The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1856-10-23

ton gown, short enough to admit of free
dom of action, and clean stockings, and
stout shoes, show that she adapts her dress
to her place-is quite as pleasing and at
tractive, in her way. as the lady IN her ell
egant peignoir, surrounded by all the
knicknackaries Of a boudoir. The fitness
of the toilet in each case is an essential part
of its charm; and it is this fitness | would
Especially have you study. Your social
position is such that It's part OF your duty
to enter actively into domestic details,
to make the pies and the puddings for the
family repast, and to perform similar do
mes!ic offices. How much more pleasing
clean washable dress, and large apron OF
similar character would be, than shab1
by silk or gaudy barege. In the evening,
as your duties are different, SO your toilet
should be suited to your station, and to
occasion; as rich, or as inexpensive as
you please. but always simply made and
fitting well.
A due regard to the harmony OF our
dress with our position will prevent us
from indulging in taste for fnery, or
even for elaborate elegance not in accord
ance with our circumstances; for We should
never forget that it is not sufficient for a
bonnet or shawl to be extremely pretty,
OF very cheap. for it to be suitable fer us
to wear. A lady whose airings are taken
in a carriage may very properly wear a
bonnet Which is elaborately trimmed; but
it would be inappropriate for pedestrian,
however becoming to her face. All pur'
chases, then, should be made with di-
rect reference 10 our social standing, as
well as 10 the next point Of harmony -oul
ersonalappearance. 10 know ourselves
even as far as our faces and figures go, is
know ledge whicn we can only acquire
after some study; nevertheless, it is very
necessary for every one who would wish
| o possess that circular letter Of recon-
mendaion, a pleasing personal appear
ance OF course we canrot alter the
form OF lie features, or add TO our height
Or in any other way remodel ourselves.
but we can dress with taste and proprety
so as to soften down any defects of ma
ture, and increase the effect of any beau
ties.
TO do this, however, We must know
something of the laws Of light and shade
as well as Of the principles of coloring
and it must be conceded that in these
respects, Nature has at least as mucl
share as Art, since an eye for color is one
of the rarcst gifts bestowed on woman, anc
The want OF which no study will sup
ply. Some broad general principles
however, there are which all may under
sand. And first, we may take it as ar
axiom that Fashion can never itself be {
sufficient guide in matters of dress, bu
ll.at its dictates must be modified to sui
the characteristics of each individual
Suppose, for instance, that large plaids, o.
checked patterns, are the fashion, will
that render them at all becoming to
small, slight person., or even to tall wo
man who is more than proportionably
stout? As the effect of these checks is t.
give breadth without length, those cnl,
who are tall and very thin can wear then
with advantage. because they supply
deficiency Of Nature. Stripes, on th
contrary, add to the length, and therefor
become little woman, or those who hay
much embonpoint. Flounces, again, ma,
! look we'll in some few soft materials, an
on tall, slight figures; but what can b
more ungraceful than a little woman
whose body and limbs appear almost dis
sected at three or four divisions of th
skirt, by the light and shadow being ab
ruptly broken at the edges of the stiff
heavy hounces. Dress should, in fact b
: drape,y; and tie more natural its fold
and falls, the more elegant its appearance
! I have herd more than one eminent arts
say, that of all the materials of which
lady's dress could be composed, pur
: flannel forms the most beautiful folds, an
} that it only wants color to be the mo:
appropriate dress possible for portrai
Fine merinos also hang very gracefully
some satins are scarcely less effective; br
little people should avoid every figured {
= stifened material, such as brocades, sti
silks. and bayadine dresses.
$ Tall women have certainly an advar
S tage in the variety of styles which the
! can wear with propriety: few materia
are made for ladies' dresses which the
S cannot appear in without greatly outras
e ing good taste. Even they, however, Wi
: DO well to study the general rules b
t which pleasing effect is produced A
: coors also must be selected with refe
r ence to individual appearance. and to tt
| harmony of part with the whole. For
c blonde to surround her face with brllial
tints, or dark skinned, dark eyed girl
S patronze pale lavender or pink, or III,