The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-04-17
dolly Warden.

senses. though why or wherefore it
would be hard to say; but when once it
has got fair hold it has to be humored
until it is worn out or supplanted by
some other novelty. At the present mo-
ment the name which predominates
everywhere, which is advertised in the
papers, posted on walls in bills in large
type. stuck up in the windows OF dry
goods stores, and heard in everybody's
mouth, is that of Dolly Warden, the
aprightly, coquettish heroine of Dickens
historical novel ''Barnaby Rudge."
But the novel was written thirty years
ago, and there seems to be no apparent
reason why the London locksmith's g pret-
ty daughter should all OF sudden start
out into popularity greater than she en-
joyed when she was first introduced to
the world. She was then mado the sub
ject of many picture, and the celebrated
artist Maclise, at the suggestion and
under the guidance of lis friend Dickens,
painted what may be called aportrait of
her; if there can be suoh thing as the
portrait of an imaginary character. It
wus, however, realization on canvas of
the conception of the author, and it has
given to her tho bodily form and the
costume by which she will henceforth be
identified.
just as we form but one conception
now of Uncle Toby and the widow Wad-
man, or OF Sir Roger de Coverly and the
Spectator, or of Mr.. Pickwick and Sam
Weller, in consequence of our familiari-
ty with the celebrated pictures and illus
trations 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 her. In this she appears in
''cherry- colored" hood and cloak and
hat trimmed with cherry. colored ribbon,
&c. But, graceful and attractive as she
is, there is nothing in common between
her and the young latlies of the present
day, who have their own peculiar grace
and attractiveness. She lived and hou-
rished while our war of independence
was going OH, and in which her lover
lost an arm. To find any one who would
resemble her, we should have to go back
to our great-grand-mother's time; and
herein is partial mystery of the Dolly
Warden turore. Some one-in all proba-
bility an enterprising dressmaker-
started the notion that one of the most
striking novelties in the way of costume
Tor ladies would be revival of the anti
quated howered chintz overskirt worn by
English ladies in the middle of the last
century, and it has been as successful
hit as any that has been made for uome
time.
Accordingly, the low-bodied dress,
with skirts we'll looped up. sleeves tight
to the elbow. and then suddenly assum-
ing the dimensions of sacks, leaving the
portion 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 with
out some modification. And patterns of
every hue and every variety of sprig and
flower are displayed in the store windows,
to the no little anxiety of paterfdmilias,
who begins to wonder what sort of ap-
pearance his women folk are going to as
sumo when they step forth out of the
hands of the modiste, with their straw
hats looped up on one side. la Dolly,
and their fowered skirts looped up on
botn sides, displaying the scarlet or
brown under garment, in which our
great-grand-mothers 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 Warden bats and
dresses come Dolly Warden jewelry and
knick-knacks. 1t was an ingenious 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 hero.
inc OF the period, for they all dressed
in the same costume as Dolly Warden
did. So far, indeed, ns looped skirts
are concerned. they have been in vogue,
more or less, for century and a half,
and at this very time are fashionable in
walking dresses. The Dolly Warden
overskirt is not so much q novelty in
itself; the attraction of it is to be found,
one may suppose, in the lowered pat.
tern of the material of which it is made.
Onr fashionable bellies have scarcely re.
covered from the "Grecian bend;" and
the luxuriance of their present Pompa.
dour oyerdresses makes tho transition to
the tight bodice. low bosom md bare
arms OF Dolly Warden rather sudden.
Very yonDg ladies will doubtless expect
to double their attractions-if such
thing be possible-in their Dolly Warden
costume. And ladies of more mature
age who retain their youthful appear.
ance, ns many do, may also appear to
advantage in it-at home.
philadelphia Ledger.
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