The New Orleans crescent., 1868-06-21
An Attempted Revolution In Parisian
Fashion


The elite of Paris have been undergoing ter
Tible excitement. A projected revolution, which
threatened cherished institution. has been at
tempted, and though 1t was but partially sue
cessfn, society here is still troubled and uneasy.
Madame la COmtesse de POurtales, one of the
queens Of the beau monde. issued cards a short
time since for a ball. at Which short dresses were
de rigelT. This was most expressly stated in the
invitation, and the ladies were much agitated.
You are aware that trains have been all the mode
for long while now, and hence the attempted
innovation of the charming countess created the
utmost agitation. Not to appear at her ball was
impossible, but TO wear short dress 1t was
all very well for those who, like Mime Pourtales,
have the most beautiful little feet 10 the world,
but the long, the fat, the broad, the clumsy
footed, what were they TO doy Short dresses
Why, at every turn in he dance the-ahem-well,
let us say extremides-wOud be exposed, aud
what was TO become of those pretty creatures who
unfortunately have knock knees or spindles? On,
how some OF the Parisiennes did hate those cele
brated feet-those delicate POurtaes ankles, as
they beihought themselves that, had the countess
been less gifted she would not have dared TO at
tempt 80 " hideOus an Innovation But there was
no Temedying the matter. The invitations were
precise; and so il was stay az home or wear
short dress. At last the eventful night came, and
all Paris was aware that the POurtaes mansion in
the rae 1r0nctet had for the nonce, been trans.
formed into a sort of earthly paradise. / may
add that had the inestimable privilege of visiting
the place, and that all previous conceptions failed
dor and taste of the decorations. There was an
awning OF nlGTQuiSe extending quite out into the
street, and the staircase was lined with mirrors
arranged that the flowers the fountains, the lights
seemed interminabe, and too gorgeous for any
thing human. But, OH how shall pen suffice 20
give a description of the giver of this fete! |
recoil before the attempt all the more as my
mind refuses to attach itself TO any thought save
that Of those - | cant find auy adjective for
the feet. and the exquisite toilette, appareled in
which the beautiful countess stood at the top of
the wonderful staircase to receive her guests
She did not seem human being. Itwas vision,
son ethiDg too lovely for earth. The head dress
was work Of art after which the cotfelT-I beg
pardon, the artist-shoud have passed his shears,
or his curling tongues, through his body and ex-
pired, while surrounded with the halo of that
''inspiratOn." As the carriages conveying the
visitors drove up to the door of the fairy like
dwelling, the visitors who crowded about the top
of the stairs, pressed forward 20 see the ladies
descend and, oh what numberless pretty feet
we're then revealed but, alas what agony must
not these little tOoues have endured Tight snoes
are a Sdpp{ice every one knows; bat on the Occa-
sion in question tight" was not the word which
would have aptly described the crushing, tOrtur-
ing things which some of those poor women had
on. consciousness of undue length, of over
breadth. had caused the cramming OF those pedal
extremites into engines OF torture, aud dearly did
many OF the ladies pay the penalty. IL was a
night TO be remembered; and feel assured thar
since that fatal ball there date against the
beautiful countess many bitter hatreds aud
enmties. Calm aud smiling she received
those painting, cramped and suffering bellies,
aud they must have hated her. She wore no air
Of cOnsTalnt. Her little shoes we're easy. COM
Portable, and she feared not any exposure of
those ankles. But that lady with the scraggy
limbs she does fear. She watzes with no com
fOrt--Obserye with what care and haste she
presses down her shortened skirts-she suffers
from consciousness of too much shin bone
there is no rOndeltI, contour there, and she is
well aware of the fact as are those more fortu-
nate bellies who gaze somewhat significantly at
the subjects Of tits poor lady's discontinue.
There were some iaCies who boldly deded the
countess and wore their long dresses. Butthese
must have felt uncomfortable, because even the
servants seemed TO gaze sarcastically at them,
while upon the cOuntenances of the less generous
guests might be traced 'sOh ho-ugly feet Ell
Crooked legs-ah, hap Then there were ladies'
who wore skirts which had been pinned up
TO suit the short dresses, aud those
gaTments would come down and give to
the wesrers u dragged appearance; so, OF
course, they were uncomfortable. Ine assem-
blage, however, was speLdid. aud when | state
that at seven the next morning the dancing was
still going on, you will understand that all the
tight shoes and the questionable limbs had gone
home, and that the Pourtales ball was, spite of
all, a grand success. | should add that Nine. Ia
Princess de Metternich, the charming, witty and
iTrepressible lady who so astOnshes aud peases
the Parisisns with the freedom and grace of her
manner, was most active accOmplioe Of Mme
ee Pourtales in the attempted overthrow of trains
and that she attracted much attention in her
qusite toilette. Ii short, for, like the cOun-
tess, the Princess is blessed with pretty feet,
which, IL is true turn in ride, but are tautless
as 10 size and symmetry. Since the bali in ques-
tiOn some ladies have appeared at other fetes 10
short dresses, but il Is noticed that bat those who
may do so with impunity adopt u nOuUeLe mode.
| the streets no more long dresses are worn now.
] add this fact for the benefit OF those New York
b ees who will draggle yards and yards Of silk or
s stn all along Broadway.