, 1874-12-13

naturally dear at their first cost,-anyNhero
from SIS upvasd. But IS one pair ought to last
for all the wear required Of them-at least two
seasons, It isn't 90 great an expense after all.
To very limited extent they had been used by
Independent women for tho last three years
but it haa ho.n very hard to introduce them, and
it will probabIy baa year or two yet before they
will become as popular AZ they deserve. Tho
great horror Of unnecomingnsea prevents tho
majority from perceiTing any good in them at
| first.
Otherwise than this, there is little change in
peda! coverings. Tho ht,ttoned Walking boot il
too deeply cherished to b. lightly cast aside. It
renders an ugly foot comparatively shapeiJ q
pretty ono perfectly enchanting.
| MANHATTAN FEET.
never ramhle tor half~an-Aour through Broad
way and the adjacent avenues, without going
homo with tho conviction that fair metropotens
havo the handsomest, best-dressed feet OF any
women in the world. fon rsrely aee feet that
look pinched to discomfort; ret the boots will
tit rs exactly as the accompanying gloves.
! FRENCH FEET. :
| French women laye small feet: but they pinch
| then SO as to interfere with ease ard grace Of
| movement. have never seen genuine Paris
lan who appeared to advantage upon the PRONE
| nade; 4od take this to be ono reason MIR, az r
class, the P.risians walk 60 little. Their poor,
little. cramped toes havo no freedom; conse-
quently, to walk elegantly is Physical inpossl-
bihtg.
ENGLISH FEET.
| English women, on the contrary, not only do
not pinch thoir feet, they seldom seem to desire
| to have them suitably clothed. As rule, thci7
! feet are large (and' not alwaYs wel1-shaped) in
proportion to their bodies, while the luck of
tas:o displayed in dressing them does not add to
their attractiVeneas-
| GERMAN FEET
Undoubtedly there have boen German women
| With pretty, dainhlY-covered feet, but it has
rarely been my lot to Sec them. Generally their
feet appear to be l1-slsped, and almost never
peat that American women, especially New
Workers. hare tho prettiost, best-dressea feet On
| the globe
| LIGHT AND sH4DE.
The city is all ahvo with holiday-prspara.ions.
The Ruop- windows arc beautifully trimmed With
| their finest wares at ent1cing prices. Still,
everybody feels poor; everybody declares he or
she shall mako only simple and inexpensive
| Chr!slmas and NeH Year gifts. It Is doubtful
however, if thcy be able to Withstand tho temp
to our friends this year for the aske Of being
lavish to the friendlcss. But, unfortunately,
they TO whom re are most inclined to be LAVISH
ard those who can best afford to GO without any
gifts.
This year, the appeals for aid are endless;
not alone from people out OF omploYment, but
from those stricken by famine, .poatileuce,
and strange commissions of Nature. Il
what we can to the help Of those
who cannot help themselves. This wintar
promises to be harder on the poor than the last
was and. If it be as mild as TINT, We shall have
reason to DO thankful T..
But, with all this, only the experienced eye
can detect any decrease in n1oney-spsnding
among those having liberal means; nor 10 it de-
s1rabls that they should grow too economical
When they cease to spend, trade flags; when
trade flags, laborers are thrown ont Of work; go
II nf1n Ahnuf it ha tn At fnunitf,
cent expenditure OF money On the part Of the
few Is really to tho great benefit OF the many.
SPECIAL cnR1sTa1As-rART,Es
this year will not be 30 many es usual but
sorne will be vary elegant, aud = few quits orig
inal. Costume-parties Of one kind and another
will be tho feature, aud many Of the dresaes are
already being prepared. The prattiest drezs I
have yet seen il for
THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS,
to be represented by a young rife, who makes
her first appearance in tho role of hostess. The
principal materials OF the robo arc white foulaTd
and white tulle. The skirt is short, and Of ths
thzn the white Of silk. The tulle ia embroidered
all over with sprays Of holly leaves and berries
in natural colors, and is caught On the skirt in
full, loose ,puflnes. that look Ike snow-clouds.
i. wrought With fine, white, cut beads, |
frost in tho sun. The body is low
and ehort-sleeved (more's the pity) but the !
shoulders are concealea-of supposed 90 oe-py
point OF the whist behind, passes lightly over
each shoulder crosses on tho bosom, and finally |
ties somewhere behind, in big, fluffy loops. The |
floral decoration is wreaths Of very fine ground
pine, and sprays Of English ivy. mingled with |
holly berries while here and tnefa is u fringe
OF cut beads. by way OF FROST The ailken etock- |
incs, worked TO match. have littlo punches of |
holly for clocks; and the satin shoes, studded
with beads, have diamond buckles. With bunch
Of berries stuck through them. A necklace,
bracelets. and earrings, OF silver hlagree, with