Wilmington journal., 1873-11-07
From our own Correspondents
FASHIONS MCvEMD Ell,

Dc0J. ,JOau?auI:-The autumn OF 1873
will be long remembered. Never was
New York so rich; never were people so
poor. Weather beautiful beyond ex-
preston, harvests glorious and gar
nered in masses upon every street cor
ner, the great singers land dramatic
artists of the world jostllng each other
upon the sidewalk.
Thus, whether from the inspiration
of each others presence, or the dill
cious perfume of the atmosphere, Il
know not, but it is the opinion OF
authoritative judges, that singers and
actors surpass themselves. S"ch a
wealth of music was never poured
forth. 1t is startling, entrancing; 1t
is the inspiration that we read about,
that men go mad over, and that mere
money itself seems poverty by the
side Of In the face of this royalty OF
song, one can understand the enthusl-
asm of the Berliners, and the wild IN
toxication of the st. Petersburgers.
In Lucca and Murska and Nilsson, we
have the cream of the world in music
are we'll spent in obtaining souvenir
of genius so remarkable, of gifts SO
enthralling.
II
surprise. If New York was in finds
it would smother her in roses and
furnish her with glass coach-and-slx.
Even the Grand Opera is not able to
extinguish her as it very nearly has
Lucca, and as it does everybody.
Then the way in which she has done
it is simply delicious. Coming on the
stage with her mass of blonde hair
surmounting her small, rather worn
face, like a grown up French doll,
the New York critic first eyed her
through his glass, then listened to her
first three or four notes and declared
'sshe would not do" her voice was
''thin liquid sweetness" possibly, but
| not ''too long drawn out" But de
| Murska went on singing, and in lit
tie while the New York critic, who is
| nothing if not critical, and who there
fore never heartily applauds anything,
| was yelling bravo, till he was hoarse,
| and slapping his only pair Of kid gloves
out of the limits of stitched propriety.
| The same with the public, only more
SO.
| Lucca, dear little woman, sings as
if a thousand wonderful voices were
imprisoned in her throat, and is
superior, as IS Nilsson in many re
spects to de Murska, but she does not
| create the vivid impression of the
| Hungarian singer.
THE ToILETTES OF THE PRIMA DONNA.
| There is u curious difference in the
| styles of dress adopted by the differ
ent prima donnas, and it is a differ
| ence not unworthy of consideration.
Christine Nilsson has always been a
client of Worth, the French man
dressmaker, and is said to be passion
ately fond OF dress. Certainly it must
cost her great deal. Upon her,
Worth has expended all the resources
OF his art in looping, punching, folding
and arranging" drapery, and her
costumes present the best result Of the
modern revival of this method. But
though harmonious as whole, and
perfect as 4 work OF art, it destroys
material and lacks the breadth and
grace of outline necessary to fine effect
upon the stage Thus the costume OF
Nilsson. though excessively elaborate,
are less beautiful 10 the eyes OF
many than tho e OF other artists
upon which evidently much less time
and money has been spent. One OF
Missions toilettes, for example, was OF
white satin, the skirt striped in
in addition to its pleating and putting,
with cords stitched in like those of q
gentleman's shirt bosom, twenty-five
in a group forming one stripe. The
amount OF work upon this dress was
something enormous, between fouI
and five thousand yards of stitching
being employed Oh the cords alone.
THIS, for stage purposes. was all
lost, and worse than lost. How it
rIine,, tie natural effect OF the beauti-
ful material could be best appreciated
by Observing the bridal dress Of lie
Murska in Lucia III Iammcrmoor,
which is almost classic in its sim
plicity.
Lucca has no originality, and not
enough of ''style" about her dress to
Win admiration from 4 New York au-
dicnce, but de Murslza, while equally
avoiding the fnssiness Of the mo lern
fashions, by Il single stroke Of gcniUG
achieves striking results.
OPERA DRESS.
The opera never presented so little
that was brilliant and effective in the
way Of toiiettes SIS this season. The
truth is that notwithstanding the va
riety admitted in fashion the dark suit
is almost universal, and IS worn upon
!
sons with whom a full dress in the
evening is daily habit.
Formerly, nearly every one possess
ed a white opera cloak and an evening
bonnet which could be worn with a
somewhat passe dress, and with the
aid of fan, boquet. lace handkerchief,
and white or light kid gloves, present
en- afa0ssc a very gay and charming ap-
pearance. But an opera cloak is out
place over a suit. 1t is complete in
| itself, and with it dark gloves NAV be
| worn, and lace handkerchief and other
delicate toilette accessions are not re-
qulred and SO 1t has come to pass that
between the dark distempered shades
OF day greens and browns, and the dis
NAL attempts at frightening up street
toilettes with old light bonnets, OF
new striped shawls, our opera all-
| dIenceS have presented a sombre vet
dowdylsh appearance very un-Ameri-
can, and which does them little credit
IN the eyes of distinguished foreigners,
who had been led to believe in their
exceptional good taste
EVENING DRESS.
| 4 controversy is imminent in regard
! to evening Gress that may or may not
| settle that vexed question forever
At present no one is sure what evening
dress really is. With some it is the
low straight neck and short sleeves of
the traditions with others only the
absence of Il bonnet or the addition
of head-dress, and certain accessions
to an ordinary toilette. With many it
| is the last new dress or the best YOU
have got, whatever that is.
Now there is a certain distinction
which 1t Is very useful and highly
proper to impart to full dress. The
dress coat of the gentleman marks his
sense of the fitness of things. and of
the respect due to time and place, and
circumstance. He can wear the same
coat for seven Years and it is as dis
tlnctive of his recognition of the social
conventions, and as well fitted to its
original purpose as ever.
But women have no such resource