Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1852-07-07
From the Home Journal.
Dress and MANNERS i'm Martinique.

BY N. p. WILLIS.
We were at the Sunday morning mass, at this
same church, aud, MS it is the season Of Lent it
unusually tIronged. We saw, we were assured, the
choicest of the female society of tie place-and ie-
male almost to Il man, the congregation was. The
Creole ladies' were in unexcepionabe French toilette
charming bonncts of the newest Partisan fashion,,
beautifully we'll as beautifully chosen-and
there no look Of the Tropics about them except
in their compilations. A sallowness, of the hue of
handled ivory, (Which am growing to think rather
elegant than otherwse) is on the youngest and
hcathiest cheek, and of roses there are none. But
I've were charmed with thing, which delights the
traveller wherever the French are lound-the Hllec
Tomato and caressng respect with which the elderly
ladies Of the crowd were treated by their younger
friends aud acqaintanccs. As the dispensing con-
grcgAlion poured out Of church, the ceners Of the
groups were the haired matrons--( Nho by the
way, were dressed with and an elegant proprie-
" that expressed their social value land who were
beset and questioned and kissed, MS it, to be loved
and admired, it were only necessary to be old The
manners OF these gray-hdircd favoriies were most
v inning. lhonght--thcir dignity and cHse being
mingled with kind Of condescendug playfulness
and gayeiy that must make the young people at
home in their company, and which showed, besides,
how completely restraint was removed and how
sincere and natural were the exchanges of conpli-
nenis and kind words. Life brighens TO the end,
in this way, as the sun sets.
But the Sunday mass, we had heen told, was the
great opportunity 10 see the holiday costumes and
deneanor of the middle and lower classes of the
standard show of no small magniticence it was
The French negress gives mp her wool, as mpractl-
cable of coflure but she makes up for her dsown-
ed peculiarly thunder-cloud is replaced by rain
bow. Her Madras turban is not only ol every color
that can he woven, but the squares in ii arc painted
with brighter cOlors renewed after every washing
In any street of ST. Pierre week day yon may
sec the black beauty with pots and pain;-brush pre-
pairing her bright kerclIief for Sunday wear. You
can have idea of the effect of thousand Of these
gorgeous heads coming down the steps OF n cathe
dral. 1t was like Il Treuton Falls of tulips and bou-
quets-slow cascade of negresses crowned witt
rainhows-the black faces giving the relief OF velve
under flowers. A true copy ola cathedral with sucl
n congregation issuing from it, would astonlsh evet
Williams and Stevens show-wndow.
The remainder of the dress-he fashion of which
Ahey adhere to- with singular universality-is print
lively simple. 1t is cleInise and Il petcoat-noth
ing else. The short sleeves Of the white under-gar
nent hang very loosely about the shoulders and a
- j. i,i s"PL al al! ~ tho i6u, ;leIC seems 10 i
no particular design of cunceung the bust either b.
young women or old. As to figure, indeed the,
bave evidently no idea of any differences OF beauty
in il, nor of any embellishments for it, or display o
it, except by the colors in which it is drpped TIT
pelticoat is mere skirt of brilliant dyes tied owe
the chemsc AT the waist, and they have very un
becoming fashion Of wearing so long that it cahno
he looscd upon the ground but must he cuught III
and hitched at the side. 1t, consequently, cling
ungraceluy close behind, showing sometimes, to III
sure, well-turned and polished calf of black leg
but otherwise quite spelling the beauty Of thes'
stately Ceoparas. have not seen II stocking OF
one of them, since | have been here and they arr
usually bareiooed-but it seems to be the height o
elegance, with here and there a dressy one, to wea
gentlemen'S waking-pumps of patent leather, il
which the skin seis like II neat black stocking. TIN
gold ornaments are of such monstrous nassivenes
and quantity to be the feature which catches tn
eye, however ] am told that girl usually carrie
her whole them. ebony
pleXon, the rich yellow gold is certainly very EN-
, beshing