kegent street. The kaleido scopio colors of bonnets, gowns, and stuffs make one long for the shops to be worked on the "belt" system so that one could stand still, and the show cases made to pass slowly back and forth before one's dazzled eyes. All the bonnets I notice have still a very high backed tendency, which would indicate, I fear, nodiminution of the mountainous erections of frowzy hair. Bright turquoise blue seems to be the favorite colour just now, and one bonnet I saw was composed of ajthlck wreath of tiny glossy bright green ivy leaves, the crown being made of lovely little velvet bows of the very sfcyest blue, with strings of the same. Then another had a frame of gilded wires in the long, narrow toque shape, softly covered with some gleaming, silvery ma terial, strewn here and there with opatine beads. The edging ronnd the brim was of fine gold lace, very narrow, with a little opal drop from each point of the pattern. The back was bunched with peculiar moonlight grey ribbons, and just on the front rested a wonderful dragon fly, with its delicate wings outspread, and its glistening slender body reproducing the tints of the opal beads. The strings came from the back, and were the same shade as the neutral tint of the bow. A Snake In the Grass. I had fondly hoped that snakes and other noisome reptiles had left London with "Cleopatra." Let me tell you of a hat I hope there is not another like it, It is made of very fine straw, soft, red and green in color, and its shape is the usual platter like affair. Two upstanding bows of greyish-green ribbon are at the back, from w hich tumbles a small jungle of delicately-tinted grasses, which fall well out to the front of the brim. Very pretty, thought I, and, baying but indifferent sight, looked again. Then I discovered a little red-and-green mottled, abominable snake was rearing a fanged mouth from its verdant home, and way back by one of the bows I saw its tail. The hat would have been a charming one but for that "realistic" adornment. Must we even have Ibsen on our bonnets? A Beauty for the Carriage. A charming carriage gown I saw the other day was of very fine drap d'ete of tb.8 softest shade of gray. The skirt was plain and slightly trailing, and being cut in tiny vandycks round the bottom, exposed a dainty frilly ruche of the same shade of gray silk fleoked with silver beads. The bodice was without seams, and fastened under the left arm, and was a marvel of artistic drapery, drawn into a wide collar of heavy silver embroidery, over which peeped a delicate frill of lace. The sleeves were entirely composed of the Bilver embroidery, and terminated at the waist with a puff of silk. The mantle to accompany this spring poem was just a succession of flounces of pale gray silk falling from a pointed yoke and high collar of the silver embroidery. A morsel of a gray bonnet with a bunch of yellow buttercups, pale gray gloves and gray Suede shoes with silver buckles, com pleted this almost too delicate costume. Mantles Without Waist Line. The newest mantles seem chiefly remark able for their complete absence of waist line. One very nice dark brown nouveante had a square yoke, front and back, thickly sewn with iridescent beads. The "skirt" hung from this In deep pleats, and in the middle of the front a scarf-like piece of silk.match ing the cloth in tone, orossed over the bust, disappeared under the arms, and reappeared in the baok lite a sasb, bnt almost between the shoulders, where it was tied in a large bow, and the ends were finished by a heavy fringe of iridescent beads, which also were largely used on the high pleated shoulders. . Style Versus Comfort Again. I hear that the Parisian modistes are doing tbeir best to restore heavily-trimmed and draped skirts; bnt womeo, having felt the luxury of moving without fear of catching some portion of their be-furbelowed petti coats on an out-standing chair or a con-venientlv-placed nail, will be a little diffi cult to move in the contrary direction. Trianon paqiers are having a great "go," but they are only suitable for slender girls, who can wear daintily colored Dresden china looking silks. A Sword for a Lace-Pin. I saw a novel lace pin the other day at a fashionable jeweler's. It was a golden sword about four inches long, the hilt being cross-shaped, with pearls at the end of each arm, the sword itself fitted into a beautifully enamelled sbeatb, so that when the sharply pointed portion of the gilded weapon was thrust through the lace and again into the scabbard it looked as if the whole sword had been stuck through the fabric. Bettiha, 1 A FAVORITE FOR SPRING, The Virtues of Asparagus Salt in the Soli Produces the Best Res nits Its Medi cinal Qualities The French Method or Cooking the Best. IWBITTEK F03 THE EI8FATCII. Asparagus, the most tempting of early vegetables, delicate in flavor and rich in medicinal virtues, comes to us in the open ing spring time, the young shoots protrud