The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-09-24
WOMEN N DRESS.
Sensible Views on tho Subject from
BlaekWo0d.

stBisskwood,s Magazine for August de-
scends from is usually severe level OF dignity
to discuss the question Of female apparel, e.
pecislly In connection with the styles now
prevalent In Paris. Itpartially exonerates the
French women from the blame OF the bad
taste shown In the prevailing fashions-now
approving according to the same authority
of garments for ladies. Referring to the al
legged, .extraYagance Of women in France,
Blsckwood states the lavish disbursement Is
not confined to Paris.
There are ladies' at st. Petersburg who spend
fl20 pounds q year In shoes alone-Whose
annual cost of gloves and stockings would
keep ak families OF weavers-who think it
quite natural to pay the journey OF tnelr
favorite artist from the Boulevard TO the
Newsky Prospect, In order that he may exact
auctions of Mr.. Worth, o great inventor OF
styles for ladies' attire, are nearly all absorb
ed by foreigners. The Americans rank among
his largest customers. France sets the ex-
ample, but her imitators go beyond her.
Blackwood says the gown is only one eie-
the gloves, the sash, the hat, the parasol, the
linen above all, subscribe more largely still
to the tone and type of such Q person. 1t Is
TO them that the experienced eye turns curl
onsly, in order to determine the exact
degree OF her perfection In THIS 6rancn
and feels what dress ought 70 imply will
limit observation, 30 q skirt the dissection
will be rapld but complete; 1t Will extend to
every detal-hands, feet hair, and undergar-
ments, viii each receive asorutlnizing glance,
and opinion Will be formed en- the assem-
blsee OF them all. In Paris, and elsewhere In
France, there are crowds of women who com
out reproachless from these ruthless e1aml-
nations, the reason being that they know be-
forehand that they will be subjected to them,
and prepare accordingly. And his s done 10
numerous cases at q moderate COST, because
nearly every French woman originases
h e s OWL toilette eIaa sn the .a1s e osss a1eI prs c,: 5ssie Of
the sdelIcate science of sel fadorDment.n At
foueteen wears old, says the English magazine,
thoee Rirls out ont their own. dresses at ten
they canstfim bonnets, and discourse learned.
lyon the theory exhibited In their mothers,
practice. Thus they acquire q sort OF artistic
haste, which helps them along the road to
Regarded as one of the occupations which
ought to fill up womenis time at home, the
preparation Of clothes ID: natural and leg1ti-
mate. All the world cannot be rich enough
pass Its time In pleasure or In intellectual
pastimeS. The mass OF us spend our lives
with less money than we should like 70 have,
and In q consequent constant effort to dimin.
ish onr ~impecnniosIty by our labor. Men
trste and speculate, and do various other
things for this end; women, who, unless ex.
ceptio1 3, have notdlrect power OF earning
caih, can only try to satisfy their longings by
indoor work for their own account. Foolish
people, who think It beneath their grandeur
TO make their own gowns and -bonnets, are
rare In France; there even the richer classes
generally consider 1t to be q duty to help
themselves to some degree, and to know, at
all events, how to sew.