The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-04-21


PARsoN BRoNLow on DANCING. HOOPS.
&c.-Parson Brownlow, writing from
Memphis to his paper, the Knoxville
Wing. gives a graphic description of a
sermon one recent Sunday evening, and
then proceeds as follows:
''Returning from church at 10 o'clock
l entered the ballroom, and occupied
the music stand for two hours, where l
could scrutinize all that was passing,
learn something of human nature, and
gaze upon the fair daughters of the
South, robed in costly attire, with forms
and faces making even married man
forget that he had family, and so fas-
cinating him as to make him "wish l
were boy again" They were all la
dies of the first class, whose splendid
dresses. ease and grace of manners made
them the observed of all observers The
style of dress is new, Indicating a pure
and cultivated taste, greatly admired,
and producing bewitching effect upon
gentlemen.
Full and flowing robes are the go
now-dazzling color, such as pink. pure
white. velvet jets. blue and dove-color-
ed satins, with numerous heavy flowers
each supporting figured lace flounce,
with Scotch plaid velvet, or ribbon
bows in the back and front. and up the
sides of some, velvet and ribbon lozen-
ges rose in pyramids, while the sleeves
were ornamentec with puffs. frills. and
fringes costly and beautiful necklaces.
bracelets, earrings. breastpins, and
wreaths upon the brow, and other des-
criptions of ornaments, turned all eyes
to the ladies.
Now, l wish to say that believe in
hoops, and for two hours, from the most
favorable standpoint, in this unequal
led ballroom l tested their beauty and
advantages, with the aid of eight bril-
liant chandeliers. Observe, ladies'.
say hoops, using the plural number.
Shame on your clumsy, single hoop.
made of a hickory pole, or an oak split.
which many of our ladies in our small
towns use, wearing them opposite the
knee, showing its entire and rough shape
through flimsy skirt, dragging the
dress down by its weight to the shape
of cone, while the twelve or fourteen
inches Of dress below the hoop, tucks
under, and flaps in and out, as the
weight of I'D, or the force of the wind
may require
The hoops used on this occasion are
the hoops for me. They are made of
rattan. whale bone and brass, extending
from the waist to the feet, only two or
three inches apart, gradually increasing
in size rs they fall downward, with that
graceful swell that gives to the dress
the airy contour of the handsomely in
flated balloon, preserving that lovely
mien, touching circumference, that
never fails to captivate gentleman of
modest and good taste. such as l claim
to be-"
The Parson writes with relish about
these little vanities-but one part of the
performance was rather too much for
him:
"One feature Of the WALKING got me.
1t was to see young fellow, dressed
and perfumed within an inch of his life
squeezing lady tight around the waist,
with one arm, and with the other, as they
mingled with and cross others in pairs in
the dance, gently lifting her dress, and
she occasionally raising it higher, all
however. to keep it off the floor, ard the
lady leaning up to him like sick kit
ten to brickbat! In these squeezing
quadrilles l noticed the hoops were
rather in the way"