The New York herald., 1867-02-18
THE FAS HONS.
QUA SPECIAL PARIS FASHIONS CORRESPONDENCE.


QUE SPECIAL PARIS FASHIONS CORRESPONDENCE.
The Grand Ball nt The Hotel dc VILE
Lengthy Procession of Rank. Beauty and
Fnshion-Scene on the Grand Staircase-No
Crinoline-Dress of n Countess-Fete OF the
skating Club-Oufdoor Costumes-Madnm
dc Persigny's Costumer's Bill, &c.
PARIS, Jan 25 1867.
The ball at the Hotel de Vile, the fss de mutt organ
lied by the members OF the skating club and Madame
de Pesigny's lawsuit with her con,ier mot to say
tailor have all been equally enjoyed in the course Of
this week.
ball given by the Vile de Paris represented by
Baron Haussmann, is great sensation, but, like
every great achievement is not without its attendant
evils, among which do certainly place the preliminary
rules and regulations that have be submitted TO all
the preets official receptions In the first place, all
carriages and conveyances containing guests have to
follow leader" programme Of the different streets
through which all are to drive being drawn up
beforehand, In order to avoid confusion Every
tnoroughfare is lined with municipal gardes,
ana police officers are In great excitement The gen.
darmene have enough to do TO keep back the mes Of
people who forward to look at the uniforms and
elegant dresses Of the invited as they slowly advance
On approaching tho edce, which ia magnihcently ilu-
minated vehicles advance almost imperccptbiy at the
rate OF ten PAGES in five minutes when stoppage again
ensues and long sepentine tail h lengthening be-
hind. II cannot be denied that things managed with
admirable order, but many beauty feels tempted TO
jump out Of her carriage and walk as many gentlemen
do when they can bear municipal discipline no longer
1t is ali very well feel tempted-the infection must be
borne till conveyances draw up by one before the
entrance which they do at minutes interval between
each, darng forth In turn and driving of in contrary
direction with military concson.
The grand staircase is covered with velvet pile and
exotics To the right and left stand the biggest and
finest men chosen from among the gardes All the
lovely trans that sweep up that wide staircase To
what advantage bare shoulders under gstening da
monds here displayed The richest toilets and most
dazzling uniforms pass by in succession. and still the
gigantic gardes look like statues neither betraying
their admiration surprise by much the twinkle
Of eye They stand erect viewing with equal in
difference the gray old warrior bearing all the badges
his different orders and the bright young girl Of eighteen
making her debut in Partisan society in all the pride Of
YOUTH rank and beauty. It must be q terrible ordeal
for man, after ALL to have keep his eyes open and
not admire when fair creature under diadem Of
cast features and parting her full cherry lips, audiby
| expresses her wonder.
The most elegant toilets werc made Of white salmon
and pale green silk reps Others nothing but ruby
ponceau and crimson velvet All were fourreaux and
not trace Of crnoline visible The front widths
Of every dress whether tuie, satin silk or velvet
On the top Of the grand staircase stand the Baron and
% Baroness Haassmann Oowins 70 some as they enter
the tips Of the fingers Of those who very well known
indeed This docs not appear very arduous task but
when these three shades Of polite reception have to be
observed until the very last guest has been introduced
not dsrespecfu to suppose thar the and baron
The first sale or hall, called the Sale des Ca,latide
over which Strauss and his orchestra preside Then
comes the Salon des Arcads which is Kind Of earthly
paradiseall fountain, garden, hohouse then there
the marble gallery and the famous ottoman round which
the very Sits assemble: Al two o'clock the prefet's
room for not than thirty, and when these thrt
have retired in due rank and order the real OF the
suppers are kept up at the different bufe,s till Young
ladies are almost drawn away by their prudent parents
One Of tho comtesses At the last Tuileres ball
Il was covered with tulle tunic looped up with
tea roses She wore diamonds and pearls round her
Nothing be imagined higher than the headdresses
Bands Of jewels and aigretses on the forehead are the
for the top from which hang trails Of lowers frosted
leaves and crystal drops, are also worn.
The Skating Club ate was another great display. 1t
was held on large meadow artifcaly iced over in the
Bois de Boulogne. Ladies came In sleghs, atred in
Polish and Hungarian costumes with their hair loose
down their backs They " wore pretty little skate. and
high silk CATERS tightly drawn up to the knee Electric
night scene and It was very strange to see sight deli
cate young grs without wrapper or mantle, dart
the frozen surface heedless Of cold; now bahed In ai
flying into shade, according TO caprice, as gowworms
do The gentlemen skaters looked like dark spirits pur-
suing elves and all silent save the sharp cutting
steel Il furrowcd the ice II certainly was Q most
novel entertainment-a weirdIike idea
Nine. de Persigny's troubles with Mr. Mangas
sumed by figures which, / have heard, ever the
dearest statements Of case. Tho following bill was
lately delivered to her.
One robe of white silk and gold, trimmed with white
satin, valencennes chemisette and slecves... 600f
One bail dress Of brown tulle and silver, with blue
buttern and an underslip. ,200f.
One brown satin domino tulle; silver and blue but
terniee.. SoOi
One black silk costume, trimmed with jet passe-
menterie and more ribbon. 700f.
The to,ai O5O francs, thought exorbitant, and
reduced by Mme. do Persignys steward TO 2500 There
upon Mr. Mangas entered into very excursive cor
respondence addressed to the Duchess herself, and
which, to say the least was expressed In rather an un-
usual style a. coming from tailor TO the wife OF an
ex Prime Minister The consequence is that the bill
has been laid down in cour and the learned counsel
debating the price Of butterflies in brown tue.
1t is rather brown study, should think.
appears from Other bills that have been inspected
In Mr. Nangas establishment that his usual charge for
dress 200 francs; Mmc. dc Persigny got hers
cheap. One Of Princess Dagmars dresses made by the
Warth, the Empress tailor, puts down one naught
css and usually charges what is considered reasonable.
TIE Princess dc Meternichs robes vary like those OF
the Empress from 700 TO S00 but dresses have seen
at Warths from 800 10 400 francs.
These figures will interest ladies' less than husbands,
whom will leave 70 their reflections May they not
think Of their meat bread and coal bills before the
tailors account 10 provided for, indeed they do allow
their wives TO have . tailor.