The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-09-26
GEMS FROM DEMOREST'S MONTHLY
FOR OCTOBER.


FOR OCTOBER.
Reception days and evenings have
taken the place, to great extent, of the
! old-fashioned party, and have made decided
inroads into the custom of receiving on
New Years Day. All ladies who make
any pretentions to society habits, society
customs, and society manners, now ere
ceive," either on a certain day, a certain
evening each week, or upon a certain num-
Der of specified days in specified months
during the season."
Visiting cards are all that are required to
make the announcement, and to these are
added, "Thursdays," Fridays" "Satur-
day evenings" or whatever the time is, in
the lower left corner.
Whenever ladies give series of recep-
tions, fortnightly for example, through the
months of January and February, they are
rather more formal. Visiting cards are
sometimes employed, but they are sent
specially, to different persons for different
evenings, and if still more ceremony is
considered desirable, cards are engraved for
the purpose. Such receptions take the
form Of small and select evening parties
Supper is not provided, but refreshments
are handed round, simple or elaborate, ac-
cording to the taste and means of the
hostess, but usually simple.
For daV raceDtiODS M rafreS at
all are required.
At regular weekly evening receptions,
sometimes tea and cake, or tea and bread
and butter are passed round, and occasion
ally chocolate and ice cream; but the latest
notion in exclusive circles ordains tea, and
broom bread and butter only.
The customs of society, and all the
prejudces and preferences of individual
taste, are in favor of the pure white toilet
ties, emblem of their youth and innocence,
for brides Colors are inconsruous, they
look as if they were a matter of necessity,
not choice, and therefore can never be what
is called fashionable" 1t is true, an
effort has been made recently, to introduce
colors into exclusive English bridal cos
tunes, but it has been severely commented
Oh by French authorities in fashion, and
has resulted in a dead failure.
Nothing has yet superseded the white
dress, the veil, the bridal wreath, nor does
it seem likely, at present, that anything
will. Marriage comes to most persons but
once in life; at any rate, but once can
the young girl be crowned with the evil
dences of her spotless maidenhood; it is,
therefore, but right that for that once, she
should be queen in her own right, and wear
white, and royal robes.
"A preference in Fall toilettes is mani
tested for jet upon wooden cashmere, serge
and wooden poplin, with cuirasses of velvet,
striped with jet bands. These, of course,
are all black, but there are very handsome
costumes of Russia gray wool, embroider-
ed with black, and worn over black skirts;
and there are complete costumes of brown
camel's hair, twilled all wool bege, and
wooden serge, embroidered with wool, in
several shades of the same color These
last are not new, except in design, but
they are very handsome, and can never be-
come common, because they require that
the bonnet and other portions of the toll
cite should be in harmony with them, and
these accessories, being in colors, cannot
properly be worn with other dresses.
1t was thought that jet had "run it.
self into the ground" So many cheap
limitations had appeared of costly styles in
trimming, that it was supposed manufac-
turers would be afraid of risking the mar
ket with a fresh supply of expensive jet
goods. Yet this reasonable theory has not
been carried out in practice. Jet it is de-
clared is still the rage" and the most
costly trimmings and decorations for the
season, always excepting rich real lace,
are of jet, and fine silk cord in the new
designs, which are certainly sufficiently
novel and elegant to satisfy the most ext
gent taste. The ascendancy thus main
tanned reasserts the supremacy of black
toilettes, black silk, black velvet, and black
cashmere, jet being rarely associated with
any but black fabrics.
"A new soft satin finished silk appears
in all the pale shades for evening wear,
with an under side of satin in white, or
deeper shade of the same color. These
silks are used for the elegant dinner and
evening toilettes of matrons from thirty to
fifty years of age. The silk turned over
forms rerers, cuffs collars, and all the Or
namental parts of a costume, and with
fine crepe lisse plaitings for the inside of
neck and sleeves, very handsome toilette
is completed without lace.
There is an enlargement in the size of
Fall and Winter bonnets which shows itself
particularly in the brim, which is broad
and often tlaring. The trimming still con-
tinues to be massed at the back, though
the Directori and Ra6agas styles are orna-
mented under the brim.
The arrangement of the trimmings upon
many of the most costly importe ed hats and
bonnets is so very broad, striking, and
what the French call "noisy," as to re-
quire great modification before being suit
ed to the present style of close, restricted
walking dresses.
There will be great revival of velvet
this season for in door dr. asses, Sat homes"
"kettle drums" small dinner-partes, and
the like; some will be cut plain fourreau,
and striped with jet, others demi- train.
with basques and open bodies enriched
with real or ijetted lace. The oriental let
necklaces composed Of many graduated
strands, are repeated in aprons for the
front and back of costumes, and are added
to black Gabrielle dresses, as we'll as to
complete costumes, with fine effect
The most stylish hats for young ladies'
are "Rubens " felt, turned up with a sill
yer buckle, bound with velvet of the same
shade, the crown swept with long ostrich
plume which touches the shoulder.
One of the greatest novelties in jet is
standing, flaring collar, formed entirely
of jet beads strung on wire. This is
rounded away in front, and the lower edge
is trimmed with jet fringe. The lace ruff
is to be worn inside.