ing their purple or green heads above .ground, ready for the knife, whil e peas are still growing or maturing. Asparagns is not regarded .as ranch of a nntrient, but it is wholesome, and its diu retic qualities have brought it to the favor able notice of physicians, who in certain conditions recommend its free use. Salt is an important factor in raising asparagus, and to this stimulating agent may be at tributed its mammoth growth on the sea shore of Northern Spain, and on Coney Island, near New York, the soil of these localities absorbing salt freely from the sea. The asparagns grown on Coney Island is re markable for its size, some of the spears measuring an inch in diameter, and it does not lose any quality by reason of its growth, for these spears are so crisp and tender that although often a foot in length they are edible. The flavor of the kind grown' on the isl and is unusually fine and delicate, and it is not surprising that epicures are lured thither, in proper season, to indulge in this luxury. The London market gardeners have brought asparagus 'to a higher state of per fection than it has yet been brought to in this country. - We are told by reliable authorities that three heads of the London plant will oKen weigh a pound. Asparagus, when properly cooked, is'one of the daintiest of dishes. The French method of cooking it will at once commend itself, from the tact that the entire spear, instead of the head alone, is rendered edible. The formula is as follows: Take asparagus of the stouter sort, cut off exactly even lengths, and boll, standing ends upward in a deep stewpan. Leave about two Inches of the heaas ont ot the water, which the steam will cook. They form the tenderest part of the plant, whilo tho hard, stalky part becomes soft and juicy by tho longer boiling which this clan permits. Boil SO or 10 minutes, and tlie stalk will be dsllclonsly tender. The asparagns thus cooked may be served on toast with cream dressing, or it may be pre pared as a salad when cold. EmcB Bebejta, , PITTSBURG- DISPATCH, FUN FOR THE YOUNG. Mrs. John Sherwood Tells How Entertain Little Folks. to THE BOY MOST HAVE HIS NOISE. Too Many Gifts Deprive Children of the Pleasures of Hope. ISSTETJCT105 BI MEANS OF GAMES 1WBITTXN XOBTHH SISPJLTCB.J In the life of Mme. Snetchine we read the following account of the amusements of a clever ohild: "The occupation of a courtier did not prevent Hons. Soysnonof from bestowing the most assiduous care on the education of a daughter, who for six years was his only child. He was strnck by the progress of her young intellect. She showed an apti tude for languages, music and drawing while she developed firmness of character, a rare quality in a child. "She desired a watch with an ardor which transpired in all her movements. Her father had promised her one. The watch came and was worn with the keenest enjoyment, bnt suddenly a new thought seized upon the little Sophia. She reflected that there was something better than a watch. To relin quish it of her own accord she hurried to her father and restored to him the object of her passionate desires, acknowledging the motive. Her father looked at her, took the watch, shut it up in a bureau drawer and sajd no more about it. A Fear She Tried to Conquer. "M. Soymonof's rooms were adorned with bronzes, medals and costly marbles. Sophia was on terms of intimacy with these person ages of fable and history, but she felt an un conquerable repugnance to a cabinet full of mummies. The poor ohlld blushed for her weakness and one day when alone opened the terrible door, ran straight to the nearest mummy, took it up and embraced it till her strength and courage gave away and she fell down in a swoon. At the noise of her fall her father hastened in, raised her in his arms and obtained from her, not withont difficulty, an avowal of the terrors which she had hitherto concealed from him. But this supreme effort was as good for her as a victory. From that day the mammies were to heronly common objects of interest and curiosity. "Studious as was her education, M. Soy monof did not banish dolls. His daughter loved them as friends and preserved this taste beyond her childish years, but ele vated It by the admixture of an intellectual and often dramatic interest. Her dolls were generally of the largest size. She gave them each a name and part to act, es tablished connected relations between the different individnals and keot up animated dialogues which occupied her imagination vividly and became a means of edncation. Playing'dolIswas for her an introduction to ethics and a knowledge of the world. Looking Back From Sixty Tears. "Catherine's court was a succession of continual fetes. The fairy pantomimes per formed at the Hermitage were the first to strike the imagination of the child who, as yet, could not relish the tragedies of Vol taire. She composed a ballet which she called 'The Faithful Bhepherdess and the Pickle