The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-06
THE FASHIONS.

cerning Dress-The MOrquise de s.
Preparing for COmpicgne-Tho Num-
ber, style, Material, and Trimmings
of her Robes, Etc.
PARIS November l6-It may be remembere
by your readers that ] had the honor OF Civ
ing them an account OF my hr5t visit to the
great French fashion oracle. / said that il
lived in a iar-amed succeed dwelling, which
is impenetrable to all but the initiated, and
even 10 them is almost as inaccessible as the
rocks among which the sphinx OF Antiquity
sat brooding over strange riddles.
Having once described the outer precincts of
the my sterious temple, and every local detail
OF the interior thereof being designated, will
boldly relate what transpred when l again sat
in the yellow satin empire, facing the some
what bulky autocrat of the seventh court. The
aspect of this sd1lct1ua differed widely from the
OIL il had worn few weeks ago. The hang
ings hal been renewed; large Rouen pots con-
tanning exotics were mounted on black pedes-
tails; an immense aloe, with long spiked leaves,
stood in a rich china Vase; the carpet was made
of velvet pile; and a delicate scent proceeded
from bouquet that had been sent to Paris
that morning by Alphonse Karr, the famous
novelist, now gardener at Nice.
The curtain was slightly drawn which divided
this part of the temple from the chambers in
which hung the raiment came TO describe.
Glimpses of rich hues were visible and my ewes
probably glistened, Tor the oracle drew string,
and the curtain closed. lt looked spteul
thought and evidently enjoyed my dsappont-
ment. Madame" IT said, ''you have beena long
tine making up your mind to come and consult
me on the new court styles q bowed acquies-
cence) and you are very fractions" it continued.
There was no denying the fact so | bowed
again. "You seem 10 think you need not talk
about Court till the Empress has opened her
first ball at the Tuilenes," it continued. as
that what you call serving fashion? Let me
tell you that Il really must beg pardon tor the
oracles 6gurative language) the Empress is
gong to play second fiddle this season in mat
ters of dress; she means to adopt the simplest
styles on all occasions; in fact, reduce attire
to a mere case of necessity. Now, what are
you laughing at ~ 1t asked suddenly.
81 was thinking" l answered, chat if the
Empress reduces dress TO case of necessity,
her court ladies will do more by reducing it to
something less ; their present bare shoulders
prove that they are doing away with the neces-
sity already"
iNladame, you are very fond of making in le.
pendent observations. Please listen -
l should have obeyed had not a lady of fault
less hgure, one OF the tgTantes Of the temple.
in black poult de sole robe, marched up to the
altar and familiarly whispered in the oracles
ear. 1t seemed moved, somewhat flurried, and
rose, yes, II actually rose from its seat.
Let her be shown in, by all means" it an
sweTed.
/ understood that some grand parsonage was
approaching, and modestly made for the
curtain.
''You can STOP" said the oracle, with admi-
rable Condescension.
Inever saw the 'best authority" at all uneasy
about its personal appearance before. On this
occasion it walked to one of the pier glasses,
pulled down its waistcoat, twirled its mus
tachios, nodded at ITSELF and, when "a livery
servant Threw Tue uOOr Wlue open, ureW up all
the length OF its five feet six inches. 1t bowed
as much as it could from such a height, when
delicate, elegant lady, the Marquise de S.,
very fair, very sight, very tall, made her
a have come to see the selections you have
made for me, before leave for Compiegne,'
said the Marquse sitting down. Her move
ments were very graceful.
The oracle suddenly dropped the halo OF mys-
terry with which had till then ever seen 1t sur-
rounded, and became plain dealer in very rich
1ntha hot mon 10 snnkn EARNESTLY
as men do in the transaction of business, elo-
quently, as people must when there is a great
deal of money at stake.
are very satisfactory, but hear that some of
the same style have been sent to the Chateau de
Mouchy. Now, you know always like to have
the only thing Of a kind ever made, and as do
not object to high charges, pray, for the future,
never let me wear anything that has ever been
copied for any one else."
Mr.. K, who had put aside all his oracular
ways SAID he was not aware that any of his pat
terms had been copied by any existing costumier,
and that he believed the thing was as impossl-
bic as Tor him 10 see Mahomet's seventh Para
disc; that the Marquise's orders were made like
mosaic, in separate pieces, and by different
seamstresses-one sewing sleeve, another the
trimming, third one cuffs, fourth the piping
and that the ensemble was put together under
his own inspection. How any one could ever
have got one of his ideas was poser which he
had rather not set himself.
You must have spy in your establishment,
said his lady customer. "Now that lace founcc
round my blue velvet court robe has, nave
been told, been seen somewhere before"
''Round the Empress OF Aus,ria's throne robe
Madame"
''Who sold it to her ?" asked the lady, sharply
mo doines of mine, Madame; it was bought
by her Majesty's orders, through Madame dc
Metternich, at the Compagnie des hides"
"And my Alencon shawl is only a copy, after
all, OF the pattern suggestedl6y the Duchesst
d'Elchingen tor her daughter Did she really
pay 1900 francs per metre for that hounce
have heard so much ot?"
''She did; your ladyship can see large piece
Of 1t any day in the above companies stores
'Thete; thai is what l complain of. Every
body can see every thing for money at tina
Indian warehouse, and even without any money
lace every one has bought. Will you be kint
enough, Mr.. K, to show me my things'"
"You must excuse me, Madame, " said the gen
teman, while drawing the curtain and disclosing
a full view of the chamber of wonders ''If
stand up tor the Compagnle des Indies, for con
sidering that they deal with none but such a
are willing to pay proper sum for the genuine
obligation OF marking every thread in plail
figures which holds good alike for kings
queens, and the simplest purchaser. l know
lady who went there with bank notes to tn
amount Of ten thousand francs which she wa
determined 10 invest in a shawl, and was sorel
dlsa ppoinGed to find that the best did not cos
more than seven thousand; not only di tn
compagnie tell her she could not pay more thai
the lace was worth, but that they could not ge
her better article even ii she paid twent
thousand for it. That is the advantage OF plan
figures, Madame. 1t is a check on dishones
dealings, and none but rich company cal
afford to mark their goods thus
By this time Mr.. X, with the assistance o
the 6eurante mentioned before, had brough
everything labelled with the Marquise's nam,
fhn on,,4Vn ,Nf4 4I,p UfI,a tod,