The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-11-18
Latest Fashions.
The New York correspondent of the
Mobile Register says Of the latest noycl-

IHo I'VE" oIh correspondent " IH<
Mobile Register says Of the latest novel.
ties: IS 2. i-j = 6. - -;
"Paniers have received a very heavy
blow. The return OF the most distinguish.
ed modiste from Paris brings the .cws
that paniers are very little worn there
hardly at all by leaders of fashion, and on
ly in very quiet, modified form. /
Here, for the time being, everybody ia
panier mad all sorts of materials for all
sorts of people must be made en- panier,
and the consequence Is. that appearances
are frequently the most erotesque. Imag-
inc large, stout women en- pamie7, and
short. bulky women with the super1uous
sack hanging upon their backs. Morrow
er, while an artiste can give an air of grace
and distinction to any fashion an experi-
ented hand will contrive TO spoil the sim
plest and prsttiest design Judge then the
sort of work that is often made of the PAN
iers.
The beautiful embroidered robes, the
choicest fabrics Of the season, contain no
material for paniers. "A fact which some
times turns rejoicing over their splendor
into the deepest mourning and anxiety.
The city is searched for the exact shade
which is very rarely found, and an enor-
nous price paid for something to form the
bulky appendage which spoils the dress.
Ono lady carried tho magnificent source OF
her tribulation to French dressmaker and
enquired what she should do?
Make itup without the panie,," said
Madame g, but paaiers are so fashiona-
hle," urged the distressed lady; "nmong
lese orettes, yes, if Madame wishes t. copy
them" remarked the modiste. That set
tied tho question, the dress was made with
out the panier.
10 show the prices sometimes asked by
nowadays, will mention q
fact /: A lady recently took rich silk to a
fashionable establishment to have it made
up. 1t was an elegant embroidered pattern
and required very little trimming; she was
asked two hundred dollars for making and
for the slight furnishings, Innings, buttons
and the like required. She did not leave
it.
PICTURESQUE STYLES.
The new styles of dresses are very pecu-
liar, in one respect they depend altogether
on the grace and taste Of the wearer to
male mel. item becoming. There is no sure
basis of responsibility, as formerly, in a
nice dress and shawl, both are antedluvi-
an. All the dresses are costumes dainty
and artistic, Or dreadfally dowdy, according
to the instinct, measure of refinement and
cultivation of the wearer.
Long cloaks, or shawls. worn in the old
fashioned three corrcred style, arc out of
the question, with the short, quaint, fanci-
full toilettes, which are made to be exhibit
ed. Outer garments, therefore, take the
form of little jackets, Topped up capes ro-
setted, and shawls worn az long scarfs. and
draped in picturesque Highland fashion
about the shoulders.
Another method of arranging shawls is
to raise them in folds high upon each
shoulder, and clasp them with gold or oxid-
ised silver shawl clasps. Laco shawls and
cloaks are especially graceful draped in this
way plaid shawls are better worn as scarfs
the method Of arranging them is to fold
them lengthwise, place one end over the
right shoulder, bring the scarf down under
the left arm, pass it around the second
time, cross the breast, and throw the second
end over the left shoulder; on that side
the end is fastened with q large pin and
left hanging; on the other the folds are
fastened gracefully with clasp. This
style has the merit of sublimating quite
common plaid shawls and constitutes
very warm and comfortable addition to
suit.
NEW WINTER cLoAKs.
Outside garments are necessarily small
short, and cut in f:,nciful shapes and de-
signs, tn suit tho present style of street
costumes. There is little, in fact of the
cloak to them; they are mainly jackets,
fitted like basques, and having hood at
tachcd; or cape with hood, or Topped with
bows or rosettes.
The largest cloaIzs arc worn rs wraps,
and consist of a succession of capes the
last forming only a collar. There are also
clOaks composed of three round capes, edg-
cd with fringe, and the upper one looped
at the back and oruaIncnted with . rosette
with ends.
There is also very comfortable loose
paletot on which two capes arc attached,
the upper one of which is either arranged
with double folds. which form a pointed
hood, and is Ornamonted with bows or tas-
sells, or is Topped up i'll tho centre, la
Colleen Ba,cn, with two rosettcs. ,,s
The new Tartan costumes are generally
made with capes and edged with fringe
made OF balls OF Chenille in the cOlOrS Of
the Tartan. They arc additionally trim
med with round bow-rOsettes of black vel
vet with narrow flowing ends. American
ladies find it difficult to ignore their tradi-
tions, and still look upon velvet cloak as
the ne plus ultra of fashionable elegance.
bnJ Partisan ladies rather give expensive
clOaks the go by--adopt stylish suit and
cover it with an ample waterproof A
warm winter suit and Tartan or water
proof cloak. with Scotch shawl to wear
rs plaid in change, are, in fact, all that
is necessary for comfortable winter wear.
The best thing ladies can do who have old
velvet cloalls, is to cut them down into
Jackets or basques, bnt would not advise
any one to eXpend the amount of money
necessary to the purchase of new, hand
some velvet cloak while styles are 50 fam
tastic and unsettled.
A RAT SToRY.-A miner Of the Imperial
Mime, of Gold Hill, Nevada, publishes in
paper Of that locality the following rat
story. He says II is not generally known
except in mining localities, that rats in
habit the mines, but such, however, is the
fact. From the top ground down to the
lowest levels they are to be found in our
mines. Some time since the Imperial
Company stopped work at the lowest level
for several days to repair the shaft just
above it. After resuming work the GER