The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-01 00:00:00

FASHIONS FOR FEBRUARY.

Le .foliet tells the ladies that the continued inclemency
of the weather has caused the almost universal adoption
of velvets, cloth, velveteens, and fur. The thickest and
heaviest materials made are most eagerly sought after,
either for toilettes or their garniture. Applications for
velvets mixed with narrow soutaches are again
coming gradually into favour ; they will, be re-
served for trimmings to fabrics that are partly woollen.
Lace was never more lavishly used than at the present mo-
ment, on all the silken materials ; and Cluny is rapidly re-
gaining favour, especially for young ladies. The dentelles
riches, Brussels point, point d'Alencon, old English point,
Mechlin, &c.,•are reserved for married ladies. It is the
same with furs ; very young unmarried ladies should not
wear ermine or the most expensive species of sable.
Beaver is again introduced. As to colours, nothing very
new has made its appearance, the violet d'eveque is not
quite so much in favour as it was last month. The
different shades of rich browns and greys, and
the " bottle green," are more sought for now. Dresses
intended for in-door morning wear are cut in one to
fit the figure, with the exception of the two back breadths,
or one if the material is very wide. This is put on at
the waist with handsome box-plaits ; to hide the join, a
small barque or large bow is worn. The front breadths
are cut short enough to chew the feet, the back being
much trained. Out-of-door costumes are juat ram de
terre, or one or two inches from the ground ; they are
very much trimmed with ribbon or piece velvet and cross-
way bands. Bias folds of the same material as the dress,
piped with velvet of a darker shade, are much worn ; they
are sometimes cut in scallops. The bodices are always
made with barque ; the tunics are plain in front, with
little real or simulated tabliers, and festooned or left to
hang straight at the back. Quilted satin skirts, under
tunics of velvet or silk are very fashionable for in-door or
visiting toilettes. Train skirts are very long indeed at the
back, and just clear the ground in front. High bodies
are invariably made with basques, Points are very
fashionable for low bodies. Bonnets and hats vary but
slightly from those of last month. For the latter, feathers
are much worn as ever, either in little tufts or long
drooping plumes. The present favourite shape of bonnet
is too conveniently arranged for the hair to dread any
very formidable rivalry. Velvet or satin bonnets trimmed
with feathers and lace, are the most full dress. Our lead-
ing el3gantes are slightly discountenancing the fashion of
wearing the back hair very low on the neck.

Mr. Jabez Hogg has been appointed to the office
of surgeon to the Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospi'
tal, in succession to Mr. Hancock, Vice-President of the
Royal College of Surgeons.
It gives us much pleasure to announce that the
Duchess of Roxburghe, who broke her right arm and was
otherwise bruised by a fall while skating three weeks ago
is recovering most favourably.
At the Southwark police-court a young man
named William Goss was committed for trial for a criminal
outrage upon a girl of fifteen years of age, a nursemaid
at a coffee-house where the prisoner lodged.
ROBBERIES AT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE.--
Two Post-office prosecutions came before the Common
Serjeant at the Central Criminal Court. A letter-carrier
named Higman pleaded guilty to wilfully burning a num-
ber of letters entrusted to him for delivery, and was
sentenced to twelve months' hard labour. Thomas Merry,
aged fifteen, a boy sorter, pleaded guilty to stealing a
post packet, and it was stated that he had also stolen a
brooch from another packet on the same day, and a ring
on the previous day. He had also taken a Post-office
order from a letter, which he afterwards took to the person
to whom it was addressed, stating that he had found it in
the streets. He was sentenced to eighteen months' hard

labour,
THE COMMON SCHOOLS OF NEW YORK CITY.--""
The annual report of the Superintendent of Public Schools
in New York city to the Board of Education gives the
following statistics :—The number of schools is 273, at
which the average attendance for the year ending Deceity
ber 31, 1870, was 103,822, and the whole number taught
was 239,764. A. comparison with the statistics of 1860
shews that in that year the average attendance via°
67,505, and the whole number of pupils taught via°
168,605 ; so that in ten years, or in 1870, the increase jo
average attendance was 54 per cent., and the increase hl
the whole number taught was 42 per cent. Attention i°
called to this gratifying increase in school attendann°,
since in the same ten years the population has increased
from 813,669 to 926,341, or only about 14 per cent. The
average number of pupils on the school registers during
the year ending September 30, 1870, was 109,554 ;
whe
the average attendance during the same period was 92.33`';
or 82i per cent. The number of schools in New Vr.'
city is 273, of which 47 are boys' grammar schools,
able to accommodate 20,533 pupils; 42 girls' grarn3f
schools, able.to accommodate 18,034 pupils; 54 prinarYo
departments, able to accommodate 38,102 pupils ;
4
primary schools, with accommodations for 21,140 pupils;
and six coloured schools, with accommodations for I,°
pupils. These 189 common schools can, in the aggregate'
accommodate 99,437 pupils ; but the average attendance
is only 85,290, leaving vacancies for 14,147 childrenll
'
There are, in addition, 50 corporate schools, with
average attendance of 7,139 pupils ; 32 evening schenw_
with an attendance of 10,047 pupils ; and a normal collegovf
and a Saturday school, with an average attendance of
1,214. In reference to instruction in music, the surefl,i
tendent says that though much time is given to Veso
music in the grammar schools, and a considerable exPenip
incurred, the results are very meagre. Beyond sing a,
by rote next to nothing is accomplished. Notwithstall4
ing the array of special music teachers employed 19
account of their professional skill, and the costly suPrico
of pianos and singing books, the per centage of Ilbe
who learn to read the simplest music is very small- of
superintendent recommends that a graded course
musical teachiug should be adopted.

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