The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-29
EUGESIE'S OLD CLOTHES.
Annual Sale OF tho Cnst-of Wardrobe
OF the French Empress.

Eli. .)rcss Bugcnic, who sets the fashions OF The
civilized wsrld, has a sale OF CASTOR dresses
every year, and as she rarely wears dress twice,
the number sold is always very great. A Paris
letter. writer gives a graphic account Of u sale
inst terminated.
He says that the custom was established by
the royal families OF the Tullcrlcs long before THE
great revolution, acceded TO by tile Empress
Josephine, continued under tic Restoration,
malniaIned by the Princess OF the House OF Or
leans, and kept up with great spirit under the
present reign. long gallery which runs along
The basement story or the palacc, looking into
the garden just opposite the Prince lmpprial's
winter walk is iltted up from one end TO The
other with oak wardroSes; This Is called the De
Eroaue OF ~ The palace. II Is here that the refuse
imperial ladies, who have succeeded each other
for the last hundred years In their occupation OF
the Tu!erles, arc invariably borne when rejected
from the floor above.
These wardrobe cuphoards, numerous and ex
y S se eu
whole, where every article is priced beforehand,
without the observance OF further ceremony than
the presentation OF an invitation OF one or her
granting them belongs The sale OF The regal
wardrobe OF the Tuilerics Is conducted on the
s T Of the
end to the other with lamps and candelabra, so
that the light Is stronger than IL would De were
windows sunk deep Into the wall Every article
Is ucketed, and OF course no deviation from the
original decision can possibly be allowed.
long line or strctchcrs are placed all down
the middle OF the gallery, the doors OF the ward.
Tor, waiKing slowly down on one side, and re.
turning on the other, makes choice OF what mar
suit her taste, md nscriblng the number 1t bears
upon card, hands the latter 10 the attendant in
waiting nt the door and departs. The stretchcrs
are occupied by the shawls, and the wardrobes by
the dresses, the shelves by the upderlIncn, while
sort OF counter at the further end OF the gallery
is nled with the champignons, on which are eX-
hioited the bonnets and hcad-dresses. The white
satin dress, most splendidly embroidered In sill
yer, with the tunic Of builloncc gauze and silver
mouches, confined by bands OF poncean velvet I'm
which her Majesty went TO the opera with the
KING Consort OF Spain, was not quoted higher
than the nankecn. .colorpd dress and jacket braid
ed with green, which WAS recognized MS The uni
iorm invented by the Empress for the drive at
Fontainebleau.
To be sure, the buttons were OF maachitc and
set in gold, but the material OF the dress could
scarcely be considered as bearing apy value
whatever. The shawls were principally OF French
manufacture and mostly for summer wear the
cloaks and mantles, deprived OF their lace fur,
unattractive. The utmost exaggeration seems 70
eAist 10 the prices put upon the bonnets. In the
FIRST place. the article itself is out OF fashion al
most ns soon as seen la the next, it possesses no
resources whatever, and above all 1t Is liable 10
greater deterioration than the dress. The hnblt
OF leaning back In the carriage, which has become
renders IT shabby, even while still bright and
fresh IN color. The proceeds OF the sale are gene.
rally brought up by the Wallets and women OF the
wardrobe, who dispose OF what remains unsoii
10 the great dealers Ia Paris who again sell them
70 their customers at immense prices.