Shepherdess.' She writes in her 60th years 'One of the liveliest pleasures of my childhood was to compose festive decora tions which I loved to light up and arrange upon the white marble chimney piece of my schoolroom. The ardor which I threw into designing, cutting out and painting trans parencies and finding emblems and mottoes for them was something incredible. My heart beat high while the preparations were in progress, but the moment my illumina tion began to fade, an ineffable devouring melancholy seized me.' " This extract is invaluable not only for its historic importance, bnt for the keynote which it sonnds to a child's nature. The noble little Kusslan cirl at the court of Catherine of .Russia only found those pleas ures lasting which came from herself and when she could invest the fairy pantomime with her own personality. A Guiding Intellect Needed. A fairy pantomime is possible to the poorest child if some supreme intelligence, an older sister or aunt, will lend her help. The fairies can all be of pasteboard with strings as the motive power. There can be no cheaper "corps de ballet" nor any so amusing. And the story of the watch is significant as showing that the wish once gratified ceased to be a wish. She desired with a child's caprice to give it back to do something else with it, "You have done much for your child," we often hear. "You have had a nurse, a nursery governess, a fine pony for your boy, you take your children often to the play and give them dancing parties, and yet they are not happy." This is the sincere regret of many a mamma that she cannot make her children hapoy. Yet in a large town in a house shut up from our cold winter blasts what can she do? A good dog and a kind-hearted set of servants will solve the problem better than 11 the intellect in the world. Grandmamma brings a doll to the little girl, who looks it over and says : "The dolly cannot be un dressed; I do not want it." It is the dress ing and the undressing which are the de lights of ber heart. Let Nature Have Its Way. A boy wants to make a noise first of all things. Let him have a large upper or lower room, a drum, a tambourine, n ball, and there he should be allowed to kick out the eflervesence of early manhood. Do not fol low him with all manner of prohibitions. Constant nagging and faultfinding is an of fense against a child's paradise. Put him in a room for certain hours of the day where no one need say: "Get down, don't do that, don't make so much noise." Let him roar and shout and climb over chairs and tables, and tear his gown, and work off his exuber ance, and then he will be very glad to have his hands and lace washed and listen to a story, or come down to meet papa with a smiling countenance. Children shonld be allowed to have pet birds and kittens and dogs, as much live stock as the bonse will hold; it develops their sympathies. And when a bird dies, and the floodgates of the poor little heart are opened sympathize with him. It is cruel to laugh at childish woe. Never refuse a child sympathy, in joy orsorrow. ThisJack of sympathy has made more criminals than anything else. Bad Influence of Good Books. Children should never be cheated either in the taking of medicine or the administra tion of knowledge. One witty writer a ier years ago' spoke of the bad influence of good books. He declared that reading "that Tommy was a good boy and kept his pina fore clean and rose to affluence while Harry flung stones and told fibs and was carried off by robbers" developed his sympathies for Harry, and that although he was naturally a good boy he went for pure hatred of the virtuous Tommy to the river's brim and helped a bad boy to drown his aunt's cat, and then he went home and wrote a prize composition called "Prank the Priendless, or Honesty is Best." All this was because the boy saw that Tommy was a prig; that his virtue was of that kind mentioned in "Jane Eyre" in which the charity child was asked which she would rather do, learn a hymn or re-. ceive a cake, and she said, "learn a hymn," whereupon she received "two cakes as a re ward for her infant piety." Children can not be humbugged; they can be made into hypocrites, however, by too many good books. Playing at Being TJsefaL- The best entertainment for children Is to let them play nt being nseful. Let the little girl yet papa's slippers, brush his hat, even if the wrong way, find his walking stick, hold the yarn for grandma's knitting or roek her brother's cradle and she will be happy. Give the boy a printing press or tone safe tools, lej hipj make a garden, feed I; SUNDAY, APRIL 12,1891. his chickens or clean out the cage of his pet robin and he will be happy. And try to make tnem think and decide for themselves. A little girl says: "I don't know which dress to put on my dolly, mamma; which shall I?" The mamma will be wise if she says: "You must decide; rnn know dolly best." ' When a child is ill or nervous then the great hour of