Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-09-21
yellow Dresses.

| M. Audibert, in his charming book, calle
'Indiscretions and Condolences" tells the follow
ing story, exemplifying the power possessed b
Mademoiselle Mars, the famous French actres
of imposing her own tastes on the fashlonaol
world of Paris:
The brilliant Celemene was playing at Lyons
The day after her first appearance she was not
little surprised to see arrive, in the morning, a
her hotel, one of the first manufacturers of tn
city. "Mademoselle" said he, "this is the oh
ject of my visit-will you pardon me for it 2
You can make my fortune"
81, sir. should be glad to do it, but in wha
way9"
"Please to accept this piece of stuff"
And he displayed upon the table rich yellow
velvet. Mademoiselle Mars thought herself IL
in the presence of an insane man. al
"Good heavens p said she, in an excited tone
sswhat do you wish me to make of this yellow
velvet9" l...
ga dress, Mademoiselle when you have ap
peared in it, everybody viii want one like 1t, ant
so my fortune will be made" "But sir, nobody
has ever worn yellow DRESS" "That is 1t;
want to make it fashionable. Do not, | pray
you, refuse me this favor" "'No, sir, / will moi
refuse it," said Mademoiselle Mars.
And she went to her secretary for her purse
"Mademoiselle will spare me the insult of pay
ing. In making my fortune / shall be largely
recompensed. Only Mademoiselle will have the
goodness to give the address Of my mauufactory
which, moreover, is in good credit"
Mademoselle promised everything. On her
return to Paris, talking to her dressmaker, she
said II must show you piece of rich velvet /
have brought from Lyons. 1t has been given to
me for dress. Madame can wear anything"
A few days after, the unexpected Wager
was to follow "Nicoinede" by Talms. Made
moiselle Mars went early to her room and dress
ed herself in the yellow velvet. The toilet was
over. Nicomede was nearly finished when,
looking at herself in all ways in her glass, Made
moiselle Mars cried out "lt is impossible for me
to 90 on the stage in this dress. Caroline send
for the manager and let the unexpected Wa
ger" be changed for something else-some piece
in which do not appear.
These words caused great excitement and
filled the manager with terror and soon spread
through the theatre. Talma offered to go and
examine this toilet, which was to put the world
into q revolution. "See," said Mademoiselle
Mars to him, ''see how ridiculous / am. Do l
not look like canary bird2" "Ridiculous, my
dear friend, say, rather rayishing. Your toilet
is in the best taste it suits admirably your face,
your black hair; yellow is becoming to q bru.
nette. Appear as you are; you never looked
handsomer."
Mars was decided by the opinion of the great
artistic and went upon the stage. A Hatterlng
murmur received her. All the ladies' glasses
were turned to her, the house resounded with
applause, and everywhere circulated the words
"What delicious toilet9"
The next day all Paris was talking of Made
moiselle Mars yellow dress. Before eight days
passed, there was not q saloon without similar
ones. Dress makers were overrun with work,
and from that moment yellow has taken its
place among the colors used for dresses.
Some years after, when Mademoiselle Mars
returned to Lyons, the manufactures, whose for,
tune she had readily made, gave her splendid
fete at the pretty country house he had purchas-
ed on the borders OF the 'Saope. with the pro-
aacts of his yellow velvet of which the sale had
beea prodigious. M