The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-29
EUGENIES OLD CLOTHES.
Annual sale OF the CASTOR Wardrobe
2of the French Empress.@

- "a @S
;, Empress Eugenle, who sets the fashions OF the
civilized werld,' has 4 sale of cast-or dresses
every year,.nnd as she rarely wears dress twice,
the number sold is always very great. Paris
letter. writer gives q graphic account OF sale
Just terminated
o. He says that the custom was established py
the roya families Of TIE Tuileries long before the
great revolution, acceded TO by the Empress
maintained by the Princess OF the House Of Or
leans and kept up with great spirit under the
present reign. A long gallery, which runs along
the basement story OF the palace, looking INTO
the garden lust opposite the Prince lmperiarS
winter walk Is fitted up from one end to the
other with oak wardrobes. This Is called the De
Frouue OF the palace. 1t is here that the refuse
dresses and the CASTOR apparel Oh tne royal anu
imperial ladies' who have succeeded each other
for the last hundred years In their occupation OF
the Tuieries, are invariably borne when rejected
from the floor above. A
tensive as they are, get generally well filled dur
ing the year, and when the four seasons are con-
-sidered thoroughly over sale IS made Ol the
whole, where every article is priced 6elorehand,
and visitors are admitted to view and purchase
without the observance OF further ceremony than
the presentation Of an invitation Lone OF her
Maiesty's attendants, to whom the privilege OF
granting them belongs. The sale OF the regal
Wardrobe of the Tuileries Is conducted on the
strictest principles OF equity The shutters OF the
long gallery are closcd and 1t Is lighted from one
end to the other with lamps and candelabra, so
mat the light is stronger than 1t would be were
daylight admitted as the ceiling is low, and the
windows sunk deep into the wall. Every article
Is ticketed, and OF course no deviation from the
original decision can possibly be allowed.
A long line OF stretchers are placed all down
the middle Of the gallery, the doors OF the ward
robes on either side are fung open, and the vsi-
tor Walking slowly down on one side, and re-
turning on the other, makes choice OF what may
suit her TASTE and inscribing the number 1t bears
upon q card, hands the latter 10 the attendant In
waiting at the door and departs. The stretchers
are occupied by the shawls, and the wGrdrobes by
the dresses, the shelves by the underlinen, while
sort Of counter at the further end OF the gallery
= is filed with the champignons, on which are ex-
hibited the bonnets and Iead-dresses. The white
satin dress, most splendidly embroidered In sill
yer, with the tunic Of buillonee gauze and silver
mouches confined by bands OF poncean velvet in
which her Majesty went to the opera with the
King Consort OF Spain, was not quoted higher
than the nankeen-colored dress and jacket, braid
ed with green, which was recognized as the uni
form invented by the Empress for the drive ut
Pontainebleau.
no be sure, the buttons were Of malachite and
set In gold but the material OF the dress could
scarcely be considered as bearing any value
whatever. The shawls were principally o! French
manufacture and mostly for summer wear, the
eloaks and mantles, deprived of their lace fur,
unattractive. The utmost exaggeration seems to
exist In the prices put upon the b0nnets In the
FIRST place, the article itself Is out OF fashion al
most as soon seen; in the next, 1t possesses no
greater deterioration than the dress. The habit
OF leaning back in the carriage, which has become
so general, destroys the bonnet Immediately and
renders 1t shabby, even while Still bright and
fresh in color. The proceeds OF the sale are gene.
wardrobe, who dispose OF what remains unsold
to the great dealers in Paris, who again sell them
10 their customers at immense prices.