Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-02-13
Written for the Chronicle.
FASHIONS.


I am not apt to trouble my brain abou
fashions, but now and then, the frivolous
Queen, turns up something SO greatly t,
my advantage, that she quite puts me IL
ecstasies. Thick soled shoes for instance
or rather bootes with thick uppers t
match, and their his gh heels to hold the
foot out of the mud
Imagine one of our girls, that has pat
tered about in kid and prunella ever since
her babyhood. stamping up and down oul
parlors in an understanding half incl
thick, and daring to set her feet down as
if there was somebody above them Then
imagine (if you cam colored Petticoat
of substantial woolen goods ct strikes
me Just here, that pettico0t is not exactly
delicate-excuse me ladies and gentlemen,
1 should have said "Balmoral''!l) Now
when she lifts her outside garments grace
fully, on the streets. she exposes no drag
ling white (white. what a misnomer Dmud
bedaubed embroideries, to disgust all pass
ers by. These are hopeful signs of the
times.
Sensible boots reaching almost to the
knees (bless me, another forbidden word
skirts that can stand the s.ud. and sole
and uppers that bid defiance to damps.and
what is better than ALL independence to
wear them. What nextl
You may well ask. [ was almost thrown
into spasms the other day by a new dis
play. What's your talk of secession-dis-
solving the Union. or wOman's rights. COM
pared with it? Let your banks 20 down.
stocks sink to o, here is fashion that will
bring all things up again, and restore con-
idence in jify.
|, yeS .ce. if you choose, for | was not
alone by at least two hundred. / saw in
the hall of the Representatives at the
State Capitol, and in the Senate Chamber,
also, the marvellous apparition of lady,
of high life, in gored dress, with never a
plait or gather in front. The breadth of
her enfoldings reduced one third at least.
underskirts, upperskirts and all Think
of that We desponding ones, and let it give
bucyancy to your spirits and brightness to
your dreams.
There were tight sleeves too, almost as
close to the pretty arm as the covering
wherewith mother nature adorns and pro-
teets those -be-out- patented baby
tenders and washing machines with which
every well organized woman is supplied.
Don't you see your old scGnt dresses
walking out of the dark closets into the
light, and asking to be renodeled?? They
were ignored twelve month ago, when
ladies' skirts were entirely worthless with
out five good yards of fullness to fetter her.
They were too short, toe, and away they had
to march into retiracy
Bring them out; don't talk about any
thing new. Take out breadth or two
make new sleeves. and use your. economy
by fixing dainty little f uncings and folds
at the bottom to make out the length be-
hind, (the trails are coming again. but
let not your skirts touch the earth, or even
your Balmoral boots in front, and you are
just in the style.
All fashion, you will get many poor
girls hearty blessing. She can turn her
Pagoda and Bishops into tights. and her
full gowns into gored ones, with the twink
ling of her merry fingers. or the whirling
of her ''West & Wilson, and with the
skill of the good mother in Burns Cot
tiers Saturday Night" '.For old things
look amaist as well as new"
But don't let me forget the bonnet
The frill- must be of two colors. The bon
net of straw and silk, velvet and silk, or
silk and ribbon. got up exactly to suit the
times. SO that we may make one big bon
net out of two old little ones. Girls don't
you see? When Fashion turns economist,
we may have hope for the country.