The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-01
CHAPTER VII.

THE ART or DRESSING IN GOOD rAsTE-ALICB's
ACCoMPLIsHMENTs-A HUSBAND AND FATHERS
DEATH-HIs INCOME DIES WITH HIM-THE VALUE
OF AN INSURANCE--FUTURE EMPLOYMENT
ALICE's AND EDWARDS MARRIAGE.
There is one thing which | should mention as
part OF my acquhed experiences the art Of
dressing IN qood taste.
1T purchased an inexpensive material, did
not call attention to the fact by overlooking it
with trimming and paltry lace, but 1t was well
shaped, and well made, and simply trimmed, so
that by this meals it escaped particular no.
tice. | also avoided buying anything with other
wise than the most simple pattern ON it, | had
no desire to be known at any Instance by my
dress. The planest, richest silk - generally
black-was my best dress; and the exquisite,
fine, soft, silky black alpaca my home and even.
ing uress. There Is no pretensoE aoout the
latter mateIial-It is Mt once suitable and pleas
ing TO the eye, and may be worn by duchess
witt out detenorating from her acknowledged
good taste. The same by bonnets-ot a good
material, but so simple and plain, though ways
OF the best shape, that they were generally be.
coming. may observe that my style of Gress,
which from its excessive plainness dlsarmed
criticism, was studlousy acquired,
My frequent change of servants-from their
own choice, not MINGLED me to give up the
contentious point respecting eXuberance in their
dress. So long as they were tiGilv clad while
attending upon my family, permitted them to
''iaunt in gay attire" as much as they pleased
when absent from me. For some time | mourned
their folly, and reasOnedEwth them upon the
BAD tendency of Their excessive vanity, without
making otherwise than an Ill impression upon
them, suikmess being generally the result
However, they lost and | gained, for | became
almost severe in the pattern and style of my
own Uress. An amplitude of fold, and a rich or
OtherWlS lSe most simple material, marked in dress
the contrast between myself and my servants.
To eXpatIate here on the folly OF servants dress
ing so eXtraVagantly IS not 10 my present pur-
pose, though l have often wished sumptuary
laws were in force to compel them TO attire
themselves III a manner becoming to their sta
ton, or that their wages might be partially
deN oted to the savings banks, as a little future
, provision against sickness or other casualties.
My children grew up TO be duutul and loving.
Alice, before ner fathers death, became my
right hand; she was an excellent little cook, a
methodical hOusekeeper-ln tact, a domestic
treasure. was determined that no selfmade
thorny path ST ould be hers; hence she was care
fully instructed III every petty detail of house
keeping, even to the saltmg OF meat and the
baking OF bread; what she did at all was tho.
roughly done. This 'hOTOJgh-gOdlgReSS' was
part OF her nature; she did not inherit the
'hdt-W dOn system, but shook 1t off with de-
termined effort, and kept ir at distance.
Alice was pleasing reader; she also played
with taste and expression, ana she sketched
from nature with firm touch, which at one
time led me to think might be turned to a
professional account; this, on its being broached,
she sbrank from with undisgulsed aversion,
but she nevertheless kept up the practice OF all
her requirements with undlminished ardor,
which leu me to infer that she saH some neces-
sity tor it. Every summers morning found her
az o'clock reading and studying tor an hour
and halt: then she went INTO the garden, aad
| busted herself for an hour, coming In with
| glowing cheeks and the brightest of smiles
! She was the minstering angel IN our home
| had accustomed her from her earliest years tC
wait upon herself and as much as possible
upon her lather and me also. The thought haC
never entered my brain TO save her trouble
! therefore, year by year, she more and more
| nlled my place In all domestic affairs, She
learned TO cut out and make all her clothes
and with an aptitude Of Contriyance quite for
egn to my nature. had perfect rest aud peace
as TO her future, should she ever be lett alone
in the world; not that | could presume sht
would be exempt nom trouble, sickness, o.
| privatlons, but elt she would be prepared Il
meet them, and therefore would suffer less thai
| II she were an ignorant, untaught girl.
| We we're one Cay conVerslng upon the diheren
! degrees OF happiness which women especlall.
experienced, even when they set out from tn
same point in lite. 81 do not think it possible
to be very unhappy" said she, sit We make thu
best OF our means whether they be Irtle o
great" "But suppose you don't know how Il
make the best of every thing" "Why, in tina
case there must be misery for the wife, tn
children, anu the husband / sometimes thin
/ shall be somebody some day, mamma; AM
that is why practice so much every accom-
plisbment know. | should not like directly
was married to give up my piano, my singing
and my drawing, and SO bury myself away
giving no JOY to my bright little home which
am sure l shall one day have" '- -s