Anyone who likes to sit on the bank and watch the tides of fashion rise and fall, cannot fail to notice that big and lavish entertainments are dwindling, and small and informal ones increasing.  It is equally apparent, contrary to popular opinion, that extravagance of expenditure is growing less and less.  It is years since any one has given such a ball, for instance, as the Venetian fete the Gildings gave to bring out their eldest daughter, when the entire first floor of the Fitz-Cherry was turned into a replica of Venice—­canals, gondolas, and all.  Or the Persian ball of the Vanstyles where the whole house was hung, as a background for Oriental costumes, with copper-gold draperies, against which stood at intervals Maxfield Parrish cypress trees.  Or the moonlight dance of the Worldlys which was not a fancy dress one, but for which the ballroom was turned into a garden scene, lighted by simulated moonlight that would have added to the renown of Belasco.

Such entertainments as these seem almost “out of key” with the attitude of to-day.  For although fancy-dress and elaborate parties are occasionally given, they are not usually given for debutantes, nor on the scale of those mentioned above.

=THE DEBUTANTE’S DRESS=

At a ball, the debutante wears her very prettiest ball dress.  Old-fashioned sentiment prefers that it be white, and of some diaphanous material, such as net or gauze or lace.  It ought not to look overelaborate, even though it is spangled with silver or crystal or is made of sheer lace.  It should suggest something light and airy and gay and, above all, young.  For a young girl to whom white is unbecoming, a color is perfectly suitable as long as it is a pale shade.  She should not wear strong colors such as red, or Yale blue, and on no account black!  Her mother, of course, wears as handsome a ball dress as possible, and “all her jewels.”

At an afternoon tea the debutante wears an evening dress—­a very simple evening dress, but an evening dress all the same.  Usually a very pale color, and quite untrimmed, such as she might wear at home for dinner.  Her mother wears an afternoon dress, not an evening one.  Both mother and daughter wear long gloves, and neither they, nor the young girls receiving, wear hats.

To describe the details of clothes is futile.  Almost before this page comes from the printer, the trend may quite likely change.  But the tendency of the moment is toward greater simplicity—­in effect at all events.

=IN CONFIDENCE TO A DEBUTANTE=

Let us pretend a worldly old godmother is speaking, and let us suppose that you are a young girl on the evening of your coming-out ball.  You are excited, of course you are!  It is your evening, and you are a sort of little princess!  There is music, and there are lights, and there are flowers everywhere—­a great ballroom massed with them, tables heaped with bouquets—­all for you!  You have on an especially beautiful dress—­one that was