The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-05
Gossip for the Ladies.
JENNIE JuSr's ACCOUNT OF THE DECEMBER FASHIONS


tailed with additions and exagSerauons, not only
in the paror and the bopdoir, but in the columns
Of the --ntlre press OF tho country.
Women never guilty O an ldea, aeEoureu WIN M
ennui but occupying certain social position, lind
themselves all at once lifted into an Importance OF
which they had no. 30 much as dreamed, their
dress hab.,s and entertainments made the SUBJECT
of scourt' paragraphs, and even the cclors OF the
horses which draw them, and the Afghans which
protect them in their daily drives, made the texts
for outbursts o. admrinS, Jenkinsonlan OBJ
seryationo. This magnlfylng OF society par
erceileEce, its accessories and surroundings does
not come from tue members Of its interior circles;
they become too wearied CT Its mouotony to ind
in 1t material for lively or brilliant Upton.
fashionable news Is therefore principally done"
by hungry penny-a-dners, who hardly ever saw
the interior of grand drawinS-rooui, and whose
highly colored sketches Of wedding entertain
rlents receptions and soirees are all drawn from
observations made at street corners, through open
windows, or dropccd from the hps OF chance ac-
ouaini ances. Well. this method OF treatment ul-
doubtedly has its advantages, it leaves pretty much
everything to the imagination OF the writer, who
is sure to do infinitely more than justice to the
facts. In his eyes, all brides are beautiful, all
women Young, all diamonds real, all lace genuine
old ''point" all that Glilters pure gold, or at any
rate if they are not he strives to make every one
else think so. 1t is said that the most dlstln-
gulshed fashion writer OF Paris is an old woman,
who lives in an attic smokes short pipe, wears a
yellow banGana round her head, and signs herself
''Coun ess" 1t has also passed into proyerb that
the most successful delineator of certain phases
OF 10y or sorrow are those Who never experienced
either in the forms whicn they so eoQuently de-
pict.
TIE DAILY LIFE OF WEALTHY PEOPLE
in large city is indeed to looker-on wonderfully
inviting It IS q succession of feieS one seemingly
long and never ending holiday The cleanliness
OF the streets in which they live, and where the
sunshine loves to linger, the amplitude and con-
yenience Of their dwellings, the carriages and
horses always at command, the abundant means
for the qualification OF tastes, even the haDltual
wearing of costly clothes, all lend fascination to
ewes forced to dwell mainly on the narrow, the
crude aud the unbeautiful, and quite close them
to the possibilities OF weariness, torturing cares,
anxleties, heartachings and heartburnings, star
vation of the heart In the midst OF bodily plenty,
and even non-appreciaton OF the very goods, the
possession OF which is the cause of so much envy.
tknoy lady whose magnificent equipage Is the
great trial of her hte She loves TO walk, but Is
obliged to ride for the sake OF exercising her
horses, and being very timid never goes cut with
ont expecting every instant that an accident will
occur which will break her Eeck. Another occu-
pant OF brown stone mansion, born housekeer-
er dares not enter her own Kitchen except to give
an order, because it is the conceded territory OF
her impericus servants, and actually lives N
state Of longing to explore her own closets and
concoct, without the knowledge OF her argus.eyed
and stylish domestlcs, me OF the vulgar dishes
she remembers as the pride OF her mother and the
table treats Of her girlhood.
The season OF balls ard sociables has commenc-
ed early and with great activity. The "Assem-
blee" the most exclusive OF Terpsichorean asso-
Citations, which aspres to be sort OF Amerl-
can Almacks, meets at Delmonico's fortnlghty.
The Imperial and the Filth Avenue" at the re-
sidences Of the members fOrtnightly also. Re-
freshments are served upon these occasions, and
it was remarked with great disgust, that at ve.y
stylish MANSION recently, where grand conserva-
tory opeued upon tile drawng-room, that the
lemonade was made with brown sugar The fea-
turc of the dress at these reunions is one that has
never before been remarked of young American
women, and that is the almost universal adoption
OF tie decole;e or low-necked style. Heretofore,
low-necks have been the exception now they are
the rule; and covering, where il is used, seems to
be employed only 10 conceal the want OF physical
charms, not the charms themselves. Beads ana
French jewelrJ are IN greater rogue than ever.
