Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-06-02
MATRIMONIAL FELICITIES.
BY BARRY GRAY.
[From the Home Journal. i

/ brought new bonnet home to my
wife.
Now, If there be one thing more than an
other which my wife likes to have me bring
home to her, 1t is a new bonnet. A new
bonnet in house is an untailing source of
delight for, at least, one Sunday. After it
has been to church, and your wife's female
friends, and, perhaps, Others who are not
her friends, have admired and cast enviOus
glances at it, it ceases, to some extent, to
possess its pristine charm. Still, with a
little managementon the part of the wearer,
a new bonnet, if it be very elegant one,
may be made to do good service, not only
at church, but at the opera, one or two
concerts, and lecture. L don't know why
it is, but, so far as my experience goes |
think ladies take very kindly to new bon
nets; they seem to appreciate them much
more than any other portion of their ward
robe. Perhaps it Is because it can be
shown to greater advantage than many
other articles. In crowded assemblages the
bonnet can always be seen. The furs, the
shawl, the rich dresses and the jewelry are
oft-times hidden from observation; but the
bonnet rises above ALL and, in church, can
be seen for pews around.
1t is very gratifying to the husband to
mark the smile which lights up his wite's
couDtenance when he informs her that he
has bought her new bonnet. That smile,
in my opinion, is worth more than many
new bonnets. 1t reminds me, somehow, of
my courtship days, and L wish, at such
moment, that could be always bringing
home elegant new bonnets to my wife.
p L knowof no other article of ladies' APP
parel which is so subject to changes of
fashion as the bonnet. Every month wit
nesses an alteration; so that you may safe
ly take new bonnet home to your wife
each month, without fearing that she al
ready possesses one in the least like it.
For a man whose experience in the mat
rimonial arena is of an infelictous charac-
ter, | can imagine no suler way of his
making it feicitous than by monthly gift
to bis wife of new bonnet. Even though
in the parance of the world, he can't af-
ford it, yet he should do it for the eHke of
domestic peace. Wisely hath l..v er-day
Solomon said : "Better is new bonnet on
thehead of wife, than shoes aud stockings
on the feet of children"
In my case, fortunately for my purse and
the comfort of my little ones, this necessity
does not exist. The new bonnet which,
two or three times a year, take home to
my wife, is not given as peace offering. l
sometimes think, too, that enjoy that new
bonnet quite as much as she does ex-
the square green box, on which the name
OF French milliner of repute, in gilt let
ters on a white enameled card, appears,
containing it, and observe her look of ap-
proval-sh regards my taste, in the matter
of selecting bonnet, as unequaled-whe
her glance first falls upon it. Then, plac-
ing her hand carefully under 1t, she lifts it
as tenderly out of the box as if it were an
infant, and gazes at it with admiration.
She takes, before speaking word, front,
side, and back view of it, turning it around
on her hand, and sometimes, L have re-
marked, like COnaOiSsetT before picture,
with half-closed eyes and head resting a
little on one side, reminding me Of the ac-
tion of a canary bird, so as to get fairer
view of it, and to better appreciate its con-
tour and style. Then she daintily rear
ranges bud or leaf on the outside, put
ting the bud over the leaf or theleaf under
the bud, as it may be. She gives a little
twist, too, to a cluster of flowers which
seemed inharmoniously put together, and
confess, that even to my eyes it assumes a
more artistic appearance. Then she shakes
up, in light airy way, the plume, but im-
mediately thereafter proceeds to smooth it.
down; she rules and smooths it several
times indeed, beforeshe has it to please her.
Then she CLOSELY scrutinizes the quality OF
the velvet, the texture of the ribbons and
the character of the lace. Then, speaking
for the first time, and in somewhat Of a
confidential tone, she remarks that the lace
is real thread lace, chantily or valenciennes,
or whatever it may be-. By this time she is
preparing to perform the great act of try
ing it on. u.JCG I.. ........ ....r... .-,
Getting before the mirror, where she can
obtain fair view Of herself, the dear wo-
man proceeds to smooth down her hair
where it lies plain on her head; or ele-
Yates the curls trife, If there be eGrls ; or
lift up the puffs little, where there are
puffs. Then, after assuring herself by re-
peated glances at the mirror, that her hair
Is in good order, she places, with due
solemnity, the bonnet on her head. 1t
takes about ten minutes to set that bonnet
into the exact position which she deems the
most becoming, and to fix the strings In
suitable manner underher chinyl Then she
-tufnedto you, with most raVishing smile,
and,c arching her eyebrows and making
her lips look like half-blown' rose, gives
you glance which plainly asks you to eN-
press your opinion as to the bonnet and the
Wearer. .vtT3Hi' 4r -.. ...,,,a a,f .,....,..i4
1t is always safe, on these occasions, to
say that you never saw lovelier bonnet;
one more becoming, or-and here you can
make a low bow--as moment when the
wearer looked younger and fairer than she
does now. ButyOu must not seek, TO kiss
her, for she would instantly ,frown down
any such attempt on your part Wait uti-
til the bonnet is taken off and laid into the
box before you do this, and then--well,
then It'll good thing to do and that day,
if you stay at home, will be white day in
your life. ''i1" 'H'.i
attended church, a concert, lecture, aud
the reception at the National Academy of
Design q course of treatment most salts
factory to the wearer. l0 l1otlbph odf
''hpoO 'aI .lHno9 3nj Do aqldsuWol |