The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-14
Written for the sunday Crsscent1
A WORD OR TWO ON THE FASHIONS.

lap Of spring for some time yet, the uxorious oid
scamp. It was time he had retired from the
scene-wben be could have done 1t gracefully.
All our hopes expressed about the appearance
Of spring in all her balmy fragrance never were
quite as futile as other hopes have been, aud we
are now somewhat doubtful as to her advent. AT |
all events we will wait until she appears before
we tell anything more about her toilet than that
il will be as jaunty and fresh as it Is possible to
imagine, and 10 the meantime will touch upon
home dress. ..----.
All ladies who are innate ladies, are born with
a spirit of neatness and desire to be well dressed.
By well dressed we do not mean either expeu'
sively or ultra fashionably, but appropriately
In these days of uncertain servants, when you
NAV have your comforts ministered to by capable
servants to-day, and tomorrow may have to go
without your dinner or cook ii, it seems difficult
to combine the neat dress, with the capsbility OF
keeping it so, while you are busy in your kitchen
or around your house sweeping and busting; and
the fact that we are in that state of transition
from life of blissful ignorance about uncertain
servants to full knowledge of such fact, makes
many a lady ignorant of the ways and means
whereby she may accomplish the feat of being
neat as pin at moments notice, no matter what
she is doing. -----s -r-H.rsr
Thinking over this the other day, brought up
before us as in glass, an old lady friend of ours
Virginia lady Of the old school-who, though the
mistress of large plantation and numerous well.
trained servants always said that it was as incum.
bent on a woman of this day to " look well to the
ways of her household, and eat not the bread of
idleness," as it was when Solomon commended a
woman for SO doing; and she fully practced what
4 amin haru Al N m
era orphan nieces who lived with her in all the in
tricate details of odd virgnny housekeeping"
No daughter or niece, married out of her house,
who did not combine with mental culture and &C.
complishments, a. full knowledge of all the mystic
ries of the menage.
One of the first things the old lady did when
her girls had graduated was to set them to work
making up a complete set of outer garments, that
could be worn over the dress and dropped in
moment, long sleeves of linen, either white or
gray but white is preferable. as it does not show
grease so plainly buttoning at the waist and
slipping up over the elbow and tying with tape
around the arm little caps to cover the hair
when sweeping and busting, and full long
aprons, reaching to the bottom of the dress and
meeting behind, completely covering the skirt.
They could be unbuttoned and laid aside in Sc
cond.
II was a strictly observed rule with her that no
| one should appear in the breakfast psrlor until
neatly combed and neatly shod; then the dress
| might be as prankey and stylish or as plain as
the wearer chose, but it must be neat and clean.
Over these dresses the full apron and long sleeves
were drawn, and the girls were ready with broom
| and brush, or spoon and scales, to enter into
culinary matters, to preserve, pickle, dsti, make
cake, bread, roast, fricassee or stew. There was
nothing they did not have to learn, even TO clear
starching and ironing their fnery. Once taught
thoroughly, they were not compelled to Keep II
up unless their fancy that way, for there were
servants enough for all purposes, but they must
be able 10 manage alone, without assistance, be
fore the old lady considered her duty done
Now there is no need TO purchase new material
| You can take the skirts of an old dress or two
and make your aprons. Make them with bib
reaching nearly TO the throat, to protect thu
| front OF the waist, and linen garments partaii,
wsrn will furnish you with material for your lonl
sleeves and the little caps 70 protect your hal
from dust. round close cap will be the bes
protection from the dust which is always iDjuri
| GUS to the hair, and especially so if You use o.
or pomade freely. Make your sleeves long enoug
| 10 come above the elbow, to button at the wris
and run tape in the hem around the top to ii
with. or use an elastic band, if you prefer, an
then you have the sleeves Of your dress pro
tected.
We will suppose you are out shopping or cal
ING. or perhaps are detained longer than you e1
neeted. You return home late and have 4
time to change your street dress, or you wish
appear at table in your new dress, that HUSBAND
| father, or somebody may see how it becom'
| you But oh dear there is that dessert to maxi
, or that dish you must prepare, or it must 9
.. undone, and il will soil your dress. Now if yC
, have your full apron and your long top slew
. YOU are able TO 20 into the pantry aud kitch'
. among the kettles, -four, sugar and butter, 81
I, come out unscathed. Just try the old lady's Pill
and see if you 90 not find it good.
b Aprons are quite protection to the dress, ev
!. If they are the little fairy articles so much wor
: and can be made in a variety Of ways. But tn
should always be OF washable material. Line
] cambria or muslin are all much better than 81
: for that purpose, and young lady can spend
:. good deal Of time and ingenuity in getting
pretty aprons, and they always have charmi
d domestic lock that takes with the gentlemt
= We know Of one Instance where a check apr
h got lady a very advantageous offer OF marriai
Of As we mentioned in our last, flowers are us
p very extensively on hats and bonnets. Straw Ia
= and straw scarfs for trimming hats and sprl
a hornets are coming. At Mrs. McCauley's we 8
ID some round hats with this trimming that w
- really charming. There was also green
- bonnet with the straw scarf rosetted, that '
exuuisi,ely beautiful. the handsomest bonnet
Id have seen in this weeks promenade in search
fashion items. The Polish boot still keeps
4 favor. 1t is buttoned on the side and comes
quite high with curved heels, that are not so tap
ing and narrow as they have been; in that
"a spect an improvement In safety and comfort.
-. We saw some parasols in two colors, altern
nc sections of black and brown or blue, but do
d, shial< than pretty. The sun shade, so fasalona
VI some twenty years since, seems ABOUT 70 come
"a again: all kinds of parasols are trimmed hea'
ill with lace, rufies or fringe.
of EXTENSIVE SALES OF REAL ESTATE, Corr
at Ere. BY MEssRs. NASH 4 HoDGs0N, AUcTIoSEE
re ,,ry- WrtE-Wa again invite the attention of