Saint Mary's beacon., 1874-01-29
<cersspoodesee Of the Beseon.)
Washinston, Jan. III. 1874.

ers thx my next letter would edo" the
SENATE and she fashions. Nov | am pus-
xled to know which shall have the prefer
ence. but as the Senate has doae nothing
this Winter To- help the country .1d the
fashions have. I viii acknowledge their
superior claim. and fattsr xiyself give
some pleasure to my fair friends who are
always on the qHi pipe for the --latest out"
When asserted that fashion had done
something for the public this Winter. I
alluded to the present simplicity Of style
in making snd trimming ''our" drcsses.
wraps and hats. for bonnets there are
none. Hats are worn Of every shape.
but Of course one or two arc slwe5s pre-
ferred. and the Normandy cap Is worn
alike BY young and old. For the latter.
il is made Of black velvet. With band and
edge Of some delicate shade Of pink. pur-
pie or blue, With broad ends of ffinged
gros grain falling down the back. For
children Normandy caps were 6rst intro
duced. and are made Of white lace or mus
lin on pink or blue, with sash ribbon
friuged at the ends. tied loosely around
| the crown.
This style Of hat is the cheapest. as the
materials used are not cut up into bits.
and therefore will do to make over. 1t
only requires three-eighths of velvet or
silk and some lace and sash ribbon to make
one Of these becoming bonnets. and any
one can make them. The weather has
been SO delightful that heavy wraps have
not been in demand. though those who
are fortunate enough to own seal skin
coat or velvet redingote never fail to wear
them. The most fashionable walking
suits arc composed generally Of q dark
uuderskirt and tight fitting rcdingotc.
which is very stylish. with its jaunty
pockets and manish turn back collar, for
ruffs are dead. The trimming most in
vogue is bias bands Of the dress material.
headed with cable. cord, covered, the same
or silk and put up the front aud around
the back of the skirt. The outdoor dres-
ses co not touch the pavement, and l
must say that the street crossings have
not been improved BY this shortening pro-
cess. Among the fashions about to be
revived is that Of quilted petticoats. not
for underwear. as many of my dear old
friends in St. Mary's use them. but for
street wear. They arc made shorter than
e-en the dresses, are of cashmere. camcls
hair. silk or velvet, and the imported
ones cost from ten to twenty dollars. Over
these are worn the rediugote, and often
sleeveless jacket Of the color Of the quill
ted skirt, making the wearer look like
patchwork. The chief claim of this dress
is its economy. OF course evening and
reception dresses arc worn long and very
short in the neck. Never were dresses so
low. I saw a case Of imported dresses for
one Of the bellies Of the season. and to each
dress there were two waists, one high, male
invariably with vest front. and the other
so low that the owner had to have bands
Of silk inserted to make them decent. but
I am sorry to say very few ofour society
bellies would have taken this precaution,
thinking everything from Paris perfect
The season opened with the new year,
which. in spite Of what has been said to
the contrary, was more generally otserv-
ed than ever. Some Of the Cabinet min
listers did not receive, owing to domestic
affections. though had they followed the
example set at the White House they'e
had done 80, had their parents been only
dead fortnight. Mrs. Grant has been
fearfully criticised for appearing in pub
lie so soon after the death of her father.
though no one can say thes she or Nelly
failed in love or duty to the good old man
while he lived at the White House, and
some excuse should be allowed to her who
is well known to be most o5cdieut wife
to the most obstinate man in the country.
The Attorney General had very few call
ers. owing to the revival Of old scandals
concerning him and his wife. I could
not, if dared. tell half the dreadful
things said Of the exalted pair. will
only say that, though 4 member Of the
Cabinet and nominated for Chief Justice,
the Senate refused to confirm him. and
after much trouble the President With
drew his name and sent in that of Caleb
Cushing Of dog nosorie,y. for it was this
noted individual that had Fernando Woods
dog killed because i,s howls aud cries day
and night prevented him from sleeping
or working. Caleb Gushing is to occupy
Taney's chair. and some one else win have
to 60 to Spain to succeed Daniel Sicklcs
and settle about the Virginius. which was
so conveniently sunk. Our Post Master
General could not receive because his new
house was not ttinished. and the ceiling of,he
dining-yoom ofthe old one fell down and
broke all the china, so there was an excuse
fsr not exercising ..old- fashioned Mary land
hospitality" just as if,he people ofdear old