despair comes to the mamma. A person without nerves, generally a good colored mamma, is the best" playmate, and a dog is invaluable. It is touching td see the smile come to the poor bloodless lips in a hospital ward as a great big kindly dog puts his cold nose out to reach a little feverish hand. There is a sympathy in nature which intellect loses. Mme unetchine's fear of the mummies has another lesson in it. Chil dren are born with pet aversions as well as with that terrible passion of fear which is so much bigger than they are. And the first of their rights to be respected is that they shall not be frightened and shall not be too seriously blamed for their aversions. Teaching and Entertaining. While it is not well to starve a child over too good books, much entertainment can be derived from scientific teaching. The prestidigitateur, dear old Signor Blitz, who used to make a rabbit jump out of an orange and a big gobbler go up through the celling, was the first of these, even if he did not do anything more than to tell us how easily onr senses could be deceived. Perhaps there is no better way of enter taining children than by a pnzzle, themagio lantern and other well-known scientific ex periments. We use the term advisedly. Jugglery was the oldest of the sciences. Aaron and Moses tried it. One of the most valuable solaces for an invalid child, we will say with a broken leg or some com plaint which necessitates bed and quiet, is an experiment in natural magic. One ot these simple tricks is called "The Balanced Coin." Procure a bottle, cork it, and in the cork place a needle. Take an other cork and cut a slit in it so that the edge of a dollar bill will fit into it; then pat two forks into the upper cork. Plaoe the edge of the coin (which holds the upper cork and forks) on the point of the needle and it will revolve without falling. This will amuse an imprisoned boy all the after noon. Some Amusing Little Tricks. S The revolving image is another most amusing gentleman. Let poor Harry make this himself. Cut a little man out of a thin bit of wood, only he must end in one leg like a peg-top instead of in two. Give him a pair of long arms shaped like oars. Then place him on the tip of your finger and blow; he will stand there and rotate like an undecided politician. The Spanish dancer is another nice experiment. Cut a figure out of pasteboard and gum one foot on a watch glass on the inverted side, then place the watch glass on a Japan waiter or a clean plate; bold the plate slanting and they will slide down, but drop a little water on the waiter or plate and instead of the watch glass sliding it will begin to revolve, and continue to revolve with increased ve locity as the experimentalist chooses. This is because in consequence of the cohesion of water to tho two surfaces a new force is in troduced. These experiments are endless, and will serve a variety of purposes, the principal being that of entertaining. To take chil dren to the pantomime at Christmas is the universal law in England. We have not the pantomime here very much. We have the circus, the menagerie and the play, rar ents who do not object to this very healthy amusement can now, find matinees every where, so that the children need not be kept up late. The real play is better for children than the burlesque, and it is aston ishing bow soon a child can understand even "Hamlet," Don't Make Them Old Too Soon. When boys and girls get old enough for dancing parties nothing can be more amus ing than the sight of the yonthful follower of terpsichore. It isa healthy amusement, and if kept within proper hours and with a light supper is the most fitting of all chil dren's amusements. Do not, however, make men and women of them too soon. That is lamentable. , As for ruses and catch games like the slave despoiled, the pigeon flies, the sorcerer behind the screen, the knight of the whistle, the witch, the Tombola, one should buy one of the oheap manuals of games found at any bookstore, and a olever boy should read it up and put himself in touch with this very easy way of passing an evening. The games requiring wit and intelligence are many, as the bonquet; the fool's dis course, which has a resemblance to cross qnestions; the secretary, the culprit's seat. All these need a good memory and a ready wit. All mistakes to be redeemed by for feit. Two Entertaining Games. Of the games to be played by pencil and fiaper none is funnier than the Narrative, n whioh the leader decides on the title and gives it out to the company. It may be called "The Fortunate and Unfortunate Adventures of Miss Palmer." The words to be used may be history, reading, railway, accident, nourishment, pleasures, four-in-hand, etc. The paper has a line written and folded; is handed thus to the next, each writer giving Miss Palmer whatever adven ture he pleases, only bringing in the desired word. The result is incoherent, but amus ing, and Miss Palmer becomes