A PRETTY NEW-YEAR’S CUSTOM.

bobbing m and out street-cars; or if papa can spare the coachman a
few minutes, before he himself starts out to make calls, the carriage
door flies open at some little girl’s house, and out hops Dorothy,
Rachel and Rose, perhaps with powder on their yellow hair, and tiny
black “patches” on their velvet cheeks and chins, just like great-
grandmother’s portrait! And exactly what is in that bag they carry,
nobody knows! :

A half-hour later, with much giggling, winking, blinking, curtsey-
ing and bowing, the “ receiving
ladies” hasten, pell-mell, into the
cosey library, or  sitting-room,
given especially to them by mama
for their New-Year’s callers.

Just as mysteriously, the little
men of the city, the country, the
village, from the Riggs Hotel, the
Shoreham, or Willard’s, step into
the cable cars, or mama’s carriage,
or walk, dressed in their “ Sunday-
est” clothes, with canes and silk
hats, kid gloves, and a “ beauty
flower” which their mamas have
pinned in their button-holes, and
all with engraved or written cards eet ene ‘

LET’S SEE HOW YOU LOOK WITH YOUR
tucked away in their little side * mar on 1”
pockets or card cases.

It is quite the fashion for the dozen or more little girls who “ re-
ceive” together, to bring their best dollies in their best clothes to sit
on the sofas and divans. The dolls are introduced, and luncheon is
served to them.

Often the “receiving parties” are to be seen chasing one another
out on the lawns, like butterflies in the sun, with shouts, gay laughter,
a wondrous holding up of trains and a very distracting dropping of
hairpins. For, after all, the pretty custom is only a frolic! and the.
wonderful “ladies and gentleman of fashion” are but happy, merry