Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-08
THE SCARLET PErTICoAT.

1nk
word of welcome for the latest and drollest
ef1uence OF feminine fashion. For adopting an
innovation in dress, however bizarre or fantas-
tic, divesting il of whatever absurdity it may
possess, in defiance of masculine criticism or
ridicule, establishing it as a delightful custom
before which we all bow down in time and glo-
rify, the ladies have a faculty all their own.
Their insensibiity to derision, when employed
to abrogate their fealty to fashion, Is the sub
Unity Of heroism. Did they abate one inch of
the ample and splendid proportions of their
hoops in submission to the storm Of satire di-
rected against the unconsciously offending
whalebone! Did not they, on the contrary,
bloom braveiy out in ampler and more splendid
proportions And do they not now stand tri-
! umphant in the wide circle of their crinolne
and their independence Did they expand one
particle, in compliance with the demands of
comfort, health, and the male sex combined,
the wee bit Of ornamental shingle jsuntily
borne on the remote edges of their dear little
heads, and called by the conventional name of
bonnet? Never particle; compulsion'' is
no more to their inclination than ID was to that
of Sir John Falstaf and with these recollec-
tiens fresh in our mind, shall we again attempt
the worse than useless task of guiding or tenn
Perlng the feminine taste on a newly-raisea
point of fashion? Besides, we have more than
half made up our minds that the innovation of
which We are speaking ia not by any means to
be treated with contempt, but has, with all its
drollery, eversomuch that is sensible and clever
about 1t; and, aprOpOs, it just now doth occur
TO rs that a comprehensive explanation of
what We are talking about would net be at all
out Of place.
To begin then at the beginning-(although
the article We have in our mind begins prop
eriy at the middle-no matter) The peasant
maidens Of partsof ireland and Scotland have
a holyday dress, an important particular of
Which is = crimson petticoat of coarse texture
a. IL L.~A -
iooped up at one side just sufficiently to re-
veal bright glimpses of snowy stocking but
never shadow Of anything like garter, for
such revelations, every woman knows,
brings into shocking conflict the poetic ideal
with the blunt practical and material. This
piquant little popularity Of dress has re-
mained unnOticed, p" unhonored and unsung,"
and might forever have so remained, and
passed away in obscurity but for the delicate
sensibilities of that eminent gentleman Of az
tistic tastes-His Royal Highness Prince Al
bert of England. Every one knows that Her
Majesty Victoria indulges annually in a pleas
ant autumnal excursion to her Castle of Bal
moral, in Scotland. 1t is pretty custom for
beyy of the fsirest maidens to assemble on
the estate and bid her welcome-arrayed of
course In their picturesque holyday attire. We
have spoken of the art sympathies of the gen.
tie Albert. The effect Of the looped petticoat
last year on his sensitive soul was extraordin-
art before unknown to him, and gave himself
up to its study, until his watchful spouse,
thinking that perhaps not art alone but little
touch Of nature might also combine thus to
absorb him, resolved to afford him the oppor-
tunity of indulging his tastes in the domestic
circle. In short, she adopted the scarlet petit
coat herself, and no doubt gratified the Prince
beyond expression by this mark of dsinter.
ested deyotedness. And the Queen carried the
red pettlcoat to London with her, and Eu.
genie saw it and fell in love with it
and all the ladies of rank were sud-
denly seized with q violent scarlet fever;
and Lady Gore Ousley transplanted the exotic
to this country, causing it unexpectedly to
bloom forth at Washington to the delight and
wonder OF every one, including the Admins
tration and both Houses of Congress - and
leaders in the female fashionable world at Home
have awakened to the practicability of creating
a new sensation, and have boldly seconded La
dy Gore and very soon the scarlet skirt will
cease to be an exotic, and will flourish here as
native and to the manner born"
And notwithstanding its oddity at first sight,
we Imagine the red petticost will become
savorite with all. 1t is agreeable in its actual
appearance and in its poetic suggestions. 1t is
comfortable and healthful for wintry weather.
1t is useful and economical. Ladies who ira
verse unscayengered streets in it will be likely
10 throw weak minded young men into a state
of distraction, for it reveals the dantiest bit
VI SUCKING imaginable above feet like little
mice stealing in and out" as Sir John Suck
ling has it-and of course ladies not thus Gift
ed, would never presume to wear it, On the
whole, the red petticoat seems likely to become
successful and satisfactory institution. We
remember that Charles Mackay in one of his
songs has pronounced against it; but then
Charles Macksys songs, well enough in their
quiet way, and quite entertaining, if you dom I
read tso many OF them, for if you do they are
apt to act as an opiate, never yet convinced
nybody Of thing in particular. Rich and
ruddy colors suit the temperament of youth |;
lively hearts glow at the sight of lively colors
The love Of brilliant hues is implanted in US
by nature, who herself gratifes the taste. We
shall all laugh awhile at the scarlet petticoat,
but in good time we shall take it into cur affec-
tions as readily As We take the wearers.-Bos
tor Courier