New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-11-27
THE GKECIAN BEND.

We heard very pretty young lady, the
other day, expressing her vexation at the
long delay of the adoption on our fashion.
able promenades of that triumph Of
fashion-the "Grecian Bend" For the
Denent OF her and all other young maidens
equally interested we wish to convey some
slight information CLEANED from hints
received from the habitues of that mirror
of fashion the "Fifty-filth Avenue of upper
tendom." 1t seems that there are several
varieties of the "Bend, all equally unique.
For example, the "Cholic Curve" which'is
indescribable and must be difficult to OBJ
tain, though we think it might be managed
by eating dozen bitter oranges and
an equal number Of green persimmens.
Then there is the kangaroo Semicircle."
Ii the body inclines very much, and the
arms are allowed to hang down helplessly
at the sides, this position may be success
fully initiated. But the most popular
variety of all is the "Dromedary Bend"
invented by the "Marchioness of High
popolorum." Here two lovely humps
must be acquired, and unless a person is
naturally humpbacked, which would be a
great advantage, it can easily be done by
wearing two immense rosettes, one directly
between the shoulder-blades and another
at the bottom of the waist, to meet the stiff
voluminous short skirt gathered into the
smallest possible compass at the back.
This, with pyramid of flowers, feathers
and lace rising perpendicularly from the
forehead, and the body inclined to the
proper angle, makes the "Dromedary" to
perfection.
Walking down Camp street yesterday we
were surprised to see an ancient colored
lady with most elegant Bend" Curious
to know where she could have obtained
such an exquisite pose SO decidedly of ie
bon ton, we stopped and inquired. Laws,
Mister ~ she exclaimed, "It's the rheu-
matz. l cotched it more in forty years ago
in the fust cholery. 1 didn't know was in
the fashion till t'Other day our Miss Malviny-
says to me: Why, Aunt Patsey, where did
you get the Grecian Bend?" Patsey's stvle
we should call the Rheumatic Wave, and as
without age its possession would be impos-
sible. A good way to come at it would be
to sleep out on the wet ground for a few
nights and go without eating week.
That the "Grecian" is of antiquity its
name signifies and we heard our venerable
grandmamma say that it was in vogue fifty
years ago when she was young lady, and
she remembers hearing an old servant in
the family say to her "Why, Miss Clorinda,
why don't you walk like a lady?" "Do I
not, Betty?" said grandmamma. "Ro indeed
Missey you walks like hOusemaid; you's
not fashumable; you'd ought to stoopr'
Grandmamma however preferred the house,
maid style and bravely maintains her per-
pendicular attitude, although she is now
past seventy. By searching over musty
old tones of centuries old we might gain
some valuable hints upon this absorbing
topic, and we think it would be good idea
now and then to visit the menagerie
and watch the motions of the kangaroo
and dromedary and then practice before a
mirror two or three hours day.
From time to time as we have oppor-
tunity, we shall be happy to enlghten the
votaries of fashion further upon this inter
esting subject. In the meantime
we trust the ladies will endeavor
to exist, and they may soon
see the Grecian benders in all their SPLEEN
dor and complacent consciousness OF beauty
and loyeliness on the Boulevard de Canal.