Page:A hairdresser's experience in high life.djvu/110

112 of Philadelphia, all of one family. These were all beautiful and very elegant in every respect. Though the ladies did not associate with them much, they were great belles with the gentlemen; they did not care much for the ladies' society, as they knew they were on the strong side. Three of those ladies were married, one was a widow, and the other a young lady.

The widow was a tall, elegant looking lady, with a pure white skin, which was very much envied. She always dressed in the most elegant black silk and pearls, or black velvet and diamonds, while the young lady dressed in white silk, sleeves looped up like a child's, and a sash round her waist. The three married ladies were a good deal talked about. I do not believe there was any foundation for such talk. Like all pretty women, they liked their admirers.

Many of the ladies came together and declared they would not come another season if that family were permitted to be there. The proprietor very readily complied with the wishes of the mass of boarders, and told the ladies they could not be accommodated there another season. They did not return for a season or two, with the exception of the widow. She had always held herself above reproach. She always came there, and at length gained an entree again for them. At this time the widow is reigning at the head of society in the South, while the others are reigning the same in New York, and are married in the highest families. North and South, many who used to think them not good enough to sit at table with, now bend low to them this season. There were many belles there. One in particular was very gay and a great dasher. There was much talk about her, but no