American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-04-20

quence of our familiarity with the cele-
brated pictures and illustrations in which
they are represented, SO will our
notion of Dolly Warden be limited
to that of the artist, combined
with the description which Dickens
has given to her. In this she appears in
CHERRY -colored" hood and cloak, and
hat trimmed with cherry colored rib
bons, etc. But, graceful and attractive
| as she is, there is nothing in common be-
tween her and the young ladies of the
present day, who have their own pecu-
liar grace and attractiveness. She lived
and flouri>hed while our War of hide
pendepcr was going on, and in which her
lover lost ,in arm. To find any one who
would res mbie her, we should bave to go
back to our great grandmothers; and here
in is a partial ~, = cry of the Dolly Var
den Juror. som, "ne-in all probability
an enterprisin- lresSmaker-started the
notion that one of Ihu most striking nov
elites in the way of costume for ladies
would be a reviva! of the antiquated flow
cred -chintZ overskiris wern by English
ladies in the middle of the last century,
and it has been as successful hit as any
that has been made tor some time. Ac-
cordingly, the low bu"licd dress, with
skirts well looped up, sleeves tight to the
elbow, and then suddenly assuming the
of the arm below the elbow bare, is to be
the costume of the season, at home, it is to
be hoped, for it would scarcely do for
walking or riding in, without some modi-
f1cation. And patterns of every hue and
every variety of sprig and flower are dis
played in the store windows, to the no
little anxiety of pateiJdmaias, who begins
to wonder what sort of appearance his
womenfolk are going to assume when
fhny- CT ArfI of flnn lie
of the modiste, with their straw
hats Topped up on one side, a Ii Dolly,
and their lowered skirts looped up
on both sides, displaying the scarlet or
brown under-garment, in which out great
grandmothers delighted and which they
wore short, so as to display the open
clocks of their red stockings, and the
shining silver buckles of their high
heeled shoes. And along with Dolly Var
jewelry and knick-knacks. 1t was an in
geniOus idea to revive all this in the name
of Dickens popular heroine, but it might
as well have been done in the name of
Clarissa Harlowe, or Sophia Western, or
Evaline, or Olivia Primrose or any other
heroine of the period, for they ali dressed
in the same costume as Dolly Warden did.
So far, indeed, as looped skirts are con-
cerned, they have been in vogue more or
less LOT Il century ana nan, anu III this
very time are fashionable in walking
dresses. The Dolly Warden overskirt is
not SO much novelty in itself the at
traction of it is to be found, one may sup
pose, in the lowered pattern of the ma
terial of which it is made.
Our fashionable bellies have scarcely re-
covered from the "Grecian bend;" and
the luxuriance of their present pompa-
dour overdresses makes the transition to
the tight bodice, low bosom and bare
arms of Dolly Warden rather sudden
Very young ladies will doubtless expect
to double their attractions-if such a
thing be possible-in their Dolly Warden
costume. And ladies of more mature age,
who retain their youthful appearance, as
many do, may also appear to advantage
in it-at home. PHILADELPHIA Ledger.