a heroine of romance. There are some children, as there are some grown people, who have a natural talent for games. This is a great help in entertaining children, to get hold of a born leader. The game called "The Language of Animals" is one for philosophers. Each player takes his pencil and paper and describes the feel ings, emotions and passions of an animal; as. for instance, the dog would say: "I feel anger like a human being; I am sometimes vindictive but generally forgiving. I suffer terribly from jealousy. My envy leads me to eat more than I want because I do not wish Tray to get it. Gluttony is my easily besetting sin, but I never got drunk" in my life. I love my master better than anyone, and if he dies I mourn him to death. My worst sorrow is being lost, but my delights are never chilled by expectation, so I never lose the edge of enjoyments by over-raised hopes. I want to run 20 miles a day, but I like to be with my master in the evening. I love children dearly and would die for any boy. I will save him from drowning. I cannot wag my tongue, but I can wag my tail to express my emotion." The Pleasures of Bope. Thus for children's entertaining we have the same necessities as for grown people. Someone must begin, someone must sug gest, someone must tell how. All society needs a leader. Perhaps for that reason our own grown up society is a little chaotic. Perhaps the story of Mme. Snetchine and her watch conveys a needed moral. Do not deluge children with costly gifts. Do not thus deprive them of the pleasures ot hope. Anticipation is the dearest part of a child's life and an overfed child suffering from the pangs oi dyspepsia is no more to be pitied than the poor little gorged over-burdened child who has more books than he can read and more toys than he can ever play with. Bemember, too, "Dr. Bllmber's Yonng Gen tlemen" and their longing jealousy of the boy in the gutter. M. X W. Sherwood. A VEST FOB SUMMEB. The Skeleton Garment That Promises to Be Popular Before Lone. The skeleton vest has a lull vest front and an open back, says the Mercer. The col lar and a piece of the shonlder top run all the way around, thus affording sufficient body for a. proper gf shoulder set. ' The vest A is then,fasftned around "5the waist by a belt, I-hese skeleton vests re made in two sizes. One size will fit a 32, 34, 86 or 38 bust, and the other wilt fit 40 to 46, The garment ttus beautifully, and fits the figure perieetlv. The saaln features are that it does awav with a .great deal of weight and useless material. f and makes a verx pool garment, itSl mSlsssflsl MAKING A PUECHASE. Howard Fielding Describes How a Woman Acts Out Shopping. KNOWS JUST WHAT SHE WAKTS. Though Limited in Money She Tries on the Host Costly Goods AHD TELLS liOW TO KUN THE STOEE rwWTTZU 70S THE DI3FATCH.1 The facts relating to Maude's purchase of a spring coat are of a very ordinary nature, and I should not publish them except for their important bearing upon the question whether intellectual faculties will ulti mately be developed in woman. They tend strongly to the support of my own theory which I will not state for fear of personal violence. That intellectual faculties have not been developed in all men is proven by the fact that I went with her. I should never have committed this indiscretion if she had not assured me that she knew exactly what she wanted. I did not ask her what it was, but simply remarked that there were $25 between us and destitution. Her well-considered and definite desire in regard to a coat took shape aj follows in the presence of the first salesgirl whom we met in Gadsby & Co.'s emporium. Profuse In Her Explanations. "I want one of those tan-colored Louis XT. hip seam paletots, if they really are the .very latest thing; or a shoulder cape with a Medici collar; what do you think? But then of course you'd say so anyway. Per- Maud Delects a Few wAnkles. haps,. after all, I'd better get an appllqued reefer, something not quite so high in the shoulder as the one that woman over there is trying on. I don't want to look as if had wings, and my husband doesn't like the shoulder puffs. There, do sit down, Howdy, if you're tired. On the whole, perhaps a plain reefer blue, with pearl buttons per fectly plain, you know they look well on a good figure, and perhaps I'd better try on a few. "Oh, whatre.those new things? I can't remember the name, but I saw a picture in the Sunday paper. It looked like fury, but I should think it might be real stylish. Now, plesse get it, right away, for my husband Is in a hurry and so am I. Ob, wait; I forgot to sav that I conldn't afford to pay over $25, but I'd like to try on some for about $50, just to see how they look." The Salesgirl Was Used to It The salesgirl did not appear to regard this request as unusual. In fact, I strongly suspected that she didn't pay any attention to what Maude was saying. ,She brought half a dozen different styles, diverging