The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-10-23
lVASHINGTON, d. G..
For the National Fra.
FASHIONABLE FOOTPRINTS.
BY MRS. BELL SMITH.
Part VII.
BY MRS. BELL SMITH.

,,,t Is the cottage lie. Inns 10 uisuhc"'o, ono
/. ramembered We wish to enjoy sea-
h,.bing. sick or welI there is health and excite
.,.,t of a Measurable kind in being lifted and
oiled BIZ the huge waves up the finest beach IN
The world, or watching the tide OF humanity,
that. eaaui driven, has the light foam OF foiiles
o, is crest, as it pours in and GIBBS away again,
without an object. But this may be PAID Tor
200 dearly. If one is to be crowded into closet,
m,nsned room, be elbowed, watched, and Cos
.,.l aver. or starved to death at endless tables,
who're dim chickens mock at hungry lips.
y..seJ might march from end to end in the mo-
m4ut Of greatest abundance, and yet die in
starvation. while servants rush with frantic
haste with homeopathic portions, dieting the
boarders.
one would prefer their quiet home to
this. even should the home be in the heated
city. TO escape such miseries, some have built
10 themselves delightful cottages, where, fur
p;.hed and stored, they have retreats secure in
al things homelike and good.
In one of these, the blazing lights dazzled the
smles-and voices, musical and harsh, made an
unconscious concert. Mrs. g., one of the New
port magnates, met her friends, and the huge
brown cottage was densely crowded. Drawing
rom. MUSHROOM, billiard-room, all were
thronged-and although windows and doors
we're open wide, and the cool seeair breathed
in upon the assembled wit and beauty" as the
H.rai,Fs correspondent afterwards styled it,
the assembled wit and beauty were uncomfort
ably warm.
One alone of the great crowd seemed to be
IN possession of tranquil happiness. Cool calm,
and sefpoised, in his patent French, Mr.. Flint
burh stood with his polished beaver under his
arm, his head resting easy in his immaculate
linen, while his parchment-like face was as de-
void of expression as such lemon-like dispo-
sition could keep it. To an admiring crowd,
somewhat closely pressed upon, he discoursed
somewhat in this wise:
at is very lamentable that more study is not
given to the philosophy of dress. The wants of
our nature are not understood, the demands of
society not properly considered. A lady should
proportion the number of invitations to the
size Of her rooms, and the invited should pro,
portion their dress TO the occasion. Say, for ex-
ample at grand reception, the lady should
wear one skirt and narrow hoops; at less, two
or more and wider hoops; and so, until for your
very informal reunions, the belle may appear
with her ordinary wear of twenty skirts, unlim-
tied hoops and hounces to match"
That arrangement would make our large
parties very ungraceful."
"The Three Graces, my dear child, have no
urapeTy. But look at me- have nothing about
me superiluOus in the way of apparel--am l not
the pink of elegance and grace?" and the angu-
lar philosopher INDUCED in a grim smile.
IL think you are the pink of cool impu-
dence'
All what delicate compliment you
speak, sweet sixteen, as if were of your own age.
Here comes the beauty, set in diamonds, fol-
lowed by her suite. The unhappy courtiers were
thrown into state of disorganized diplomacy,
am told, the other day-quite good story, l
am assured"
Do tell us, Mr.. Flintburn."
81 would, with infinite zest, but do not know
the circumstances Well it is no wonder there
IS competition, for she is the rarest of earth s
Creations
What are you talking about, Mr.. Flint
burn >"
"Fairest of animated buds, talk of earth's
wonder, sensible woman"
"Do tell me, Mr.. Flintburn, who is that hand
some gentleman with Miss Deming?"
What he is, you know best; what he will be,
can answer"
Please do
The husband of Miss -. Well Welt
-,
looking like an inverted tombstone"
why inverted-why inverted p
1.-The bones are all above. She hangs on to
old Fogg as a specimen lodger at his house.
DO yea know they have way of immortalizing
wealth oGt West, by naming eating-houses after
their rich NEIL. Fogg, with his accumulated
dollars, built taveru-it was the house Fogg
huil-and he named it for himself, The FoGG
HouSE. More remarkable for its size than
substance Jhe walls cracked, the ceilings
crumbled, the floors sank, and, altogether, the
Fogg House was fearful circumstance, cover
ing forty scres. At night, the skrunken doors
bang, the floors creak, the walls shake, ga if the
ghosts of indigested dinners were pursued by
departed bills. shall write thereon a romance
entilled The Tbugh Beetstedk of the FOgg
Honse; or, the Forsaken Taoern."
Mr.. Flintburn, how you do run on"
Because, my dear Miss Jones, / cannot run
0h-the press is considerable. Wardour and
VHalloran look melancholy as tailor's bill.
There's good story out about their going to
shoot each other, because deaf Englishman
misunderstood something q Hailorap told him
good story-very good, but I cannot get at
the cream of it. Nor has any one. Something
has surely happened, for / have not heard
oHalloran shout for five minutes. All, me
what matter this love is.
ere you ever in love, Mr.. Flintburn?"
Yes, my child, when a very young man
very young indeed fell victim to blue
nband. ives in a transient state, not cater
pillar, nor yet butterfy-more than polly
woggle, less than frog-a state not sufficiently
studied, my dear Miss Jones, volumes might be
hlled with characteristics, and houses might be
opened for the care and culture of youth in the
transition state. The delicate specimens should
not be exposed to night air, bright eyes, senti
mental music, or be subject to the deleterious
Influences of Byronics, Bulwerics, or moon
shine
" How would you cure love, Mr.. Flintburn?'
Eating, acknowledgements dark
ness, let the patient eat. Frequently and much
should they eat. Your roast turkey is good
mutton chops excelent-oyster pdts cannot be
TOO highly recommended but of all things to
clear cobwebs from the brain and heal the
wounded heart, give me delicate wild duck,
smothered IN onions"
" Oh! Mr.. Flintburnl"
Feet, madam; and this reminds me that
my supper hour approaches; therefore must
depart Would that all time, other than this
Seye-llt and lovely, or that other known rs the
iapse between breakfast and dinner, might be
uPpressed-annihilated, and with smiles and
soups, delicate dishes and fairest of faces, oul
lives be eternal"
30 saying, the bloodless philosopher stalked
hlSJesucally away, his bald head over his high
collar looking like sun setting in fog.
100 true, as he intimated, q new sutton ap
pehrtd upon the carpat lhort pincknov M