Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-04-19
From the London Court journal, March %

From the London Court journal, March %.
The drawing room of Tuesday was in
very favorable contrast with the first of
the season, which was scantily attended,
and left but a faint impression of the
wonted grandeur and beauty of this cere-
mony. The season broke with this weeks
Court event, and, summing it up first from
a glance at the assemblage as a whole, as
it came in from the Grand Staircase into
the green Drawing Room, filed off to the
right hand entrance to the Throne Room,
and thence back to the Green RroOm again
en- route for the Grand Staircase, it was,
indeed, most remarkable sight. The
dresses were most magnificent, and such
an assemblage of beauty has rarely ever
graced our Court. On the first occasion of
the year the prevailing cOlOrs were yellow
and crimson: at this weeks drawing room
blue and grenat were the most frequent,
though it might not be said, nevertheless,
that they were the most fashionable, for
the new color, the UCH d'CdU dc MI, was
so considered; it is said to have been sug-
gested by the Empress of the French af-
ter her return from Egypt. 1t has many
shades, and is really worthy of the high
distinction il has found, and likely TO be-
come the rage for time, as it has, from
Its varied shades, an adaptability most
obliging to the compilations of many
ranges of beauty. Still these cOlors men
toned did not by any means show in
preponderating way, for with the new
-,
mixture of hues on varied material-the
new pink, the grosd 'argent, yellOws, Grim
son, amethyst, violet, rose, the pale coral,
fawn, and SO on, though the prOnOnce
colors, such as that light and beautiful
green tulle, which was more decided than
the eau dc Nj, drew admiration, well
bestowed, on the graceful wearer.
But amid all the gauzy lightness moth
ing was won from the splendOr of the vi
olet velvets, blue satins, cream-colored
velvets, amber and pale flush satins, when,
as was mostlyithe case. those materials.
were tastefully set off with rare lace, fine
jewels and very rich underrobes. The
deb1ttG1ltes, who have been restricted to
simple white, seemed to lave been in
league for the general desire to add TO the
remarkable brilliancy of color, as well as
beauty of style, that prevailed, for they
had contriyed to give pleasing relief to
the monotony of the white by the intro
duction as much as possible of colored
flowers of a not too pronounced charac-
ter, of blush roses and pale red roses, and
grass and heartsease (may it be theirs
ever y and of pink flowers of some very
nondescript character of botany. Butt the
best effects were those in which gold
trimming and kind of gold lace were in
troduced, vying with the permitted elabo-
ration on the more substantial costumes
of the matrOns.
The headdress had in some cases under
gone distinct change; for instance,
there was a new fashion seen for the first
time at court called the "Frou-Frou, "
which is highly becoming the wearers if
they have fair hair, and in two or three
cases it called forth marked admiration,
especially so in the instance of a lady
who wore black plume, which was in
striking contrast. For the benefit of
those who have not seen the nOvelty-and
those who have worn it as yet are few
we may state that it consists of a chief
chignon, not of very great amplitude,
less approaching the centre of the head,
and then flowing off backwards in a Sc
ries of rolls or minor chignons and heavy
curls, and from the extreme end drOOp
out a few diminutive ringlets. This
''F'rOu-Frou" is very becoming, and will
be the fashion for bathrooms, there is lit
tie doubt, as well as the colors eau de Nil
and grenat. The hint we gave as to the
sombre and rather confirmation-like look
of the tulle wells and heavy tulle lappets
hiss not been without result, for whereas
at the drawing room four out of five wore
those appendages, we are quite under
stating in saying that not more than two
out of five wore the tulle veil and lappets
on this occasion; and those who, per-
chance, in listening TO respectfully-eX
pressed advice given, came without tulle,
or substituted handsome lace, must have
been thoroughly conscious, by comparison,
of the great gain that had resulted 10
them in the lightness and gracefulness of
their headdress.
The costumes were not worn rCmarka-
bly, low, though there was not, and it is
to be presumed for years long in advance
of us there will not be, an approximation
to that style which has been talked of
from the other side of the water, but is
quite unsuited for such splender as the
scene we have described of Tuesday last,
where all was done that art and wealth
could achieve and beauty too. The pen
of chronicler is only permitted to faint
ly echo respectful homage TO the beauty of
the Court-hardly echo; simply catalogue
is the word. We may mention, therefore,
that among the beauties of our Court on
this occasion, were Miss Dalrymple Hay,
Mrs. Furnell, Miss Henry, Lady LOndes
borough, Mrs. Gardner, Mrs. Arthur Mag
MAC, Lady Boileau, Mrs Meyrick, Mrs
Douglas Murray, Mrs. Burchall Helme,
Mrs. and Mss Yarde Butler, Miss Crutch-
lev, and the Hon. Miss Cavendish. PO-
etc words could only do some of these
Justice, and then it would be, of course,
with the reserve of the name, while we,
as mere echoers of respectful remarks,
have the advantage of giving names.
The most magnificent costumes at this
handsome gathering were those WON by
Mrs. Duncan, Lady Dalrymple, Lady
Londesborough, Mrs. Snowdon Henry,
Lady Ruthven, Madame de Bile, Mrs.
Bingham Midway, Lady Agneta Mon
tagu, Miss Cadogan, Miss Crutchley,
Mrs. StudhOlm Brownrigg, Miss Gaskell,
Lady Frere, Mrs. Bolckow, Mrs. Hippis-
ley, Lady Scarlet, Hon. Mrs. Gage, Mrs.
Layard, Lady Hanover, Mrs. Crutchley,
Mrs. Frank Morrison, Mrs. Paterson, Ouch.
ess of Cleveland; Mrs Du Cane, Lady Mary
Primrose, Mrs. Meyrick, Mrs. Thomas
Fairbairn, Mrs W. T. Werner, and Lady
Emily Hankey.
The costumes of five de6utd'lteS wert