THE AMERICAN DEBUTANTE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume L, Issue 9002, 26 January 1906, Page 6

THE AMERICAN DEBUTANTE.

HOW SHE SPENDS HER FIRST SEASON.

In all the four quarters of the globe there is no girl whose prospects are rosier or mono promising than the Americatn debutante. She is about to take her first peep into a woman's paradise, with her chance of social success before her, or, what is more important still from the point of view of 'eighteen," the prospect of a thoroughly "good time." As a matter of fact, it is rather a short butterfly period to which she looks forward, but while it lasts it is as "fullflowered" and "full-fruited" as the most ambitious daughter of Eve could desire. Contrary to a general opinion in England, the American girl in the foremost rank of society does not a-3 a rule make her debut until she is eighteen or nine teen, and usually remains at school or college until then. Very often she is engaged in her first season— although in America, as in England, ( marriages are not- contracted so early as formerly — and if that is not the case she retires upon the shelf, as far as balls are concerned, when three or four seasons have elapsed. ! Her entry into her own world is made, however, with a blare of trumpets, and as much fuss and flutter as if she were a queen about to take .over her kingdom into her own hands. She expects far more than an English girl would expect under the circumstances, and her dress is a matter of thought and discussion for a long time. The American mother who is not blessed with a superabundance of this world's goods will make almost any sacrifice to secure her daughter a good outfit for the occasion, and, as an expedient, has even been known to employ her time for weeks ' together in making and selling quantities of jam and preserve, so that her debutante girl may have her full quotum of Paris frocks.

In addition lo her individual efforts, thegreater number of a girl's circle of friends usually make a point of entertaining' as well and for' the first few weeks of her emancipation her life is a perfect whirl of gaiety.

The simplest form of entertainment that can be given, in, the debutante's own home is a tea, and for this every one of her mother's visiting list has a card, the young daughter's own card being enclosed with the invitation. As much as £20 may be

spent on cards and stamps alone. In some instances, the debutante's mother joining one or, perhaps, two friends in giving the party. On the day itself a shower of flowers descends upon the happy little lady who is about to be initiated into the mysteries of society. A hundred pounds' worth of bouquets and posies is by no means un-

usual for a popular girl, and long boxes of

Beauty ros&s, great bunches of lilies of the valley' and orchids tied with streamres

of ribbon succeed eacn other in rapid sue-

cession,' till the room is a perfect bower of the choicest blooms heaped on the mantelpiece and tables. Sometimes other presents are received from the girl's friends, such as jewelled pins or trifles of the kind, but flowers represent j the debutante's perquisite, and the- more she receives the more delight she takes in her "first appearanno »

The hours are from four to seven, and the refreshments' include ice cream, punch tea, coffee, chocolate, cakes, sandwiches, etc., the-' mother receiving the guests, with her daughter beside. Iter, and other debntanito friends usually grouped round her as well, while, the compliment is often. paid of asking -some particular married or girl friend to assist in pouring out the tea and coffee. The. girls usually wear pretty white, {rocks, -while , the guests , appear in grande tenue for the occasion, all the women, of course, wearing hats except those who are receiving. , At the, smartest functions of this description no music or other distraction- is provided, while, as a rule the American girl gets her fill of dan:«s and entertainments afterwards. Dinners for young people— at which a girl's -mother would, perhaps receive her daughter's guests, and go away afber--wards — ore exceedingly "popular.

Girls' luncheons are another form of entertainment affected In America, the American girl being proverbially fonder of the society of her own sex than is her English cousin. • Then, again, "box parties" are made up for the theatre,- and- 'a merry round of "domino" and" cotillion balls takes place. A popular girl "will have as many as four or five partners. to one dance, while the pratt-y custom of sending bouquets of flowers to a girl before a ball is very much in favor, and a debutante often receives in her first season more boxes of candy than she can count. The amount of freedom' a girl enjoys in America differs a good deal according to the part of the country in which she lives. In New York she may drive about alone with a man without exciting any comment, but in Philadelphia such a proceeding would be in questionable taste. Sport~ by no means plays such a large part in her fife as it does in the life of the English girl, but for all that she is fond of golf and tennis, and in Philadelphia the hockey club for girls has proved to be a very popular "institution indeed. Her chances of travel are, besides,"better than most girls' in a corresponding position in other countries, and she learns to know her world very rapidly, and acqaiies in this way a breadth of view which stands in her good stead all her life. Altogether the American girl during her. last term at college may well dream dreams and 'build imaginary castles as -regards her fxiture. However prosaic "bar life may eventually become, she will have her tame' of rose-gathering finst. and ■when it is all over the retrospect will, be no bad consolation for the worries jih'd cares of existence.