Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1853-11-26
Bonnet-Street.


ssWhere is that q" Well, now, it shows hov
little you know of New York, to ask where i
Bonnet street. Perhaps you thought all tn
bonnet stores were in Broadway, Bowery ant
Canal street. You were never more mistaken
those are only the outside posts of the enemy
Yes, enemy, we speak it advisedly, enemy o
mans purse and womans happiness. If yo,
don't believe it 60 to Bonnet street, with {
'hard up" poeket-book in one hand, and :: ont
of the sex" leaning upon the other one who
wears those outrageous be-tinseed, be-spangled
bowed and lowered symbols Of barbarism, now
9. the very hight of fashion," and hear her sigh
for that love of bonnet or this .dear little
hat and feathers or feel the sharp twinge youl
own conscience will give while paying ffteer
dollars for mass Of silk velvet, satin, fsathers
ribbons, flowers, lace, pasteboard, wire, glass
beads and tinsel, ct cetera, twisted, twirled and
mixed up together in all sorts of queer shapes,
atforiing no protection to the head in rain OF
shine, for an hour of either will certainly spoil
the thing as it would the frost sprangles of May
morning.
If your purse is not almost as long as your
ears, do not go to Bonnet street. Do not trust
yourself if you are woman, more particularly
young one: and still more particularly if you
are not, but have one dependent upon your small
salary, even to take a walk through that street,
''only just to the fashions" 1t is the street
OF temptation. Upon one block, upon one side
! OF the street, SIX thousand two hundred and
thirty-three bonnets, of all conceivable colors,
sizes, shapes, forms, fashions figures and prices,
except dear ones, none are dear, that's in price,
though all are 90 dear sweet things" to look at,
will stare you in the face from every window,
door, counter, showcase, nook or corner, tempt
| ing you to step in and just inquire the price
OF that splendid plum colored satin, trimmed
with domestic fowls feathers, tipped with bugles
with the blond lace and blue bells with silver
pistils, on the inside. Oh. is it not the richest
thing you have seen this season? Is it dear,
ma'am - s'Oh no; Lord bless you, we never
sold bonnets so uery cheap as we do this season !;
just now we are almost giving them away.
Money is SO tight in Wall street, and we must
meet our paper, you know, and my husband is
in Paris, buying the very best articles and latest
fashions. will sell you that exceedingly rich
hat for less than it actually COST
'.How much s''
's You shall have it. upon my honor, for just
what the materials cost. I declare, you shall
have 1t for 315 that will not a1Yoru y cent of
profit; nothing for making tits great bargain,
upon my word, and viii give you box and
send it home, or you had better put it on and 1
will send your old enc home, if you care to have
it; it is not of much consequence"
No, it is not Of much consequence, yet it cost
seven dollars less than seven months ago.
Then the old one was taken off and the new
one tried on, and then the seller said:
81 declare, now, l have not sold bonnet
this season that fitted so well as this one. Look
at her. Sir; don't you think it is becoming?''
Of course he did he was bound to say SO
she was his wife. Then she looked appealingly
to him, as much as to say, oh now, do let ME
have it, indeed I never shall be happy without
! it. Then he took hold of his small purse, and
looked-yes, he felt unhappy. What did they
come to Bonnet street for? Unhappy street.
Both are unhappy. The benevolent seller of
bonnets sees how miserable she has made two
fellow creatures and her heart is touched
touched to see the new bonnet taken off and the
old one about to be put on.
s'Oh, don't do that. Don't think of such
thing, you must have it. / would sooner lose a
dollar myself-yes, two-there you shall have it
for thirteen" Husband is about to walk off
wife lays hand upon his arm and gives one
more look, and says. "Oh, do now, that is
dear SOUL
Husband takes out his porte-monnaie and
hands it to his wife with look that said as
plain as day; 81 wish | had not come to Bon
net street, Wife looks over the money. There
is only S12. She is disappointed. She looks
one more appeal It is answered the least bit
petulantly; g l have not another dollar in the
world
The lady at her elbow has counted $12 as fast
as herself, and says in the blandest tone; II
think my dear that is right. Let me see."
She wants to get the money into her hands.
She does and counts it over and sighs.
''There is only $l2, and really do not know
how to take that, shall lose SO much but
will, for do love to make people happy"
Happy in bonnet store. One is made happy
while ten are miserable. One half are misera-
bic because they see a street full Of new bon
nets, and still wear the old ones; and as many
more are unhappy husbands because they have
to pay for the extravagance or pride of wife,
making themselves unhappy rather than see
her so.
We walked along behind this couple as they
went away, and overheard him say: '.Now
l have not dollar to pay eur board with this
week"
well, Mrs. Smith can wait. Dear knows
she makes enougA boarding US tive at seven
dollars week; don't you think so ?''
No, don't"
Well, must have new hat if she is never
paid. And then, only to think how cheap-less
than cost" lzE
'tHumph.r' g a.
Just so, we thought. Humph. We did not
believe a word about "less than cost" SO we
began to cypher, and set down the items, at
retail prices:
Yard of Satin. Observation-Disclosures 81 Is
Head piece and Wire-frame. ............ IS
Yards Of Black Lace. ace.....-....-.........s 6S
Yard Of Nond Lace. Observation-Disclosures. t3
Yard Of Rbbond, for strings ...... 81
Pair Of Feather Fumes. .-............... Is
Pair Of Wreaths- -......---....-..--.....- l 90
Thread. ...,,,......,.
ssz sus @ -.s.. IS So
Probably paid for making. g.-.......... a
Loss (' over the Ieh, Ieh,")..................$ y .$6 60
What bargain! 1t is only one Of the many
bargains Of Bonnet street. LESS than costt'
My dear, you must learn to cypher.
E Fa9 Neac York Tyibans.
u The Turkish Ambassador ct London