The New York herald., 1868-02-09

OF why IL should continue to increase in value
lot anosner decade In like proportion.
The Fashions Abroad and Ar uo-s.
We give another scene TO-DAY in our Paris
correspondents panorams Of fashion. If ons
does not meet "the glass Of fashion and the
mould of form" at grand ball In the Tuileries.
where princesses are so thick that even an Eager
AID conscientious newspaper correspondent
cannot ascertain the names Of all of them, where
shall we 60 to find them? Last week we had an
animated picture of beauty and fashion in their
hibernal costume on the frozen lake Of the
Bois de Boulogne. To-day we have all that is
distinguished in Paris, and agood deal of what
is theatrical, rich and ambitious in American
society in the French capital, most elaborately
described on the floor of the grand salon Of the
Tuileries. We are told how the Empress
looked in her simple robe of white and straw
colored tulle, trimmed with branches of white
acacias, and the other less simple adornment
OF her hair, shoulders and arms with magnid-
cent sets of diamonds and emeralds. Among
the ladies presented on the occasion, who are
critically noticed as ''the most tastefully at
tired" we discover the names of some eight or
nine ladies from New York and Philadelphia,
coupled with those Of the Princess Mathilde,
the Princess Metternich, and quite an array OF
duchesses, from which we infer that our fair
countrywomen are not behind the most elegant
in the brilliant French capital, where title and
wealth and nobility, both Of the hereditary and
parvenu order, shine the brightest
While we do not hold that American ladies
should be slaves to the Partisan modistes but
rather insist upon independence In the selec-
tion Of the most becoming costumes for
their peculiar style and beauty, still there
are some suggestive hints in our corre-
spondent's descriptions that might be usefully
adopted. When we come to touch upon the In
tricacies Of ball dresses, the newest head
dress, the Duchesse bonnet and the "vaporous
skirts" of tulle, bearing roses, poppies and
lilies on their ethereal folds we enter laby-
rinth out Of which we fear the cunning thread
Of Fair Rosamond's bower would hardly
extricate US therefore we leave our accom-
plished correspondent to tell all about them in
another column. Albeit that Paris b the
bright particular star whose rays illuminate
the whole world of fashion, it does not follow
that no place but Paris can originate an idea
poult de sole, to weave talismanic charms
around the forms Of native beauty and we are
very glad to observe that our American ladies
are getting engrafted with that opinion and
are beginning to follow 1t out both abroad and
at home. In Paris, we are told, American
be sure, by their slavish imitation Of the cos
tunes which surround them, but by the appro-
priateness Of their dress to their own style OF
beauty and the admirable taste they exhibit
in their making up. And they are not only
easily distinguished in the motley crowd, but
dressed women in Partisan society. The
ladies at home, too, have ceased to accept the
dictation of second rate French modistes In the
matter of fashion. They are exercising their
woman's right to dress themselves as they
please, and we must say that they are gradu-
ally effecting a blissful revolution in this
regard. There is no reason why New York
should be at the beck of Paris. We have q
Continent of our own whereon to lead the
fashions. We do not build Partisan houses to
live in, nor drive Partisan horses, nor do we
always regale ourselves on the inluite varie-
ties of Partisan cuisine; for, although the deli
cacies therein provided are delectable 10 The
palate, our people, fashionable and un-
fashionable, sometimes remember that New
England cookery is substantial, though
often unpalatable that the West, also, and the
South-poor, forlorn region-have some pride
in their kitchens, and that there are certain
national dishes which 1t would be unpatriotic,
if not absolutely "copperheadish," to despise.
Why, then, should we wear Partisan bonnets
exclusively and insist upon our ladies habiting
themselves in unbecoming costumes and colors
as they frequently do, because the dictum
comes from Paris? A beautiful woman needs
but little adornment, but that little must be In
good taste, and the auxiliaries must be judi
cfously impressed into the service of COM
plexion and figure. The psychological as we'll
as the physiological characteristics have to be
considered; for one naturally expects TO nnd
vivacity, sparkling wit, repartee, and . little
sprinkling, mayhap, Of Attic salt, enclothed in
tulle and tarlatan gold, spangled and looped
with pansies or violets, or blush rosebuds en-
blematic of-well, all that we hope for in an
angel reduced TO the necessity Of tulle, tarlatan
and pearls. On the other hand, the "sober
second thought" Of life needs more sombre
framing and IT Is here that velvets and satins,
and gorgeous corsages Of diamonds, and trains
heavy with embroidery, and diadems weighty
with jewels, come aptly upon the scene to
make the picture complete. But can we not
make this picture for ourselvess Shall we not
create fashion, rather than import the idol and
worship it' That is question for American
ladies to settle, and we leave 1t In their hands,