Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-12-24
Accident in High Life.

On Tuesday last, lady of title, whose name
has hitherto been kept profound secret whilst
proceeding up the grand staircase at Sutherland
House, to pay the amable Duchess visit, neg
ected.we are sorry to say.to take the customary
precaution of walking up sideways. The conse-
ouence of her recklessness, (Which, it is to be
hoped, will act as warning to other ladles,)
was that her dress, which, scion la mode, was
fnly twice as broad as it was long, became so
completely wedged in bewecn the banisters
and the wall, that it was impossible for her to
move either one way or the other. Her lady
ship's position was not one of the most agreea-
ble in the world. 1t was, in fact, as alarming
as it was awkward; for it was not pms point
more practicable for her to advance than was 10
retreat. There she remained for some consider
able period, perfectly immovable in dy,though
not unmoved in temper; and every minute OF
that prolonged agony will probably be remem-
bered by the fair prisoner of Crinoline until the
last day of her life, when she throws OIL the
mortal coil' of hoops and hen-cooped petticoats.
Finding, at last, her efforts to release herself
from her ridiculous immurement perfectly inef-
fectua the question naturally arose as to what
had best be done. Were the banisters to be
sawn away or was hole to be excavated IN
the wall, sufficiently large to describe circle in
which her ladyship could with safety turn round
and slide off? No. out of respect to the Ouch
ess, it was resolved by council of elderly Ia
dies, held on the landing that it was better that
the dress should be cut away. Accordingly,
half dozen young miners were fetched from
Madame de Jupon's establishment in the neigh
borhood; and, with the help of large scissors
and garden-shears, they set to work in good
earnest, in order to clear the thoroughfare. Du-
ring the operation, which was witnessed in the
most breathless silence by large crowd OF Eu-
ropean nobility, that, owing to the passing I'M
pediment, had gathered behind, her ladyship
was supported by burnt feathers being applied
under her aquine nose, and Jumps of sugar
dipped in eau-de-cologne being dropped into her
mouth. However, owing to the distance caused
by the circumference of her dress these had to be
inserted between pair of tongs, (of the bright
est steel) and it was only by extending the tongs
at arms length that the restoratives could be in
troduced near enough to reach her exhausted
person. After severe labor, and the sacrifice OF
several yards of the most expensive MORE an
tique, Madame de Jupons assistants (who. if
they had been female navigators, could not have
worked with greater zeal or hardihood) succeed
ed in extricating the unfortunate lady from her
distressing dilemma of solitary confinement
The difficulties they encountered in cutting
through the innumerable strata of silk, whale
bone guimpure, foundation OF muslin, gauze,
stiffening calico, flannel, caoutchouc, and crino-
line, would, we are told, if infinitely related, send
thrill through the bosom of the stoutest engi-
neerl The lady, considerably curtailed of her
fair proportions, was carried home, more dead
than alive, in a sedan-chair. The ruins of the
dress were removed in cart. The staircase is
to be enlarged.