The new era., 1860-04-19
Correspondence of the New Era.
New York Letter.

IN 0W OIh h6tLC4'
New York, March 80, 1860.
We city people harbor little vanity
in imagining that our far-of' provincial
friends are considerably interested in
our doings We fancy that our contin-
uaIy changing styles move you; that
YOU wonder whether skirts are worn
long, or short plain or fiounced; wheth-
er black broadcloth, or enormous plaids
are most distngue; whether boots are
square toed or round; and whether
bonnets are the same wee bits of things
call the rage" last year
After all, there is a peculiar magic IN
Fashion that ridicule and sneere as we
will, irresistibly charms US into It's ranks
We neither resist, or quarrel with
the strange whims of this caprlclous ty-
rant but oft times catch ourselves NOR
alizing over some antiquated spiel
mems of silk, and feathers, thinking
what sensation its appearance would
work on the promenade.
1t is customary in New York to make
the third Thursday of March day of
special revelation to the ladies'. At that
time, all the principal milliners unlock
their richest cases of hitherto concealed
models Of egance-arrange them art
fully around the rooms-and then open
their doors to the ever curious public.
Every one is privileged to examine to
her hearts content No art, or brlbe,
will induce Those wary artists to give
you ev9n a glance Of the coming style,
before the day of exposition--and you
must rely upon your constitutional
ability to survive an almost overpower-
ing crush Of crino]ine, to obtain even
then glimpse.
Thursday of last week was announc-
ed as the day of "Spring opening; but
unfortunately, the winds blew, and the
rains fell in torrents. The streets were
muddy, and the crossings maliciously
slippery, except at a few corners where
regiment of little, tattered, baretooted
girls, with dilapidated bonnets, were
dexterously running in and out, between
stage-wheels, cleaning the way for foot
passengers
But Notwithstanding this violent con-
spracy of the elements, the streets were
filled at an early hour with hundreds of
ladies--who showed considerable eX-
pertness in carrying an umbrella with
one hand, and with the other elevating
their skirts so a to utterly defy conta-
gion with the mud. illustrations. plen-
ty, against Fanny Ferns assertion in
last weeks Ledger: ''that woman nee
er could carry parachute properly.
The principal millenery establish
ments presented an unusually brilliant
selection Of tasty bonnets-but every
body was forced to confess that this
seasons styles are gradual crawling
backward to the time Of our grand-moth-
er's remembrance. The hats are very
large, with a decided sloping forward,
the front view resembling, | can find
no nearer comparison,) moderate
sized coal scuttle These contrast
strangely with the trim scallop shells
worn last year upon the back of the
neck. always looking as if they were
trying to catch up with the head.
Ruches are now decidedly obsolete;
but flowers, and feathers, are used about
the face in profusion.
Speaking of fashions, reminds me OF
another suddenly sprung into popularity;
and, if our memory serves us right, sa-
vors also of the Golden time" 1t is
that of decorating skirts with founces,
numbering from ten up to twenty, (if
you can manage to get them on, the
more, the more fashionable. r
did not intend it, but the burden of
this letter is nothing but the old theme.
But how can give you anything more
sensible, when this alone is now our ev-
ery-day gossip. To be sure, there are
grand mass meetings almost every night
at Cooper's Institute-elegant "Pleas
for Disunion," by the silver-tongued or
ator. Wendell Phillips-and very sensi-
BILE democratic harangues by our hard
working, union-saving Mayor Wood;