Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-09-08
30 ro m From the Line-of-Battle Ship.
COUSIN WISNtE'S STRATAGEM;
on,
A SHORT CHAPTER ON "HOOPs.,'
by NC nAnnltr \. MAraAwAr.


Hoops, versus crinoineI What TRADE Of
abuse they have received from surly omnibus
and hack ,dryors-agents on steamboats--con.
Juctors railruads- lyceum goers -portly gem
tlemen and prim ladies s,--bcsdes having 10 live
down all this, they have been assailed with Bit
ter anathcmas from the Public Press" yet
strange to relate they still survive and just now
seem TO have attained the maximum of their
glory,wbere for the present they ain station
ary, accounting themselves one Of the fixed facts
Of the nineteenth century--which may well be
termed "The Reign Of Hoops :" h...I
But Notwithstanding they have lived down
public opposition, their pfUdts warfare is not yet
ended, for they still aifld ample opportunities
for fault finding mpmas to read their daughters
Lessons in propriety Of dress,--and husbands
afflicted with The same mania, endless subjects
for "cuftsin lectures" That this latter couse
Of my sentence is not all Imagination. think
my story will p.ovc, and it may also prove that
under all this fault finding, there is a secret
liking for hem. t.
Itwas my first visit to my cousin Winnie
since her marriage, and never having seen her
husband /, of course, felt some anxiety as to
the impression my appearance would make up.
on him.
met with cordial reception rom Winnie,
and after few moments spent in asking and
answering questions, a1miringthe location and
arrangements Of their elegant cottage, Winnie
glanced at the little French clock ON the marble
mantel and said
Meb, Walter will be here in an hour, and
you must dress, for / like to show off the
cousin of whom he has heard so much, to good
advantage" then conducting me to my pleas
ant chamber, she left me TO make my arrange
ments At-N-- -I.IT r.
After having bathed face, neck and arms in
flesh water and arranged my hair to the best OF
my ability, as the afternoon was cool, selected
from my wardrobe 1ounced black silk, and
carefully arranging myself in it, descended to
the back parlor, where was met with one Of
Wnnie'e smiles OF satisfaction, as she exclaim-
ed
'Hw sweet you look BIeb-black is very
becoping to you. | shall be quito proud 10
present you TO Walter But let mo tell you
though your general appearance will suit his
tasies--for he prefers black silk dresses to any
olhers-there is one Of your arrangements that
will not please him, and leave youto discover
what it is =
] seated myself on low tete a tefe sofa, and
as looked down upon the ample spread of my
hounced silk skirt over my new 2 watch spring"
bought for the occason-I felt q sort of Sc.
Tenely proud satisfaction, as all ladies do when
coatemplating the happy tesults Of their efforts
70 attain 70 graceful rotundity OF size.
Soon Walters step was heard coming up the
gravel walk, and Winnie ran to the door to well
come him. Very noble was he 10 hie appe r,
ance and as | returned his cordial greeting !
thought: 81 know / shall like him--l wonder il
he will like me "a 1.iaM .1Ht
seated myself on the sofa again, intending
to leave space for him to take seat beside me,
! Judging from his manner that such was his In.
tention, but unfortunately was no. successful
in the Dldndgsmeht of my ''watch spring." and
owing TO tbs the sofa would barely accommo>
date myselE glanced at his face and saw a
irOwn gathering abouthis before smiling mouth,
as he turned abruptly from me and took a seat
on the opposite side of the room-l was mistress
Of the secret he was not a woman hater, but a
hoop hatsr lHr
Two or three weeks of my delightful visit
had passed, when one afternoon ho come in
with some exquisite delicate notes of invita-.
tion from lady acquaintance Of theirs, on
whom we bad called. She was about to give q
private party, and with the rest had received
a pressing invitation to attend
Now, Cousin Meb,' said Walter laying q
hand laughingly upon my shoulder i want you
to look your sweetest, for certain gentleman
will be at Mrs LoRoy's who is very anxious "a
make your acquaintance but this is secret
mindyo SOU
ia do my best, Cousin Walter, replied
but really, have no party dress with me, AND
| fear | have not time to purchase one,' ff
] 20, ample time. Meb, said Winnie. 'Car
not have one, Walter 2 she continued. turn
ing to her husband, and then Meb and | will
dress alike
A twenty dollar bill was pressed into the
small outstretched hand Of the pretty pleader
by the indulgent husband, as he SAID; Mind
tha. you get something becoming anG pretty
I for shall be quite as anxious that my little
wife should make favorable impression upon
my old friend, as | am for her cousin Meb tC
do so, He is rather eccentric, but he is a no
BILE fellow
Hastily did Winnie and myself don oui
street attire, and set forth on our errand. W.
were not long in making our selection, for WI
found at Hills dry goods warehouse, two pat
terms of white silk Grape, that suited our fan
cy. We discussed while at the price, bu
finally concluded sixteen dollars pattern moi
80 dear after al, considering that there was nc
need to buy lTimmings, es they were pattorr
robes, with double skirts. bordered with grodu
Y ated. stripes OF h avy white satin, with trim
mings for the waist and sleeves TO correspond
We toek the dresses, and bad four dollars lei
for the making, so we made our way TO Mrs
Green's, the fashionable mantua maker, quit
satisfied win our purchase and little satisfe,
with ourselves al being so easily suited r
It was the evening before the party and ou
dresses had been brought in for us To Try thl
length OF the skirts. lI
Come, Meb,' said Winnie. now that we lay
them on, let us go down aud sec Walter, h
viii be so pleased. Really, never saw any
thing more becoming than they are, the skirt
hang so gracefully II thero. is any fault
they are tribe too low in the neck but still
y does not matter 20 much in evening dresses
you know.
Bcautifnl--beautifull' exclaimed Walter, a
we entered the baek-parlOr where he was seat
ed. # you had gone the city over you cou
DOT have bettered your selection. / admire tn
style Of them, SO ehastely simple, and were
not for your dis, lRsfing h0ops-eKeuse tn
homey term, Cousin Meb-I should feel reall,
proud Of you both. Icannot see why any sen
Sble woman should wish to make herself fidie
uious! should be only too well pleased i'm,
wife hsd.thc independence to drop them entirely
and you too, Cousin Mebl'
Walters business called him out that eve
ming, and Winnie and 4 were lelt 10 ourselves
4 Cousin Meb.' said Winnie, locking up from
her work, you must excuse my lack of sOcia
bilily, FOR I have been thinking, and am il
quite a quandary have the kihdest husban
10 The wo ID, and do not Ike 10 make sec
cond party priyy 10 the only Misunderstanding
that have arisen between US, aud yet, in ofde
to gain your consent to my proposal, / must
Walter, as you have already learned has gTea
antipathy to hoops There has not da
passed since our marriage, but have bee
forced TO hear him complain about them-if W
walk, he grumbles at my occupying the create
part Of the side waik-if we ride, he iretsH Fan
tries to crowd them into less space, il we 90 I