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Chapter 3: New York society
It has been explained that the continued prosperity of
France under very varying forms of government is due to the fact that the municipal administration of the country is not affected by these changes, but continues much the same under king,
emperor, and republican president.
I find something analogous to this in the perseverance of certain underlying tendencies in society despite the continual variations which diversify the surface of the domain of Fashion.
The earliest social function which I remember is a ball given by my father and mother when I must have been about four years of age. Quite late in the evening, I was taken out of bed and arrayed in an embroidered cambric slip.
Some one tried to fasten a pink rosebud on the waist of my dress, but did not succeed to her mind.
I was brought into our drawing-rooms, which had undergone a surprising transformation.
The floors were bare, and from the ceiling of either room was suspended a circle of wax lights and artificial flowers.
The orchestra included a double bass