Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-08-03
PARTISAN snCIETY, AND THE MODE
OF KILLING TIME THERE-A FASH

EAIAtEtAN ANAS 4Ntbhs
OF KILLING TINE THERE-A FASH
IONARLE vOMAN'S REGULATIONS.
This purports to be a Translation ofia letter
from a woman dwelling in the innermost
circles of Partisan fashionable life to one of
her fair friends, at distance from the gay
capital; 3 q hi IS ti ~ 1fH ID t
This is the first day have been able to
command a few hours since | quilted the
country. last November, wherein | might
hold converse of ideas with you, my dear
friend. Those persons accustomed to the idle
life LED in the provinces will, dare say, look
upon this as something incredible; and yet |
assure you II Is the strictest truth You must
not think that am an eXceptonable char
acter. There are a great many women like me
IN Paris. Every woman who goes n great
deal into society, and leads really fashion,
able life, is as busily occupied as | have been
during this long and brilliant Paris season."
which began with the last days of autumn,
and ended with the end Of May. When
remember that Nine de Sevigne weuta great
deal into society, eau scarcely cohesive how
she found time to write so many, such long
and such admirable letters. Was not society
most exacting was not women's occupations
extremely limited in her days We women
of the nineteenth century have engagements
that fll our every moment, and the course of
our duties and our pleasures leaves us scarcely
a few hours for Sleep Of truth, we are often
obliged to retrench this call from our daily
engagements. 100
The first thing do in the morningafte my
maid dresses my hair and.putson my clothes,
is to write FIVE or six notes which | can not
avoid writing; the longest Of them is only
four lines long. Thenl give my audiences to
nv trades people and my petitioners; they
think possess more influence than | enjoy,
and willingly accord my weak but active
protection TO any person that merits it, Be-
fore breakfasting, which you know takes
place at twelve o'clock, examine the details
Of housekeeping and the management Of
our fortune forI have taken possession of
the administrationof our estate as completely
ns Tcould do so; my husband yielding to me
without much dificnlty portion of his la
borious privilege which is commonly the
monopoly of the gentlemen. Public affairs
next claim my attention; you know mean
by public affiirs benevolent institutions.
belong TO several of them, and have to
attend one or two almost every day. to say
nothing Of the extra labor which falls upon
me by reason OF nay lofaee - Tice-President
or Treasurer, or Secretary. 1t IS the fashion
to 20 to two or three cirbs IN the Afternoon
10 hear the news and takepart in the GOSSIP
of the day. am 'at home" Tuesdays, and
between two and six O'Clock, P. M, 10
people pay me q visit.
No body can. fail TO go 10 the Bois de Bou-
logne, when the weather is fine, and the
remainder of our time isconsumed by morn
iugn concerts, dinner7Jarties and operas and
balls. / sly nothing Of the hours taken by
The different toilettes OF the morning andiihf
evening, nor of great many other obliga-
tions we are under, nor OF. the Lent sermons
we must hear, the exhibitions me must see
the races we must appear at. We are all
obliged TO fill these obligations. II some
women are not actively engaged in works Of
benevolence, they have other cares tcengross
their time; for instances they have to study,
rehearse and play their parts in private
theatricals. Surely, You can not wonder
after hearing all this, if we poor women OF
Paris have no time to write long letters they
would take great pleasure in sending,
during the winter, to their dear friends in
the country Really, men do make me laugh
when hear them talk of their multifarious
business, OF their grave cares! If they have
Two different things to manage at the same
lime, they think themselves Caesars Many
and many time, have / carried on FIVE or
six things at time, and don't see any thing
10 be proud of about it.
At last the period Of time has come when
these ariuous and delightful labors are sus-
pended, and 1 take advantage of tito hold
communion with you and tell you some
thing of the past winter. Another winter is
gone tbs the hftb since my marriage. How
many of those brilliant winters have we
women, between turning out and mature
age2 Not more than q dozen Of them So
have run through hall of my best DAYS.
must, Then, be true philosopher and turn to
the best possible advantage this short and
feeting period of our lite-and this have
done last winter and every winter which pre-
ceded it,
Last winter was delightful. 1t was not
over brilliant, but it was well filled and very
abundantly provided with parties and balls
There were some delightful balls which wer,
never spoken of by the newspapers. Tn,
best balls frequently escape and shun pub
licity. know II for true that most womer
in society like to be mentioned, or at leas
designated by yery transparent initials in thu
newspapers. II gives some gentleman ,thl
text on which they can build a compliment
They say 70 twenty ladies in the same even
ing, and at the same party; u recognized
you instantly; you are the beautiful ant
newspaper this morning Out OF thes
twenty women he addresses nineteen aud
half smile agreeably, and take good care L
forbear saying no. Thank heaven no new
dance was introduced into the ballroom thi
winter. | know nothing more disagreeabl
than these continual importations Of Englisl
quadrilles,. American steps, Russian, Polish
lJdulSil SdllClos iIhcy OpllB
Que TO return TO the dodoing- school ever,
year, TO study hard, 70 take the iashionabl
.aneing-master, and find be has not time TO
his sinnumerable pupils, and hear him propose
with imperturable impertinence, 20 give on
lesson between four and hVe O'Clock in tn
morning, this being the only spare hour b
has Aud one is obliged 70 accept his houi
and TO learn with great labor these foreig
and old chorcographical exercises, which az
far from being as Agreeable as our simpl
dances and our graceful waltz, but which on
must learn and execute, under pain of neye
dancing at balls and being looked upon for
creature belolgingto antediluvian times an
10 antipodical worlds.
- Private theatricalg enjoyed again'this yea
great fsvors in Paris drawing-rooms. 1t
not wondered that fashion should be 80 las
ingand 50 domineering. II gives bushes
and satisfetion 10 soinuch TaFiity IN so man
people. The play OF every part adds its IL
uon 50 naturally 70 80 many real pretty in
trignesl The private stage ffnrnishes iae
mirers and hAtteFersso cheaply The illusio