The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-12-13
For the DlSpatcH.
What the Women Cost.

Messrs. Edtors,-A daily reader OF your
paper, am frequently struck with various
articles denouncing the 'cXtrayagant style
of dress now INDUCED in by my own sex.
A recent correspondent spoke like a man
tu0-maker of the mountains OF SILK and
velvet" which should deter the young men
from selecting among us I" 6etter-haIveS =
that is, if your vanity does not too far eX-
coed your judgment to grant Us this adjec-
tive. / do not deny that these " mountains
of silk and velvet" do look very formidable,
but mans ability to accomplish Deepen d5
entirely upon apho has them on.
Mentalists tell us that the three great
sources of knowledge are External Obscr-
vation, Original Suggestion, and Compare
son. / do not wish TO deprive these three
great principles of their dignity by reducing
them to the level of the toilet, but since
their use is TO affect mems lives, you VIII
pardon the license. Now, with men-So
far as woman's dress is concerncd-oniy the
first principle holds good. For instance !:
sam savall, standing on the corner, secs
Patty Practical coming down the street IN
black satin petticoat, worn under SKY
blue top-skirt, q jauIty yclveteen (he
thought velvet jacket, 4 bonnet to match
exactly, and dozen little GARY nothings,"
which in the toilet vocabulary have "a
local habitation and name" He, having
heretofore been struck with the cheruD
sweetness Of her rosy cheeks and the intel-
ligcnt expression Of her eye, gravely takes
out his purse, looks ut at, then at her, ana
see it," walks off, wondering where she got
if. and resolving neUer to look at Miss Patty
again with any other than friendly con-
temptation. So much for his external OBJ
servatiOn.
Now to apply the second principle to
"us." Twenty years ago that satin was Il
pearlv white and the bridal attire OF Mrs.
Practical. Time had changed its purity to
a shade of yellow which rendered the gar
ment unfit for us ;, and only valuable as Il
memento.
NWhat pity" observed her mother one
dav after her yearly account of her young
DAYS, her marriage, &C., What a pity that
handsome material is of no use.'
"No use!" exclaimed Patty. Il can
have it dyed for seventy-five cents, and then
with the old blue silk cousin Kitty gave me
| can make me dress that will set Sam
Savall crazy. Ut did, Out OF the scraps
I'll make bonnet to match, trimmed with
the lace in the neck Of your dress. All III
Velveteen is only two dollars yard a; two
wards will make it; and l can get very
good gloves for a dollar pair"
On inquiry She found by comparison
Of prices land here the third principle is
developed) that the cheapest felyeteen was
down at IS, and two remnants made the
Jacket. The skirt-braid came off an old
sacque her mother had during the war,
when skirt-braid was such fashionable
trimming. SO by her original suggestion
and comparison the suit was made, which,
when embellished with her pretty face and
figure, looked, to use Sans own expires
sion, stunning"
The suit done, she mast go shopping,
though she had nothing to buy; but sans
office was on - street Just above Main,
and he was alacdyS on the corner. He was,
but when he saw her his heart sank into
his boots, while hers rose to her mouth,
| and he, uttering the sentiments we have eX-
pressed walked away, to the regret OF
Patty, who, to tell the truth, expected him
to join her. Women are, comparatively
| speaking, little Udtn.
This was the mountain of silk and velvet
that made Sam SavalPs relentless resolu-
| ton this was the ungenerous result of her
ingenuity; this the encouragement we
women have to he economical. Men should
make inquiries before they form resolutions,
| for tell you that by comparison with Miss
Purse Proud you would find some Of us
Patty for instance-lot at "but below
cost" ANY enterprising young man with
| moderate salary will find an ingenious
woman cheap investment, while we may
congratulate ourselves if we do no not find
on the opposite side more formidable objec-
tions than the men would discover in the
mountains Of silk and velvet"
The protracted struggle of blockade days
through which we have passed have taught
US all the by-ways Of dry goods, and bias
has made you many cravat that straight
never would have accomplished. Aunt
Betty's." scrap bag" would set up milli-
ner's shop-two or three if they grow so
beautifully less and smaller by degrees.
The best hat ever had was made Of ten
cents worth of letter paper, i'll astonishing
imitation OF Mrs. Costly's French chip from
New York.
/ agree with you in denouncing extrava-
gance, while ! maintain that it is every
woman's duty to make the best appearance
for her means, and if she didn't nobody
would find fault sooner than the men.
Standardization is an enticing topic, and I
trespess upon your attention. Pardon, as
it is after all consideration for yourselves,
since it is point given UP; that next to an
old maid a bachelor is the most miserable
Of created beings. INJURED INGENUITY.
We Indignantly deny that we have ever
said anything about the 'smo1ntains of elk
and yelYet' worn by the ladies, or even SO
yn17nh nc hipfaJ that tIn,, ,,a II.