The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-12-25 00:00:00

*

kr is "the correct thing" in France this season for
Ladies who visit from chateau to chateau to wear a
riding habit matching the colour of her host's liveries.
This involves the possession of a great variety of
habits, and a proportionate quantity of luggage. One
habit may be green, another brown, a third gray, and
so on through a long list of the friends with whom
the fair equestrian is to stay. The less ambitious con-
tent themselves with the habit of black cloth or very
dark blue. Some of the French ladies who shoot wear
costumes that profoundly impress those rustics who
are accidentally favoured with a sight of them in
wood or field. A pair of cloth trousers are sur-
mounted by a quite short skirt which reaches scarcely
to the knees. A jacket made rather loose is worn
over this, opening in front to show a waistcoat, with
man's collar and tie. The masculine character of the
latter is frequently varied by the introduction ot a
lace cravat, coquettishly tied. A felt hat, placed at an
angle upon a much be-curled and be-frizzled coiffure,
finishes off this costume de chassercese at one end,
while a miniature pair of Wellingtons complete it at
the other.

THE Paris milliner whose "customers are canine has
been busy in their interests. The latest garment that
she has devised for little pet dogs is a waterproof.
One morning, hearing one of her clients, a slender
Italian greyhound, cough distressingly, her heart was
smitten with compassion. On inquiry she learned
that the animal had been caught in a shower on the
previous day and had come home wet through, daspite
his decorative coat of- scarlet cloth embroidered
with his owner's monogram in scarlet, blue,
and gold. From the depth of her pity sprang
the germ of the idea of the dog's waterproof. This
consists of a small india-rubber paletot, with cape and
hood, made upon the model of the semi-monastic and
semi-Britannic garment which is worn by the most
golden of the gilded youth orParis upon the boulevards.
It is a fact that this milliner for dogs is making
quite a fortune, rather a difficult circumstance for the
English mind to comprehend. It has been suggested
that she should charter half a dozen sandwich dogs,
who should be furnished with miniature boards on
which the new fashion in canine overcoats should be
attractively announced. This would be a new depar-
ture in advertising, and would remind some English
readers of the wretched poodle who, some years ago,
perambulated the streets of London holding a small
open sunshade in his teeth. On the whole, the year
1880 has been a very uncomfortable one for English
dogs. They will not be sorry to see the old ye%r die.
And yet it may be questioned if the new waterproof
is calculated to add any charm to the Paris dog's
existence.

Tliu man that bath no music in his sole, remarks the
leader of an orchestra, does not annoy the audience
when he conies in late.

• - -
I REGARD the use of beer as the title temperance
principle. When I work all day and am exhausted,
nothing helps me like glass of beer. It assists
nature, you understand, said Remson to Benson.— It
makes :a fool of me, Benson replied—Just so, ex-
claimed Benison. That's what I say: it assists
nature.
ANXIOUS Mother: It was after eight o'clock when
Clara came clown to breakfast this morning, and the
poor girl didn't look well at all. Her system needs
toning up. What do you think of iron?—Father:
Good idea.—Mother: What kind of iron had she
better take?—Father: She had better take a flat
iron.
OrruniNG IN PIECES.—Mother: I am afraid Mr.
-Crisscross is not ser'ous in his intentions. —Daughter:
He is awfully bashful, you know-; but he is offering
himself piecemeal. Last night he wanted me to take
his arm.
Tommy, said a fond father to his little boy, who had
received a linen-Jnounted book of pictures as a
present, what are you crying for ?—Because I can't
tear my picture-book, papa, was the ingenuous reply.
A VENDOR of a universal medicine declares that, if
his prescription be followed literally, a cure is certain,
—This.medicine is to be taken internally, externally,- '
and eternally.
WHAT wilLdrive a man to drink quicker than idle'-•
.ness hulked a tem r ie tu er Of his audiencei---4
A Gum at school would like to have two birthdays
every year. When she grows up to be a woman she
often objects to having only one.