Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-02-27
The Royal Marriage-The
Brides Wardrobe.

A correspondent of the London ''Times''
who saw the bridal trousseau OF the
daughter of the Gar, who married Prince
Alfred of England, thus describes it:
!sPiloted through a succession Of the
never-ending saloons of the Winter Palace
we came at last to the ante-chamber to the
Sale Blanche. In this very large room,
broad, low tables were ranged, spread with
the wonders of the wardrobe of the impe-
rial bride. Who shall describe them and
where shall one begin Here is a table
spread with dozens and dozens of pairs of
the most dainty shoes i'll the world, from
| long white satin boots, slashed up the front,
to small slippers, smart with bows and
buckles. A pair of these last was Orna-
mented with pretty sort of gold work on
! silk, the peculiar manufacture of one Rus
sian town. Trays OF acknowledgements
edged inches deep with beautiful lace, and
! worked with the Imperial monogram
| piles OF petticoats, awfully and wonderful
ly tucked and plated and embroidered
exquisitely worked linen of marvellous
| wool, and cambria as fine as floating cob
webs, lay in orderly heaps on every Side.-
Blankets were even there, and some en-
broidered furniture for bed and table look
ed rare enough to be put under glass
case, and far too fine and fragile to be ever
1sent to the wash If one could have
brought away the patterns of a row of fas-
cinating little caps hung on stands, how
acceptable they would have been to ladies
who love to perch these taking shreds of
lace and ribbon on the top of their heads
Gloves are gloves all the world over, at
least to look at but in hosiery there is
some room for art and luxury. 1t seemed
impious to look upon shining and delicate
ly tinted silk stockings, marked with the
initial letter of the most beautiful names
in the world under an imperial crown, and
one passed on to eXpend admiration and
wonder on an endless array of lace at one
thousand roubles an archine, and ribbons,
quilted white satin baskets, and other
mysteries.
But the next room. the great Sale
Blanche, from the ceiling Of which depend
immense chandeliers of glittering glass,
contained the real glories of the trousseau.
Here were the dresses and the bonnets,
and the cloaks and the furs. Fifty morn
ing dresses of silk and satin and velvet
hung on stands. and their rich tints side
by side were a rare study Of color. Some
of the dresses are rather heavy and old
looking, with all their splendor, for young
girl. The gold and silver embroidered |
white and blue velvet gowns, with long
trains for court, are goodly to look upon,
though they must be weighty to wear
The dress of blue velvet embroidered with |
gold braid is sort of feminine uniform de
rigueatr in the Wincer Palace for the i'm
perial family on great occasions. The
wedding dress was, of course, the centre
of interest, and was Of white satin, with
pointed hanging sleeves, and covered with
silver embroidery 1t has a long train, and |
is a glorifed specimen Of the Russian ma |
tional marriage costume. Dressing-gowns |
of every description, from the bona fide |
robe to be put on getting out of bed to that |
which is merely costly gown in disguise !
were there, and many more devices of fe- |
For comfort out of doors there were tip |
pets and jackets and cloaks of precious |
fur, and one sable cloak in particular worth
it's weight in gold, and perhaps muchmo
A cloak Of white Astrachan, many Cash
mere shawls, and dainty opera cloaks,
:s'worthy to be furl'd
s'About the loveliest shoulders in the
world
Uttered the tables luxuriously.
Gas though the milliners had exerted
their skill till the force of fancy could no
further there was not only whole regi- |
ment of dresses in esse, but large number !
in posse, in the shape of Il row of rolls of |
silk and velvet. Even as it is, / have not |
mentioned the bonnets, whole beyy of |
which were becomingly arranged on a Ia |
BILE to themselves nor must we tear our |
selves away without glancing at the por-
tentous row of great purple Russia leather |
travelling trunks, suggestive of immen Sc
payments for extra luggage
FIGHT IN CoURT-There was "a little