in as many different ways from the design of na ture. Maude tried them on, one after the other, and scowled at her image iathe mir ror not without cause. "Oh, dear," she said, "it's so hard for a woman with a really good figure to get fitted." Some scores of women, passing by while she was about it, regarded her contempt uously, and she looked at them as if they were "the dregs of society. They were all secretly pleased to observe that one another's skirts didn't hang as they onght, and the scowls which they interchanged were only the veneer of modern civilization to cover smiles.which would have been much more offensive. "Isn't she horrid," said Maude to me, meaning the salesgirl. "She's brought me everything but what I asked for." "Remarkable," said I, grimly, "I thought you asked for everything." A tbin and nervous little cash-girl snick ered audibly, and Maude looked at her with fearsome severity. "I reported a cash-girl at Brownley's the other day," said Maude, "and she lost her place." 11 o Set a Bad Precedent. I am gratified to state that this unpleas ant event was wholly imaginary but the cash-girl didn't know it and she began to cry. Feeling that, after all, I wis the cause of her woes I surreptitiously ntt her They Were Crying for Cash. a couple of dimes. She dried her eyes, and went to work piling some cloaks upon a chair. They were heavy goods which were to be removed to a remote corner of the es tablishment, there to remain in hiding until fall, when they will reappear as the latest importation. "That c5at fits you just lovely in the back," the. salesgirl was saying, while Maude was performing feats of contortion in a vain attempt to see all sides of herself at once. "It doesn't fit me at all," said Mande. "If you know it doesn't fit, why don't you take it off aud try something else?" I ven tured to inquire. "Well, I've got it on now, and I might as well see the back of it Then I can show that girl that she doesn't know what she's talking about" ."Why do you wish to make her life any worse than it is already. Have some com passion " "Come now, Howdy, don't talk philan thropy to me. Didn't I hear you say, the other day, that if vou caught your tailor out o sight of the police yon'd break every bone in bis body?" "Bnt tailors are men and responsible." "Here's the glass," said the salesgirl. "I told yon so," said' Maud, surveying Ji.t hank with tnelaneholr satisfaction. "Too bjg there, Jfnnriy yon oouldn't see (ti This Isn't the style I want, anyway. JJve decided to have one of those military jack ets with braid on them. Don't you think they're nice, Howdy?" "The colored boy who rnns our elevator wears one," said I, "and it's very becoming to him." "If you don't like them why don't you say so. Of course I'll have to get some thing else. What is that -oat on the bench?" She Liked the Price or It "That will cost (87," said the salesgirl. "Oh, goodness me, let me try it on " "My dear," said I, "remember our un fortunate financial " "But I don't have to buy It, you goose," said Maud; "I just want to see how I look in it What are all those cash girls staring at me for?" Half a dozen of them stood in a line look ing at Maude and me, and when she spoke they all burst into tears. It made me feel quite nervous to see them so painfully af fected by my wife's seventy, and I tried to console them. With the aid of about a dol lar in small change I persnaded them to be 'comforted and go away. In a few minutes thirteen more cash girls arrived and formed in line. Tbey appeared to be waiting for a chance to weep. I then perceived that it was a scheme of robbery. The first little girl had told the others, and they were all eager to impose upon my stupidity. Mean while, crys of "ca-a-a-sh" were resounding through the room. "Go away, little girls," said I, "the game is up" and they scattered, laughing. The Original Coat TVas Missing. Maude was picking flaws in the $87 jackets. Finally she took it off, and said that if tbey couldn't do better for $87 she should go to Brownley's. Then it was dis covered that the coat Maude had worn when she came in was not to be found. The scene which followed was very trying to my nerves. Maude sent saleswomen and cash-girls flying hither and thither. Then she summoned the floor walker and gave him some valuable hints about the man agement of a large drygoods store, and also inquired kindly abont his eyesight He re plied that it was good, and she said she was glad to hear it; she had supposed that he must be blind to let somebody walk off with somebody else's coat right under his nose. This spectacle in the midst of the general confusion so interested ono of the sales girls that she shut a large drawer and forgot to take her thumb out of it Whereupon she promptly fainted away, while all the cash girls gathered around her.and had hysterics. A member of the firm arrived at this juncture and remarked that he didn't see what he could do about it. Maude