The New York herald., 1872-12-15
What Paterfamilias Has to Pay
for o Smoking Cap.
THE MoDISTES BESIEGED BY CUSTOMERS
Dame Fashion Towering Above
Dolls and jumping Jacks.
AN ENDLESS VARIETY OF HOLIDAY GIFTS


leon goddess it is at this season In her coquet-
ting with the venerable Santa Claus she assumes
all the colors OF the rainbow and as for materials,
their name is Legion. She dabbles In everything
from o dolman to DOLL an evening toilet to Q Rus
sian lynx set. faille to flowers or opera cloak to
aWindsor tie. Take peep. for instance, into one
OF those curiosity shops on the west side where
everything may be found from tafYeta to q tin
trumpet, and the mind fs bewildered with the end
less variety. The stately emporiums on Broad
way are resplendent with Christmas and
New Years toilets, rich dress materials
and all the wondrous fabrics Of lace
and flowers that q cunning brain can DEVISE The
Bowery ia more bustling than ever, and Its stores
are thrOnged from the hour tnat night shades begin
to fall until midnight has sounded Even down in
Division street. where four-and-forty milliners
stand in row, bonnets OF the most stunning order
are being specially manufactured for this great
cason. Poor pater Jznatltasi He looks az his note
book and finds q formidable list of articles
for the Christmas tree and its surroundings.
A sable set for his cara sposa. recep-
tion dress for Mollie who has arrived at
the age Of sweet sixteen locket and chain for his
tweive-year-old Jennie, with, perhaps, an ermne
jacket thrown in; skates and navy-blue suits for
the boys, q fearfully and wonderfully dressed doll
for ive-year old Susie; and for the baby-why q
regiment OF soldiers, RATTLE and perhaps o Cali
fornia devil. In return the summit OF his expecta-
tions is smoking cap or pair Of slippers. Well.
he enjoys the bargain and exchange, and there is
no use In attempting to mar his enjoyment.
Broadway and Sixth avenue on Saturday after
noon at this time present quite an animated ap-
pearance. Gloves of bonnets' gracing the tresses
OF blonde or brunette, like many-hued tropical
birds upon the beautiful plants Of the South Here
crowd Of fashionabes emerging from matinee,
there circle OF shoppers" and merry chirp OF
tongues discussing every subject that is in the
heavens above, the earth beneath or the waters
under the earth. Then the bright eye with it's
merry mischlevous glances, sparkling beneath
that bewildering labyrinth of silks, rib
bons, furs, velvet and curls, through which
the hapless masculine promenader on Broadway
has to steer devious course, the flushed cheek not
always the work Of art alone; the elastic, springing
step and reuvenated air OF the fair ones all tell OF
q Thanksgiving just past and Christmas close at
hand. Thus, Madame La Mode greets the advent
OF the grsly face of Santa Claus. She towers above
dolls and jumping jacks, pushes aside rocking
horses and glittering bjouter'te, frowns on candy
boxes and quaint Dutch clocks, and looks down
with disdatn upon sleeve buttons and tin trumpets
The superiority Of American fashions Is now
in many important respects acknowledged. It isa
well-known fact that long since some OF the London
magazines and modlstes used American fashion
plates as the proper exp0nents Of certain styles
Our bellies display a remarkable share of that CON-
mon sense with which they are not generally ac-
credited, especially in their insisting on adaptable
ity to face figure, age and complexion being the
governing principle in their toilets. The endless
variety ofholiday goods now on exhibition precudes
the possibility OF anything more than general re-
view of them here.
AT Altman's, Sixth avenue, the only question is
what to select. There Is rare assortment Of
black silks, one or two brands being specialties.
Satins and cloaking velvets vie with the museum
of the lace department in wonders and varieties,
and the prices are in every scale. Here we have
an embroidered lace collar and cuffs or linen sets
as handsome in their own line. The fancy goods
counter is Uttered with jewelry and ornaments,
fans and toilet articles A bachelor who wants to
look most killing on New Years will find, In the
gentlemen's furnishing department. all the weap.
Ons Of war. Then for young housekeeper what
mint is here things useful and ornamental at the
domestic hearthl Glancing up stairs vista of
evening dresses, suits and robes Is unfolded.
At Lord Taylor's, Broadway, Fashion plumes her
pinions for higher flight than on the west side.
One needs ctcerOne to explain the mysteries Of
the vast assortment OF holiday goods to be found
in this house. The silks alone a study in them
selves. For evening dresses there are delicate
richest description. large reduction has been
made in the price OF fancy striped silks, which,
iarity. Lace and embroidery may be found here in
the most charming designs; also furs OF all kinds
elegant seal coaks, velvet cloths white fox, blue
fox and silver fox, and many magnificent SUITS
costly shawls, counters filed with perfumes opera
glasses, travelling bags, cigar holders. &c.
At the corner OF Fourteenth street and Sixth
dense crowd
The rush to Macy's leaves but little time for late
comers to select. Some linger over the dainty
mOuchoir boxes or admire the endless varieties Of
laces and trimmings, pick out the elegant fans or
look over the thousand and one articles for the |
mantei and the dressing table, the complete guide
dren, the bats for bachelors and the passports TO
young ladies' hearts,
A. I. stewart & Co. have for the holidays an ele-
CANT selection OF evening dresses and suits that on
New Years and Ladies' Day will doubtless be the |
admired OF all. Some Of the lace suits here repre-
sent fortune In themselves. The ladies' furnish
ing department is an establishment in itself. It
would be dificult, II, indeed, possible, to find
daughter OF Eve living who could not be suited |
here even in her most extrayagant aspirations
James McCreery Co., Broadway, have imported
some exquisite toilets to grace their fair patron
esses Real laces, Of the true holiday patterns,
plain and fancy dress goods and India shawls tempt
the purchaser on every side.
Union Adams Co., broadway, give lady an ex-
ccllent opportunity to treat the head OF the family
to smoking jacket, railway rug or travelling
so many things commend themselves TO the atten
tion Of purchaser that the principal dificulty Is
where to begin and especially where to stop
There is perfect arsenal Of toys for the chill
dren, writing desks, albums, ornaments OF every
description. But there are also things Of prac-
tical use here. What can be more appropriate
than fine set OF furs? This Is well stocked de-
partment at this house. Children's fine white fur
sets at 81 75 ladies' imitation ermine sets at 81 So
The liner lines OF real and Imitation Alaska sable
real and imitation mink sets, real and imitation
seal and sable sets, all can be found and at very
low prices Fur robes at bargains. Then there are
the shaws and sacques the real lace handkcrchiefs
and barDes the fine display OF trimmed and I'M
trimmed hats the very rich assortment OF Infants
wear-n TACT, everything to clOthc. to ornament
and to please all ages.
The stock Of silks and dress goods at Richard
Meares' Sixth avenue, is so attractive that crowds
OF ladies' may be seen there every day.
The Stern Brothers, Sixth avenue, have every
thing in laces and fancy goods that one would de-
sire ior'the holidays. Also elegant Lyons pure SILK
cloak vevets, ranging from eight to ten dollars.
Johnson. Burns Co., Union square; II. ONelll
Co, sixth avenue; Emberson, Broadway; F.
dc Perceval, Broadway; Harris Bros, Broadway;
sheppard Knapp, Sixth avenue; Kin7ey's, Broad
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