Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-10-19

given rise to different kind of cos
/ tune for those who care for walking
exercise, aud dislike equally to hold
mn their dress, and To suffer it to
sweep the ground. Their costume con-
sists of a petticoat, a short dress which
shows the petticoat, and kind oil cloak
or mantle to match. When this cos
| tune is worn, it has the effect of three
tiers of dresses, and has a most pecu-
liar look, though we do not doubt 1t
possesses great advantages.
In order to make the modern fashion
of plaitless gowns applicable to all, 1T
is found necessary to shorten the waists
of the dresses; and as all persons are
not made alike, and some are thin and
others stout, modern ingenuity has hit
upon an invention by which whatever
is defective may he supplied. We have
been assured that, in order that all may
seem to possess a certain rotundity of
form, which, though by no means
beautiful, is certainly suggestive OF a
condition which was never, till now,
supposed to have any outward
merit or attraction, but the
semblance of which is now de riguey
among a certain portion of the fashion
able world, it has been found advisable
| to invent something which shall supply
what fashion requires. A rentre OF
eutta percha is the remedy for these
natural defects, and ladies are persua-
ded TO wear it, that their dresses, which
are made sans plies in front, may be
duly strained over this artificial protu-
berance. 1t seems to us almost incred-
| ihle that any ladies can be found who
will submit to such an indignity; but
what will they not submit to that they
may be in fashion? Some years ago the
sfyle of ladies' dresses gave rise to that
we'll Unknown riddle, "Why is lady al
WAYS in a state of agitation? Because
she is a hustle behind and quicker
before" This arose from certain ficti-
tious appearances which fashion insist
ed upon being maintained, and to which
ladies submitted. So now fictitious
appearances are to be kept up, although
they are, it is true, of different and
more Objectionable kind. The pFinci-
pie, however, of experimenting nature
Is the same III all cases.
A story is told of an English lady
who desired to be dressed In the height
of fashion, and who, therefore, applied
to the most eminent dressmaker in
Paris, who happens to be a man, and
whose fat is reversible.
The lady ordered her dress, her mea-
sure was taken, and day was fixed for
TRYING IL on. She tried on her gown.
The dressmaker lifted up his hands
with horror, exclaiming, at the same
time, Mdis, madame, 0OHS n'dDez pas de
Ueaire ?" "What ?" inquired the as
tonished lady. She could not believe
her ears. But it was fully explained to
her that no gown would fit unless this
want were supplied. The lady had
never been aware till then of such a
want. She bad always been satisfied
with the supply which nature had given
her, and could not imagine any neces-
sity for the intervention of art. But
the dressmaker was memorable. II
fdut dbsOlument," was his ceaseless re.
ply to her protests, and when he call
ed To one of the attendants,
"ApDOrtez moi Le centre de Mad.
anne ~ Prinoesse de - et de
| Madame Ia MdrquiSe de -" she was
overwhelmed aud silenced. She sub
mitted. The continuance was fixed on,
the dress was strained over it, and she
walked forth plump and comedy dame,
and the frotundity of her form almost
put her TO shame. 1t was then that
she had TO sit down, stand up, walk
here aud there before the dressmaker's
critical eye, that he might detect any
flaw there happened to be in the cos
tune which he had prepared for her.
So the story runs. Sc non e zero ben
trOratO.
1t Is also further asserted that as
everything, even modesty itself, is to
be sacrificed to dress, aud that as the
sole object in life is the set and fashion
of a gown, art has other inventions to
supply other defects. There are the
SENS pdlpitdnts and the ears, all made
of gutta-percha. 1t seems incredible;
but we again repeat that there is no
| humiliation to which some people will
not submit that they may be of that
exclusive number who call themselves
the fashionable" world. Imagine a
woman possessed of any modesty sub
hitting to such indignities, consenting
to go forth as an impOstOr; her form
rounded by art. her bosom heaving,
not with emotion; her delicate ear,
pink like a shell, and of exquisite form,
purchased in the Boulevard. What an
impOstorl Who knows but what she
may be painted, too? for it is said that
cosmetics are in favor by which false
tints are given to the skin and to the
hair.
Not long since il was the fashion to
dye the hair red and gold, and make
the skin white with paint, the cheeks
pink with rouge, and the eyelids stain
ed; but now this capricious goddess,
whom ladies worship with such devO-
ton. prefers dark hair and olive COM
plexiOns, and the rage is now for brown
washes as it used TO be for white. The
blue-black hair and dark skin of the
gypsy have become the envy of the
ladies of fashion, and they hope, by
means of washes and dyes, TO make
themselves beautiful forever"
These freaks of fancy make us burn
with shame for our countrywomen.
They SAVIOR too much of the demi-mOnde,
and are suggestive of all that is coarse
and sensual, and of those enticements
which ought to be unknown amongst
gentlewomen. A prediction for those
false-hghts on the part of ladies of FASH
ion, and their submissive subservience
to their dressmakers, has introduced
a habit Of low dressing which ought to
be protested against by all who have
wives and children. It has become
quite habit with even young girls to
have their gowns cut so low that they
positively offend against decency. We
know an instance IN which a young
lady walked into room where every
one was ready to exclaim that she had