The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-29
THE FAs Hio N s.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE or THE H1aAlu.


Gold md Steel Trimmings-Roots. High
Heeled Shoes and rial Re-
Cepti0ns-Dresses Seen in the On1ctal Sa-
lons-The Countess do La vnlette-Iadame
de Moustier and Her Daughters nj the
Foreign Once observation-disclosures Costumes
Looping Up Trains-Human nifty In Another
Point Of View.
PARIS Dec. IA, 1867.
Gold and steel, satin trimmings, velvet leaves,
are the accessories on every thing. Cloth cos
tunes with nothing but gilt buttons are considered
the most distingue.
Among other items ! may mention great re.
cherchS in boots and slippers, with most enterpris-
ing and delirious attempts of shoemakers to make
pair Of high heeled shoes come mp to one hun
dred and twenty five francs! Wooden stills would
be preferable.
The fashionable events of this week have been
private rehearsals of "Gulliver's Travels" at thu
Chatelet, and rehearsas on grander scale of min
isterial receptions These official gatherings have
as yet been very thinly attended.
It was M. Pinard's first Tuesday on the 10th.
This new Excellence is Minister of the Interior,
and his splendid saloons at the place Beauveau
were magnifcently illuminated.
Madame Pinard was very simply attred in vel
low satin with black streaks and gold blonde. Her
teal production of her native town, which is
Bourges. If all the daughters of fashion would
thus ever patronize the products of their own
countries, so combined to satisfy the tastes of
the day, we should hear less of trade being low.
In this age of female politicians and womans
rights this might be one of the many patriotic
demonstrations ladies could attempt.
At NJ. Rouher's, the Minister of State, the
drawing rooms were empty until ten, when the
thin crowd dropped in by degrees, but the recep-
ton was all over at eleven. Madame Rouher and
her daughter, who is Comtesse WelIes de Lava
lette, did the honors very gracefully. The latter
wore lovely and yet simple toilet. The under
petticoat was white silk, over which blue tarle-
tan. having seven white small frills piped with
blue satin round the bottom and headed with a
blue satin crosscut. Over this the upper skirt was
of blue tarletan, not longer than to reach the
crosscut heading, and trimmed round with blue
blonde lace, looped up on the right side with
bouquet Of wild briar. The bodice, very low and
square, had no ornament with the exception of
blue blonde, like that on the over tunic but round
the Comtesse'n neck and in her hair sho cir
ciets Of gold, very richly wrought; the same on
her arms and in her ears.
The whole looked like blue and white vapor.
The foreign office reception was much more bril-
liant, but sparely adorned however, by ladies. In
fact, their absence much regretted as political
discussions among the different members Of the
diplomacy very nearly converted M. de Moustier's
saloons into Legislative assembly.
- Madame de Moustier on this occasion assisted
in welcoming her guests by her two daughters.
Both very beautiful and wore plain white
taffeta robes with azure stripes but the elegance
OF the cut and the style Of their toilets is almost
indescribabe, for all that'is the learned device Of
Partisan dressmakers. These plain robes were
OF course rempie, low and square on the
shoulders.
Madame de Moustier was in green satin with
POmpadour stripes. The ambassadors Of SPAIN
Russia and Prussia were present.
On the same evening dinner party for eighty
was given by M. Schneider, at the Corps Legis
latif Here again the absence of the fair sex was
q subject of deep regret.
robe of satin Of the shade called ndcdrdt, which is
deep orange red. The only ornaments that can
be worn with this are diamonds and pearls.
M. Schneider, like NJ. Rouher. appeared
fatigued-a matter Of no wonder-durng this
cventfnl session. That the President Of the
Assembly should be alive at all after the debates
about Italy is . wonder.
But though politics are fashionable, and these
letters are the dictates Of Fashion herself / must
not forget 10 mention the incroyabie waist band
and its curious appertainngs for the purpose of
looping up trains. Ii is inelegant but incredibly
practical, as it grasps up handful Of folds and il
not. more bunchy than parcel OF linen pegged up
by n laundress TO dry.
Ny whm, prompted by curiosity, having led me
lately as far as Bicetre, small place near Paris,
famous for the asylum for the insane, l vsited.the
hospital, and while in OF the galleries the fol-
lowing dialogue took place between n functionary
and applicant. The latter was a woman in deep
black, and her clothing attested the deepest
misery, though her features were expressive Of
calm endurance
80 you will not bury my. fathersn she in.
quired.
"wc will il you bring the money
II have none.n
Then make some.v
IL have pawned all my clothes.p
Apply TO your friends"
81 have none"
The man in Office shrugged his shoulders up to
his ears, saying
al am sorry for you. Go to the director, and IL
he sends you to the chaplain, 20 to the chaplain;
but cant bury dead body without money. II
is against the rules"
so you really do refuse to bury IL ~
81 do
VERY well, sir; then keep it,
No words can express the functionary's counte.
nance when the above permission was given him
The walked quietly of, and it was not until
abe had left the madLouse far behind her that she
sat down on bench and sobbed.