Necklaces of pearls with festoo2s and pendants,
necklaces of spiral gold with magnificent lockets
attached and chains falling upon the be-
som in ten to fifteen fine strands, are among
the ornaments which have taken the place OF the
NODES huge tucker and puffed waist of past sea-
SONS. II must be conceived, however, that but for
the prevalence OF q certain thinness OF arm and
general contour the present style OF dress is ex-
tremey favorable to he delicate beauty of young,
highly-bred American women. The gored and
trained skirts, almost sans crlnollno, cling with
exquisite grace to the slender figures and are
managed with such ease, skill and grace as many
court lady might envy. Then the hair combed
up from the temples, rolled, slightly frizzed, and
confined by classic bands shows the small ears,
the clearly cut profile the pure arch OF tho throat,
and other distinctive characteristics OF American
beauty, which is more remarkable for clearness
and delcacy OF outline than splendor or colorlnS.
The exception to the rule, however, was observed
in the case of brilliant blonde the other evening,
whose toilette was so exceedingly becoming as to
deserve notice. It consisted OF white Irish poplin,
cut ur on the severest antique model, and trimmed
with white point applique lace. Tho body was
very low and square, the sleeves mere band over
putting and frill OF lace a pearl necklace, deep
ly testooned, strlngs OF pearls arranged as bands
in the light, profuse halr and ropes OF pearls fes-
tooned as girdle about the waist, constituted the
ornaments.
PURE WRITE TOILETTE
and very light transparent fabrics are rarely
seen in ballroom, and are consequently very dis
tinque y few years ago thin tarlatan or tuiie
dresses could be made up and trimmed at almost
nominal cost, and were therefore worn almost uni
versally by young ladies. to whom they are the
most becoming Of costumes, and who found 1t easy
to wholly or partially renew them as often as re-
quired. With the advance in prices, however and
especially in trimmings and labor, thin dress,
fragile as it is, has become almost as costly as a
silk, and it is therefore found much more econom-
ical to purchase one or two light silks each seasoc,
and with others that can be remodeled, form
wardrobe always available, and that can be turned
to account in other directions. 1t is said that the
Princess of Wales never buys new dress without
special reference to its 'makiug over" qualities,
and it is fact that ladies' Of the highest class are
much more apt to lie thrifty and study economy N
their dress, and the management OF their house
holds, than those OF the lowest.
WINTER oLoAKs.
The most Objectionable feature Of the Lev winter
cloaks is the waste OF costly material. The de-
signs are restricted il length and amplitude, but
they are absurdiy cut IN and notched out in Q
tricky, fancitul way, which Is neither in keeping
with the heavy fabrics Of which our winter gar
ments are composed, roe with IFS purposes of
warmth and usefulness. Some OF the most fash |
iopable cloaks are only short sacks tastefaily cut
out in sharp spikes or square teeth with additional
waste in long sash ends, which extend below the |
edge Of the garment at the sides, and serve no |
purpose, either OF use or beauty. Others ere cut
short of the back and long in 'front.' and still others
gashed out at the sides, without any apparent mo-
i've except to afford another evidence OF the pre-
yailnr CLOAK lunacy. The materials used for these
abortiye and mis-shaped garments are, the
trary beautiful. The cloths are like velvets and |
even moro attractive with softer, thicker pie |
and richer shades OF coloTing. The fancy, tuitea
cloths used last year never were good style ana |
this wear are not worn at I'll, except by those who
have them and who expect new cloak 10 last |
more than one season, Jet Is less used upon |
cloaks and more IN conjunction with sI'k empiold-
cry upon black silk dresses than has been the case
for some years. With II marvellous effects are pro-
duced upon rich black toiettes, Tunes are simu-
lated, seams are ornamented, the lines spreading |
ont il sheats or fan-shapes upon the tram OF the |
skirt. Upon cloaks, cordeers are preferred, satln
D,nngs Or embroidery executed With the Grover q |
Baker machine.
NEW "sHAwL PAIEToT,"
of black velvet graceful exception to the gene
rally small and fantastic ru!c. 1t descends deep /
upon the back in rounded form, and is finished
with blsck lace dounce, surmounted BY threo
rows of rich, fine gimp, or paSsegaeaierie, which
follow the outline OF the shawl, leaving spaces be-
tween. Cioakss trimmed and lined with far are
quite new feature Of the season, and are the
most comfortable, well as the most distiu-
gulshed, Of all the winter garments The Nus
coyite" is Of dark brown cloth, velvet pile. with
border Of mink or sable; Elegant black velvet
With gray Persiaaa and trimmed with Gecu bor-
der Of chinchina.