Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-09-04
THE GAZETTE.
SATURDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 4, 1858.
YELLOW DRESSES-HOW THEY CANE
TO BE FASHIONABLE.

f III DE f1o141SEN ADAc
M. Audlbert in bis charming book, called
sIudiscretions and C~oufdences." tells the
following story, exemplifying the power pos.
sessed BY Msdemoiselle Mars, the famous
French ar,ress, of imposing Der own tastes On
the fashionable world of Paris:
The brilliant Celemene was playiog at Ly
ous. The dsy after her first appearance che
va not q little surprised to zee arrive, 10 the
morning, at her hotel, one Of the first manu-
+facturers Of the city. "Mademosells" said he
''this 10 the Object Of my 'isit-wili you par
don me for it? You can make my fortune"
II, sir. l should be glad to DO it, but 10
what wayi"
"Plesse to accept this piece Of stua."
And be displayed upon the table u rich
yellow velvet. MademOiselie Mars though.
herself liz the presence of sn insane man.
Good hesvens!," ssid she, in AZ excited
tone, what do you wish me TO make OF tbis
yellow velvet"
"A. dress, Mademoiselle; when you have
appeared in it, every body will want one like
ii, and 90 my fvrtupe will be made" "Bu'
cir, nobody has ever worn q yellow dress."-
THAT IL il; ! want to make il fashionable
Do not, / pray you, refuse me this iaVor."
mo, sir, | will not refuse it," said Mademoi
sslle Mars.
And she went to her secretary for bel
purse.
"Mademoiselle will spare me the insult Of
paying. 10 making my fortune l shall be
largely recompensvd. Dolly Mademoiselle
will have the goodness to give the address Of
my mandatory, which, moreover is 10 good
credit"
Mademoiselle promised everything. Ol
her return to Paris, talking to her dressma
ier, she said II must show you q piece oi rict
velvet l have brought from Lyons. Ii hat
been given to me for q dress. Madame cat
wear anything"
A few days after, tho ~"Unexpected Wager
vss to follow ''Nicomede" By Talms. Made
moisells Mars went early to her room snc
dressed herself in the yellow velvet. The tot
let vas over. Nicomede was nearly iaishrc
when, looking at herself in all ways in bel
elsss, Msdemoiselle Mars cried ont; ut is im'
possible for me to 20 on the stag e in this dress
Caroline send for the manager and let The
"Uuexpected Wager" be changed tor some
thing eise-some piece in which l do not sp'
pear.
These words caused a great excitement,
and filed the manager With terror and soon
spread through the theatre. Talma offered
20 70 and examine this toilet, which was to put
The world into Q revelation. "See," saic
Msdemoiselle Mare TO him, "see how ridicu
lous / am. Do l not look like q canary bird?'
"Ridioolous. my dear friend, say, rather raw
ishing. You toilet is in the best tate; 1t suits
admirably your face, your black hair; vel
low ID becoming to q brunette. Appear al
YOU are; you never looked hsndsomer."
Mare was decided by the opinion Of the
great artistic and went upon the stage. A
Hstterins murmur received her. All the la
dies glasses we're turned to her, the house re-
sounded with applause, and everywhere cir,
oulsted the words: "What a delicious toilet?'
The next day all Paris was talking OF
Mademoisells Mars yellow dress. Before
eight dsys passed. there was not q saloon
without similar ones. D~ress-makers were
overrun with work, aud from that moment
yellow has taken its place among the coiors
used for dresses.
Some years after, when Mademoisells Mars
returned 70 Lyons, the manufacturer, whose
fortune she bad readily made, gave her a
splendid fete at the pretty country house be
had purchased on the borders Of the Saone,
With the products of bis yellow velvet Of which
the sale had been p~rodigious.