Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-01-01

ttdShton Correspondence Of The EUsRinq Star
NEW YORK, December 81, 1872.
Society papers and long lists of weddings aud
receptions, to the contrary Notwithstanding,
this ts not a "brilliantn social season. sit
rarely is" observes the vie acre, "afoer q 20.
litical campaign" But while this is true, and
every four years becomes more SO, for the cost
Of electing president is constantly increasing
like everything else still it does not account for
the over dullness in business circles which
even the holidays fail to dissipate.
High priced fabrics imported largely at the
beginning of the season are "msrked down. to
an unusual and alarming extent, while special
holiday articles, brought from every part OF the
world for Christmas and New Year gifts, lay for
the most part on the shelves. There is an sp
parent furry of excitement in some of
the large toy bazaars, but even this Is more
seeming than real; there is no solid basis Of pros
perity beneath it. Parties who appear to be in
the midst OF golden harvest are in reality
trembling on the verge of bankruptcy. The
truth is, that the day is past when large for
tunes can be made with rapidly in legitimate
mons expenses, the excessive competition. and
tistrieutive rather than productive labor forbid
1t, and some great commercial disasters must
be expected that Will force young men into
other occupations, and compel merchants g.
rest their operations upon more solid and sub
stsntsl basis 1t is significant fact that 30 out
OF every 100 mechanics in the large cities OF this
couhtry are foreigners, whose earnings now
average from four to fSe dollars per day, while
any quantity of'gentiemanly young American
men," the product OF business, colleges and
high schools, can be got to keep books or do any
KIND of"genteeP' writing for from six to ten
dollars per week.
Nice prospect this for American girls, Where
are the husbands of the next generation to come
from?
"TEN THOUSAND YEAR,
For the past few years an ordinary fortune
zens of our ambitious republic. The possessor
OF Sle0,e goo Is poor man, the owner Of 500, 900
can just make out to live, while the income
from million barely sufiices to keep up IN
establishment" to supply the waste and prodi-
gality OF servants, to pay the restaurateur and
the wine merchant, afford the means for an
occasional trip to Europe, and pay the Partisan
dressmakers and London dry goods bills. The
country is undoubtedly rich. but all the mines
in Colorado could not keep it going at that rate
for any length of time, and the sooner we stop
the better it will be for US In the long run.
WHAT DRESS CosTs.
Much cannot be prt down to the score OF ex-
never were so many old dresses made to do duty
at fashionable entertainments as this season
LAX OF only wearing handsome dress once.
one, two, and three seasons in saccession. and
then remodelled for q fourth, at a very slight
expense; and this by q society lady, who eoes
out great deal. and has the crrdit Of dressing
The principal cost OF dress nova DAYS ia in
the laoor OF making and the enormous price of
Imported articles to cover the great expense OF
ooiDg business. A jacket or cloak which would
nave cost ten dollars ten years ago, now cost
twenty hye to thirty; q suit that could have
been made for fifteen, can now be only made or
pought for ferty -hve; and the substantial straw
bonnet, for which four or six dollars was con-
sidered good price, is transformed into a nom
descript, which Is only adapted to certain styles
fifteen dollars. Ladies, therefore, are Obliged
TO spend much more money on their clothes
without being any better dressed. For this they
are not responsible. They have to take what Is
provided for them and give what is demsude
from them. As men control politics and
finances, IL is their own fault If they do not give
us system which makes prices loW and money
wINrER COSTUMES.
There Il An appearance of plainness and
solidity about the winter costumes as. seen in
the streets and upon the drives i'm the fashion
able avenues, which does not seem to Justify
the cost of this part Of q lady's wardrobe
Nothing, for instance. could be more simple or
sober for calling costumes than Q heavily
founced black silk dress, walking length, q seal
skin jacket and mun, and black velvet bonnet
trimmed with black thread. lace and marabout
feathers, matching the shading Of the band OF
silver fox which bordered the seal skin set
Yet this costume represented alone in the four
articles Of dress, isckst, nutf and bonnet, re-
quired an outlay OF I'VE hundred dollars.
The latest designs In cloth are perfectly plain
and untrimmed. They consist or . eored skiri
cut rather long behind, and over this . long
in the front, and the corners turned back 70
form large rerers by fastening the corners
together with button under the point Of the
basque behind. Cuffs and collar both show the
under side Of the cloak. and together with the 4
rerers, afford sbundant relief to the sussere
simplicity Of the designs. Iron grey, dark blue,
and invisible green are considered most dis
and the edges are 6uished only With
2 black silk cord or piping. English walk
had great success this season. They are emf
strictly coat shape. high on the shoulders, mar
row across the back, falling collar. and sleeves
shaped to the arm with single cuffs. The cloth
Is Is oI me very best quality, broad or
. tricet," only the darkest shades boinc used
and the finishing uniformly six cord, pspins.
sno put.0rs-tne latter black silk or oxydizsd
SILVER: These jackets are much more In keeuiur
Nth the restricted style Of street costumes dian
the absurd Doimans with their short bodies 40
VIDE hanging sleeves, which bear 40 relafion
whatever to the rest Of the dreas, and 40 not
seem 70 be part Of ft. =
Sleeyeleeejsctets, Of cloth siIk or velvet. Jare
cut With points, back and front, plain and not |
TOO deep. They are frequently worm With n /
esSrskist q the Same material over Z plain |
nien- necked, coat-sleeved dfees OF silk or /
cashmere In contrasting color. No trinnine |