Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-05-27
From petorson's Magazine.
DRESSING TO PLEASE ONES HUS-
nANn


Dress became Mrs Carlton and she knew
Il we'll. She was not blonde, with golden
cmls. and deep violet eyes. expressing all of
love and nothing more, whom you could array
in some white, cloudy substance, and com
ceive to be an angel floating for a while out
Of out her original sphere on this earth Of in
iqmty. And yet / do not wish to convey
the idea that our friends charaets was not
lovely one 1t was but sweetness is not
the word to use while describing her. In
tho gipsey backness Of her eyes there was a
depth Of character nevcr seen in the azure
orbs from which love looks forth and claims
It's place supreme; her complexion was deci
dedly dark, and her checks almost colorless,
except when heated up with the fire OF ex-
citement; her mouth was not small, but it
was well shaped. yea, very well shaped, and
expressive of great energy and determination
she was tall and well proportioned. graceful
and dignifed in short, she was one Of those
persons who seemed formed to wear the rich
est and handsomest dry goods which the skill
of manufacturers can produce. So much for
the lady let us turn now to her worser half
He was very fine looking, tall and large,
with gray eyes and dark hair, and rather a
stern expression His most noted character
istic was what he conceived to be perfect
contempt for dress he scrupulously avoided
all ornament in the way Of Eing, breast-pin,
or watch-chain, and there never was time
in the recollection Of his friends when Mr.
Carlton made his appearance in any other
than black clothes; so far and no farther
did he carry his Indifference TO dress in his
own case His cloth must always be of the
finest quality, and his clothes must be per-
feet it, But the distinguishing trait in his
character was more particularly exhibited in
his remarks upon the extravaganza of ladies',
their conformity to fashions, and similar top
les OF all this. indeed. Mrs. Carlton was
aware before her marriage. and she was told
that she would have no peace of her life with
such a man, that she never would be allowed
to dress in any sort Of style or taste but
with determined shake Of the head, she
would always reply: "I'l manage it,
Bella said Mr. Carlton ono fine morn
ing after they were married, IL am going to
bring friend home to dine with me to-day,
so look your prottiest he is very anxious to
be introduced to my bride, and he bent down
and kissed her fondly.
Our heroine knew she was fnc-looking /;
she had been informed Of that fact too fire.
quently to admit Of any ignorance on the sub
ject, and she knew too that she needed dress
TO set off her looks; it was therefore with
conscious pride that she glanced in the mir
TOR ere she descended into the drawing-room
to await the arrival of her husband and his
friend. Her rich raven tresses were twisted
in heavy braids. and so arranged as to set off
to the best advantage her fney-iormed head ;
the rose-tint Of her dress compared well with
her complexion, and the founces lent addi-
tional charms to the grace of her figure her
flowing sleeves seemed to fall modestly back.
exposing to view pair of beautifully mould
ed arms. and soit-dimpled hands and the
diamonds on her tapering fingers sparkled
and glistened as though in delight of their
beautiful mistress Bella knew that she was
looking uncommonly well, and she secretly
wondered if this would reconcile her husband
to her manner of dressing. She noticed his
pleased surprise as he entered and presented
his friend, Mr. Tucker, to her. For mo-
ment he was dazzled by her beauty, but then
with half sigh he reflected, "Il she is so
lovely now, how much would her charms be
enhanced could she but be induced to leave
off all this nonsense, and dress with perfect
simplicity, thus showing that her attractions
are her own, and not dependent upon any
thing outward ~
No such ideas, however, were floating
through the mind of Mr.. Tucker; he was en-
tranced by her beauty and hung with rapture
upon her every word and when Mr.. Carlton,
bent upon showing him the attractions of his
country seat, took him to his garden and sta
blos, and expatiated upon the swiftness of his
stocds, the wonderful growth of the vegota-
bles and the rarity of certain flowers, and
how Washington had probably rested under
such and such trees, his companion would
give the most random replies and seem scarce
TO know the difference between horse and a
rose. Before the day was over, he had made
up his mind to find a second Mrs. Carlton
without the Mrs, and ask her assistance in
emerging from bachelorhood. As our two
friends were sitting that evening together af-
ter the departure of their guest, Mr.. Carlton
observed;
81 don't know when have seen you look
so well, my dear
Bella glanced mp with a mischieyous smile
as she inquired "Do you think my dress is
becoming =
Anything that you wear must be becom-
ing, replied her husband, in conciliatory
tone, "but l must confess | think palmer
style would become you better Really, my
dear, if you could only know how much pret-
tier you would look without that vast expanse
Of crnoino, am almost sure you would give
it up instantly
"Why, my dear husband YOU can have no
conception of what fright ! should be, if |
were TO act upon your suggestion You
would be thankful to see me return to my
present style"
Before others wore hoops had the idea
been suggested to you, you would have ex-
claimed in horror that they would have trans
formed you to a fright; you see it is only
fashion which influences you, and if you would
be true to nature, and not seek to alter your
figure by artificial means, you cannot tell how
much you would be improved And then,
my dear that thin dress is very pretty, GER
tainly, in ITSELF but of how little use
could not help thinking, when you tore it on
the bramblo-bush, as we passed through the
garden, how much more convenient thicker
and palmer one would have been. saw Mrs,
L. the other day dressed in neat calico,
and you cannot tell how much admired her
appearance. And then, too, if ladies would
only wear their dresses shorter, say perhaps a
foot from the ground, you have no idea what
an improvement it would be-.
mot if the lady happens to have mann
moth foot, which would thereby become de-