told him how he onght to run bis business, but I didn't notice that he instituted any immedi ate reforms. However, when one of the cash girls found Maude's coat among the goods which I had seen piled upon the chair, the member of the firm observed that if it hadn't been found he should have given Maude a new one. Relations With the Firm Strained. Maude was unkind enough to say that this statement would havebeen worth more before the coat came to light. I could not help feeling that our relations with Gadsby & Co. had been strained. We went np to Brownley's, and I had almost as much fun as I had had at Gadsby's. Bat Maude didn't find anything that suited ber. "I believe after M that that first coat I tried on at Gadsby's was the best of all," she said. "It didn't fit very well, but tbey can make it over. We must hnrry right back there, because I noticed that they had only one of the 33-inch size. I drew the line at Gadsby. No power on earth could have taken me back there. I protested that we had made a menagerie of ourselves, and should be ashamed to revisit mtmRnk TO $JJ if. Bht Lectures on the Business. the scene of our disgrace; but Maude only laughed and declared that It was nothing at all." "Every woman acts that way when she's shopping," said she. Nevertheless, I did not go back to Gadsby's. Three hours later we met again in the privacy of onr flat. "Well," said Maude, "I've bought the coat." "Same one vou tried on first?" "Oh, no, that kind is all out of style. "Goodness; so soon ?" Took A Woman Alone; This Time. "Of course I don't' mean that its gone out since we were there, but on mv way back I met Mrs. Jigsly, and she told me so. She went down to Gadsby's with me. She didn't want to buy a coat, but she tried a few en. I got one that you won't like, but IJikeit" She said this with that peculiar manner which a woman always wears when she is hardening her own opinion against criti cism. By and by the coat came, and she tried it on, I thought it was very pretty, bnt she wouldn't' believe it. She said that I hated it and that I had no taste. After a while I persuaded her of my sincerity, and then she began to disapprove of the coat In half an hour she had persuaded herself that she didn't like the coat She had bought it onlr because she thought it would please me. There was only one way. to effect a reconciliation between Maude and her purchase, namely, to criticize it vio lently and make her take its part The scheme worked, and in 15 minutes she was ready to make an affidavit that it was the lovliest and most becoming coat this side of Paris. But, a few days later, I came home and found her in tears; see bad seen something that she liked better in another store. Howard Fielduto. STOCK ENTIRELY IE. FINE WALL PAPER! AT ALL PKICES. WM TRIIMKLE 541 WOOD ST. 541 Bank of Commerce Hitilditig. DEALERS IN " LINCRUSTA WALTON." SOURCES OF POWER. Knerjry Enough Going to Waste t Do the Work ot the World. HARNESSING THE WATER FALL& Ey lleans of Electricity Steam Engine! Hay Be Made Useless. New applicatioss op the cukeesi irainxxD ros xira DisrATcn.t Madison Buell, in a paper on the electrical utilization ot water power, states that the energy of the tidal wave, the rapid river and mighty cataracts formed into electrio energy is a branch of electrical science that is going to revolutionize the industries of the world. When it is borne in mind that over 21,000,000 cubic feet of wa ter pass over the lip of Niagara every minute, while ths flowing of nine rivers that empty into ths Pacific, represent 900,000,000 hrs&-power every time it descends one foot, some idea of the almost illimitable possibilities of ths fnture in this direction may; be formed. Ths steam engines of the United States represent 7,500,000 horse-power; England, 7,000,000; Germany, 4,500,000; Prance, 3,000,000, and Austro-Hungary, 1,500,000. These figure do not Include the 3.000.000 horse-power ot 105.0CO locomotives. When this power is added to the other,It will be found that the horse power of the engines on this globe amounts to 46.C00.C00. These engines do tne work of 1,000, 000,000 men, or twice the working population of earth. It is the province of water utilized electrically to supplement and replace these engines, and Mr. Bdell shows in a most Interesting manner how the work is progressing. Neither climate nor altitude seems to hinder tbls utilization, and one of the most successful of recently in stalled electrical plants is far up In the Alps. The melting snow gives a never failing stream of water, which revolves a series of tnrbine wheels. These, in turn, whirl the dynamo armatnre. andjis electrical energy la conveyed miles away over a copper thread to a motor ot a woolen manufactory of over 30.000 spindles. Another large plant ii being Installed a:Rhein felder, on the Rhine, consisting of 0 turbine wheels coupled direct to dynamos of 500,000 watts. From these electrical energy will be transmitted to