The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-08-26
The Heroine Of & rTwenty-four Night
Ta 9 Gowns. ~ '.1 80 =.

lected the greater becomes tho surround
ing form; and It may BE- for this reason
that marriage, nOw-a-days, lacking the
mutual faith. affection and sympathy that
once distinguished Il. seeks to hide its
want of such essentials by ostentatious
trappings and much social heating Of
gongs and kettle-drunls. While every fine
nature of either sex instinctively shrinks
from tawdry and tinselcd wedding, such
Is tho pernicious force of example thar
persons of ligh position. culture and
breeding permit themselves to encourage
what they must secretly despise and be
disguise with. Only y fow years ago.
those who made noise and ado over
their nuptials were considered inherently
and irrepressibly vulgar. and sent to Cow
entry. as tho society phrase Is, by right
minded and rlghtfecllng people. This Is
all changed now. Only last week daugh-
ter of u prominent Massachusetts, lawyer
and politician was married IN a former
officer of tho army; and that nothing
might be wanting 70 the perfect vulgarity
of the occasion, a complete and explicit
account of the brides wardrobe, esoteric
rs well rs exoteric. was furnished TO the
newspapers for publication. We were
told In the swelling and swaggoring rhot;
oric for which reporters arc pro: erbial.
the number and kind, and what was the
price. of each of her undergarmenS.
jenkins informed us, rs II his souls saliva
ton had depended on microscopic partic-
ularity. where she purchased. who made,
and what was paid for, her stockings, her
slippers, her CATERS. her petticoats, her
chemises. and svcn her nightgowns, of
which the conscientious chronicler apprises
us she had two dozen; one dozen wrought
with French cmbroiderics, and the other
resplcn,lent with Valenciennes lace, fur
nished by Wcrth, the famous nian-milliner
and maritua- maker of Paris. Or several
greviOus sins of omission, however, the
historian Of lingerie wa, guilty. notwith-
standing nll his painsuking. He forgot
to stats tho number, size and color Of the
young ladys garters, and whether her
monogram hid hcen embroidered upon
them. He also failed To slake our hungry
souls with the requisite intelligence rs u
the fastening of her stockings. We shall
never know the sweetness of undisturled
rest again until we learn. beyond doubt,
whether they were confined above or be-
low the knee. We insist, too. upon be-
ing informed how far those wonderful
robes de nuit, rs they were eliphenlistic'lly
styled, descended. even to the infinitesilnal
fraction of an inch. five could suppose,
for moment, that they did not touch her
alab,ster ankle, or float airily about her
rosy heels, we should never die content.
We insis, also upon our rights to be made
acquainted with the texture, quality and
precise length of her corset-lacings. and
whether The eyelet-holes were made with
machine or by hand. Unless these
questions are answered, no one can pre-.
dict what may be the fate Of the nation or
the future condition of cicty. ~
We would suggest to this wonderful he.
roine of the twenty. four nigh gowns that
she complete the work which has becn 50
bravcly begun. Let us have further par
ticulars of these exciting mysteries OF the
femenine toilet. Let her issue quarterly
bulletin of the state. accidents, prospects,
and wear and tear Of her wardrobe, from
her latest eveuing-gown to her newest
combing. jacket; from her freshest neck
ribbon to her last murning,slippers. We
should not bc deprived, either, 0f the
pleasure O' an introdutiOn to her husbands
inner and outer garments. Are We to IN.
for from the liberal number of his wife's
night-gowns that he Is destitute of shirts'
Because she has 50 many stockings, Is he
tn be left sock!ess' or how many ancient
boots Is no the fortunate possessor, and
does he rejoice in the undivided ownership
of nightcaps? II the hero Of unnamed
shirts Is resolved to bc silent. let the hero-
inc Of twenty.four niglt.gowns speak,
Rochester, ". y, Chronicle.