Smyrna times., 1866-02-21
NJ S G + ELLAN EOUS.
NY Wife's New Bonnet.
BY BARRY GRAY.

brought new bonnet home to nv wife
Vow, IL there be one thing more than another
which my wife likes to have me bring home To
her, 1t is new bonnet. \ new bonnet in a
house IS an untaiIlng source of dcyht for. M
least, one Sunday. After it has been To-
church, and your wife female friends
+ + rhapS, others who are not her lrcnds-haye
admired and cast enyious glancts at it, it ccaS-
cS, TO some extent, to posses, its pristine charm
/ StlH with little mana cement ON the part of
the wearcr, new bonnet, if it be very cle-
CANT one, may be made to do good service, not
only at church, bat at the opera, one or two
concerts, and lecture. / don't know why it
! IS, but, 50 far as my experience goes | think
! ladies take very kindly to new bonncts. thrv
seem to appreciate them much more than any
other portion Of their wardrobe Perhaps it is
/ because 1t can be shown to greater advantage
/ than many other articles In crowded Assem-
! bagcS the bonnet can always be seen. The
turs, the shawl, the rich dresses, and the lew
clry, are Otttimes hidden from observation; but
the bonnet rises above all and, in church, can
| be seen for pCwS around.
| 1t Is very gratifying to the husband to mark
the smile which lights up his wifc's counte
nance when he informs her that he has brought
her new bonnet. That smile in my opinion.
! Is worth more than many new bonnetS 1t re-
minds me, somehow, of my COurtShip DAYS
/ and wish, at such moments, that could be-
always bringing home new bonncts to nv wife.
| know of no other article of ladies apparel
which Is so subject to the changes of fashion
a. the bonnet. Every month witnesses an al
teratlon; 50 that you may safely take new
bonnet home to your wife each month, withoui
fearing that she already possesses one in the
least like it..
For man whose ex xperience in the matrimo-
NAL arena is of an intelcitous character, | can
imagine no Surer way of his making it felicitous
than by a monthly gift to his wife of new
bonnet. Even though, in the parlance of the
world, he can't afford it, yet he should do it
ior the sake OF domestic peace. Wisely hath u
iatter-day solomon said Better is a new
bonnet .nh On the head OF wife, than shoes and
stockings on the feet of children
In my case, fortunately for my purse and thc
coihIor' OF my little ones, this necessity does
not exist. The new bonnet which two or three
times year l take home to my wife is nor
given as peace offering. l sometimes tLink
too, that | enjoy that new bonnet quite as
much as she does. | experience great pleas
ure IN seeing her open the square green box.
on which the name of French mincr of re-
pute, in gilt letters, on awhile enamced card
appears, containing it, and observe her look OF
approval-she regards my taste, in the matter
oi selecting bonnet, as unequaled-wh her
glance first falls upon it. Then, placing her
hand carefully under it, she lifts it as tendery
out OF the box as if it were an infant, and gazcs
. at 1t with admiration. She takes, before
speaking word, front, side and back view OF
1t, turning 1t quietly around on her hand, and
sometimes, have remarked like a c0nnOisseu1
before picture, with half-eloscd eyes and head
resting little on one side, reminding me OF
the action OF canary bird, SO as to get taircl
view OF 1t, and to better appreciate its cOntO,0
! and style. Then she daintily re -arranges q bud
or q leaf on the outside putting the bud over
the leaf or the leaf under the bud. as it NAV
be. She gives little twist, too, to a cluster OF
flowers which seemed inhIrmonously mt to.
gether, and confess, that even to my ewes Il
assumes q more artistic appearance Then She
shakes up in light, airy way, the plume, but
? Immediately thereafter proceeds to smooth il
down: she rulfies and imOothes it several
times, indeed. before she has it TO please her.
Then she closely scrutinzcs 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 confdentin
tone, she remarks that the lace is real thread
lace, ChantiIly or Valencienncs, or whatever il
b may be. BY this time she Is prepared to per
form the great act OF trying 1t on.
Getting before the mirror, where she can OBJ
= tain a4air view of herself, the dear woman pro
ceeds to smooth down her hair, where 1t lle'
plainOnler head or eleyatos the curls trltie
ii, there be curls or lifts up the pufs a little
where there are puffs. Then, after assuring
v herself, by repeated glances at the nirror tina
d her hair is in good order she places, with dut
q solemnity, the bonnet On her head. 1t take
le about ten minutes to get that bonnet in the ex
act position which she deems the most becom
ing and to tie the strings in a. suitable manne
under her chin. Then SHE turns to you witht
most rayishing smile, and, arching her eye
= brows and making her lips look like q hali
4 blown rose, gives you'a glance which plainl
/. asks yeu to express your opinion as to the bon
/. net and the wearer. e@s.
y Il is always safe, on these occasions, to sa
/ that you never saw a lotelier bonnet one NOR