Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-01-20

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Alas, unhappy me here l was in worse di-
i1mma than ever. The dresses were so low
and then-when they stopped over their plates,
if one happened to look they could not help
ng-well-well-John such things are
dreadful, amt they Icrouched down as lew
rs possible IN my chair, and wished ssI were a
boy again. SO that | could look up and not
down upon them. Supper at last was over,
and we started for the parlor. In the hall Miss
>. dropped her handkerchief. (vulgarly called
wipe.) sprang forward to raise the fallen
article, but she anticipated me and stopped
yes, actually stopped! l tho't things had now
reached a crisis and something dreadful must
happen, but the craft righted and got off in
fine style. Once more in the parlor and Miss
Sprinkle5elly in alarming proximity to my cor
poral, we laughed and chatted away, and be-
gan to feel my situation more pleasant one
than had anticipated. There was ring at
the hall door, and the gentleman from Africa
ushered into .he room beautiful girl of some
sixteen or eighteen years of age. ssMisS Fitz-
noodle, do declare," cried my fair compan-
ion, springing into the arms of the young lady.
After a salute that sounded like a horse draw
ing his foot out of a bog, she turned to me and
said. s.Mss Fitznoodle, this is Mr.''-ssMr. =
this is Miss Fitznoodle." l bowed till my
nose almost touched the carpet and sank back
fral and quyering upon my seat. My whole
attention was now drawn from Miss Sprinkle
beliy's condition to that of Miss Fitznoodle.
Her dress was even yet lower than Miss SIS.
Vague alarms filled my breast for the safety of
all things, and | felt confident something must
happen before the evening was gone through
with. '.What charming creature Miss Fitz-
noodle is" said my fair companion to me a
few moments afterwards, when that lady had
withdrawn to another part of the ROOM
'.Ye-yes.' 1 family replied and then venturcd
tlmidly to inquire, 'sIs she an actress ~ San
actress - cried Miss S. in aStonishment; ssof,
iS EItvnnn6la
the rich bankers daughter-but what on earth
made you think she actress 20 ssOh,
nothing - i replied, ssonly saw a lady at the
theater last night dressed very much like her,
aud ] thought maybe she had her stage dress
on tonight Miss S. saw the joke ard was
silent. Presently she inquired, s'do You not
approve Of the fashions Of these latter days ?'
81 can't say that do. madam and my voice
sank almost to whisper. s'Nell well, - con-
tinued she, cone must keep up with the fash
ions; you know we have nothing to do with
the making of them they manufactured
at Paris shd sent over to us read -made-just
as politics are manufactured at W Washington,
and sent on to you politicians. So, suppose,
if the Empress would cut her dresses OFT at the
kuec, Mons. Godart must needs cut ours of
too. But did you know there is probability
of change in the fashions; | see looped
dresses have lately made their appearance at
the court of Napoleon" Ny head was run
ming round like niill-wheei-I could hear
beautiful women singing in the distance, and
4 dreamy sort of languor stole over me, while
n faint idea OF dresses pinned up to the waist
foated through my confused mind. stW hat
objections have you to the present style Of
dress ?'' inquired Miss S. The question star
tied and aroused me. 81 don't krow-I think
there-therc there as | spoke Miss FitZ-
Eoodle passed between me and the gas-burner,
and | thought ! could see light shining thro'
under her arms, between her shoulder and the
neck OF her dress. A few moments afterwards
the General happening to come near where
was sitting watched my opportunity when all
eyes were turned in another direction and
whispered in his ear, s.Fcr Gods sake,
General, let us go home" The old states
mans fine eyes frightened with mirth as he
nodded silent approval to my proposition.
Ten minutes afterwards ] found myself on
the street outside Mrs. Sprinklebelly's and
on my way home. 1 nervously grasped the
old Generals arm and drew deep breath
OF relief. a short walk brought us to our Ho-
lei, and we Immediately retired for the night,
wishing to get as much resi- as possible to
strengthen for the morrow when we expect
cd to address our fellow citizens of Westmore
land county, at Latrobe and Derry. After we
had lain in bed several minutes turned to the
General and inquired ''Look here General,
want YOU to tell me what looped dresses are ~
.sWell - replied he after another pause, sssomc
fool. the Countess de-the devil knows who
appeared, not long since, at ball gwen by
the Empress Eugenie with her dress looped up
to the knee and 1 believe it is talked of as the
fashion for the season. s.Well, General"
said / ssif looped dresses are introduced and
Wilmot is elected Governor, hope for the
honor of ourState he will introduce another IA
nous proviso which shall read, provided that
they shall not be worn higher than the knee,
but amt such things awful General, II not, to
say the least Of it, indecent" ssAwful, sir.
awful-pcrfectIy ridiculous" and the old man
rolled over, as much as to say don't let us talk
any more about such dirty things. So ended
my visit to the fashionable Mrs. SpriEkiebel-
iy's, and l hope L may never be called uno.:. &c
pass through such trying ordeal again.
must now give you some account OF my
visit to the Fair at = in the County of =
Thinks l to myself, I'll go down to that fair,
so will, and down went sure enough we
had n nice little company the ride on the
s.rail'' was pleasant one, and | began to hat
ter myself we (I was going to have reaf
pleasure trip for once in my life; but aias. IN
pleasure we are an the midst OF sorrow. Inc
Hotels were crowded (of course they were)
but we fortunately obtained private room at
the = house. | need not tell You how fell
over the curl-stone into the street in trying to
let hoop pass unobstructed down the pave
ment, or how in trying TO be polite 10 the Ia
dies fell out of 4 coach, tore nay Sooo SUM-
mer pants in a dangerous place, and cut my
leg SO that it lamed me for week! On no,
YOU know these things are as matters oi courAe
with me. 1t was the afternoon OF the second
day after our arrival, was quietly sitting IN
our room, reading the eMessenger," when a
Young lady Of my acquaintance oil very ample
| dimensions entered, and for a moment forget
ting she had hoops on, proceeded to throw
herself at full length on lounge, directly
opposite where l sat. Her feet were towards
mel looked up-great God-I thought of
| tbe Jobnstown tunnel-I sprang to my feet
Il - .,-s1 70 the oDDosite side of the