various indnstrial centers within a radius of 15 miles. The town ot Oilman, 2,000 feet above Ked Cliff, in the very heart of Eagle River Canyon, and 11,000 feet above the sea level. Is a moun tain stream called Kail river, which rises in the Mountain of the Holy Cross. The water from this river, which enters the Eagle river at the bottom of the canyon, is brouzht by pipe line into the mines. The fall is equal to GOO' feet perpendicular, and its energy drives thai dynamos, which generate current for supply-, ing the richest mines of gold and silver la Colorado. The water power at Eault Ste. ' Marie Is estimated at 2ot5,000 horse power. A tail race five miles long on the Canadian side and a canal Qve miles long on the Amerlcna side are to be constructed. The canals will be each 1,000 feet wide, the widest in the world. Blast furnaces, shipyards, paper mills, pulp mills and other industries will all be furnisbsd. In speaking on the subject ot tidal power Mr. Bnell said he saw no good reason wny. that of the East river between Xew York and Brook lyn shonld not be utilized for the two cities. Some New Applications. A serviceable fire alarm has been patented which consists of a small machine, fastened to the ceiling of any room. The alarm is Instantly started by the heightened temperature in the room. The nse ot automatic sprinklers in con. jnuction with such devices as this will tend to greatly reduce the dangers of incipient Cres. At Lawrenceburg.Ind.. a novel use has been made of electricity in winding: wires around a pretty woman, who represented the Goddess of Liberty, and in thus lizbttng np a number of incandescent lamps disposed about her. The use of electricity in this way is becoming very, popular, and in franco, thanks to the inventor. Trouve,bas been developed into a new theatrical art. The exceptional capabilities of electricity iq! hoisting can be understood from the fact that, in recently unloading a vessel of iron ore. a load of 3,000 pounds was raised vertically firs feet per second, and swung across a bridge 30 feet high and 2GU feet long in the space of 10 seconds. The operator was able to stop the. car, hold the bncket and dump the load at any i desired point. The electric light has valuable properties other than giving the best artificial light, la being able to cause an immediate alarm in case of fire. An instance of this was seen on the, occasion of the fire which occurred In Pall j Mall East, London. In consequence of the lire having fused the wires, the light in the rooms of those having cbargo ot the premises I suddenly went out, thus causing a alarm to be' given. The incandescent light has been tnmed to a very neat and highly convenient nse in Lon-' don. A "silent call" has been attached to any building for the pnrposa of calling a vehicle. Two lamps are suspended outside, one red and the other ereen, and, by pressing a bntton in the entrance ball, ono or other ot the lamps can be lit at will. The red light brings to tho door the conservative "growler," and the green light summons a hansouu One of the most striking electrical effects IS where a lamp floating in a glass vessel fnll of water, and without any wires or connections whatever, is made to light up. The effect 13 most mysterious and bewildering. Those also who are in the secret know that this result is obtained throngh an Ingenious use of the alternating current. In tne same way and by the same means discs may be kept wildly rotat ing and objects may be kept floating in mid-air without any means of suspension or support. At the recent annual meeting of the Ameri can Bell Telephone Company in Boston, the re ports showed gross earnings of nearly H,50O,0CO and net earnings of nearly 3,000,000 on a capital stock of $12,500,000. Dividends of over iCOO. 000 were paid ont and there is a teinotlng re serve of over $2,000,000 more. The first patent on the telephone dues not rnn ont until 1833, and others that are important will control fart of the mechanism two or three year onger. Salaries of from S150 to 200 a month are paid to railroad eflgineers. Telegraph opera tors receive from $25 to 550 a month, and the operators on some roads are said to be nearly all boys, who receive on an average not more than $25 per month. When it is consid ered that In many cases a boy of IS or IS years of age, possibl7 with little experience and un impressed by the magnitude of bis responsible lty, holds In bis hands every day and night thi lives of tbonsands of human beings, it will ba seen that prompt and effective legislative ao! tion should be taken to correct the evil. In Berlin the most popular conundrum Is: "What is the difference between God Al mighty and the Emperor? Is there anyf The answer runs: "God knows everything: the Em peror also only much Detterf" & CO., sn4 iM&mi M-iri-lrTiV '" aa!stiiaMtArifoaml fi&tisi HfBP'syhX'ffsaSi ajfrsitiaVii i ,te-;,y
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers