The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-05-22
Chitchat on Philadelphia Fashions
For Tune.


Grape shawls being laid aside with
the cold weather, that may now be sup
posed to have taken its final departure,
| the demand for scarfs, mantillas, etc.
| becomes imperitive. We find from the
| importatons that summer shawis will be
worn more than for many seasons past.
There are the printed berage long shawls,
OF cashmere patterns; they are lighter
than the cashme res-we do not mean In,
dian cashmeres, but those covered with
the small palm leaf, and so long worn
under that name-and fall mere grace
fully to the figure. The centre is filled
with some neat pattern on white
ground, and the border is IN the dark,
rich Indian cashmere colors The square
berage shawls are in great variety.
Those of plain white are well adap-
ted to the toilet of middle-aged ma
tron, and combine cheapness with util-
ity. They have the same neat effect as
a plain Grape, and cost far less. With
dresses of every shade of gray or fawn,
they are particularly becoming. These
have fringe. Others we find with plain
centres, white, green, or blue in delicate
shades, and cashmere pattern border
in brllliat colors. These have no fringe.
The gossamer berages are still more deli
cate and beautiful. They are prnci-
pally long shawls, the texture as trans
parent as the finest silk tissue, and the
pattern extreme ly rich and beautiful
But, for young ladies, we think man
tlllas much more graceful. Those in
white silks are not now made, except to
order, when the new fringe, the head
ing knotted in diamons, makes a little
change from those of the last season. 1t
was tasteful fashion, and so brief only
because so universally adopted and imi-
tated. Black will be the tavorite color
for the present season. We find black
silk dresses once more in vogue, Tor
young as we'll as old; lavender tavorite
shade; and it is but natural that black
ynantilas should resume their reign, the
more so that it is the original color, that
graceful article of dress having been in
troduced from the national Spanish cos
tune. The most graceful pattern is the
scarf form. 1t is not quite so long as
the simple scarf, and is followed out
slightly to fit the shoulders, and widens
little on the back where the form is
rounded; the ends are also rounded en-
tabHer. 1t is made to come very far off
the shoulders, to display the collar,
chemlsette, ETC., and falls on the arm in
graceful folds.
They are trimmed variously. A IA
vorlte style is an insertion of plain black
lace about finger in width, ornamented
with rows of silk piping, put on in waves
and scallops. This is again edged with
IA fold of silk the same width. The
whole should not fall far below the
waist. Diamond.knotted fringe finger
and half in depth, lace, or gimp orna-
mented with bugles and folds of silk, are
all used. We still prophecy that bugles
will have a short reign; they are too
heavy for summer, and too easily Imi-
tated. Closer mantillas are made for
those who prefer them; but, as they are
intended only for the summer, we re-
commend the scarf form.
White lace bonnets embroidered with
straw, drawn grapes and thulles, straw
gimps, with pufs of silk inserted, or
ruches Of ribbon made to initiate pufs,
are much worn.
There is no decided change in dress
bodies and sleeves. The .Marquise waists
Will be worn for some time to come, as
they can be made to answer the purpose
of full or plain dress by change of
chemisettes and undersleeves. A high
tichu and undersleeves gathered at the
waist, or rich lace chemisette and flow-
ing sleeves, makes the change.
The hair is still worn in twists and
plats at the back. We have plates of
two styles, the one French twist, with
the front hair in full bandeaur, and
forming coil under the loop of the
twist on either side, behind the ear. The
other is round mass of brads, flat on
the back of the head, and covered with
a net of silver thread, the front hair in
wide pufs.-Godey's Lady's Book.
A ToUcH1NG CUsroM.-There exists
at Lhassa touching custom, which we
We're in some sort jealous of finding
among infdels. In the evening as soon
as the light declines, the Thibetan men,
women, and children cease from all
business, and assemble in the principal
part of the city, and in the public
squares. AS soon as the groups are
formed, every one sits down on the
ground, and begins slow y to chant his
prayers in an under tone, and the re-
ligious concert produces an immense
and solemn harmony throughout the
city, powerfully affecting to the soul
The first time we heard it, we could
not help making sorrowful comparison
between this Pagan town, where all
prayed in common, with the cities of
Europe, where people would blush to