River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-10-15
DLREEuL DRESS DISPLAY


To be woll.dressed woman. as this
world goes. is the great ambition of every
female who lays claim to social distinc
ton. To- be finelly, yet not fashy, to be
elegantly attircd, yet clad within the
boundaries which divide responsibility
from the followers of worldly fralties:
90 cater to the aesthetics of dress. and not
indulge in that which outrages decency,
Is something which the woman of fashion
hopes to attain and which requires the
utmost caution In ASSUMING. The FASH
lonable woman's heart IS given to dress
she Is constantly IN mind bordering on
distraction lest her neighbour shall eclipse
her newest toilet, or attract more admir-
alton than She does by some new tangled
cut in her cloak or an extra wrinkle in
her over-skirt.
1t Is an awful thing to be a woman of
fashion; it is assuming grave response.
bility to step from the world and play
the part Of Woman who Dresses. The
woman who talks leads comparatively
easy life; the woman who darcs to be
bold and free in the conventionali' es Of
life guards only her character, the woman
who dresses lives in a constant state Of
trepidation lest she shall fail in some of
the essential points of her social exist
ence, and be found guilty of committing
the objectionable sin OF sporting gar
mcnts at least month in arrears Of the
prevailing style. Her object is to please
her friends, or rlnkle their hearts with
envy, at the display of some particularly
nobby specimen Of woman's apparel, or
dazzle of priceless gems. She haunts
the dry good stores daily, the terror Of
nervous clerks, and glides mystcriouSly
IN and out Of millincr's shops. trying the
patience Of modistes and putting them 10
tue limit of their inventive genius in get
ting up novel designs which shall eclipse
everything that has been worn before.
These ultra fashionable women have no
souls beyond clo.hes, and their highest
idealls the perfect fitting garments and
costly toilet. She bursts forth in her
spendor on bright days when the genial
sunshine beats down upon the city. The
thoroughiares arc full Of her. She Sam.
ters lazily along the sidewalk drawing Inc
attenuonoi her sisters and,the eyes of star
ing men, or rolls over the. pavement in
elegant landaulct ogling the passers by
and making the world understand that
there IS ayaSt gulf Of social distinction be.
tween her and the more unfortunaterudi.
viduals who are compelled to look upon
her from aiar off.
The woman who dresses Is far from A
source Of profit to her husband. When
she laughs his purse cries. She mn,t lie
dressed, at all hazards, no matter how
short his bank account may be. no mat.
ter how closely he may be pinchcd in the
latest gold corner. She always has her
mind upon new silk, her OPTICS upon
the latest importation Of velvet. while
she talks glibly about fresh solitaircs for
her ears, or costly mosaic for her breast.
She Is persuasive in her pleadings, and
dexterous IN her manipulatious Of purse
strings. At balls and parties this woman
fairly cOrruscatcs. She scintillatcs with
gems ana rustlcs with fine goods. She is
verscd in the formalitics Of the social
world, and can grace an entertainment
with the brilliancy Of her shining accom-.
plishments.
The woman whose life is given to dress,
and who IS called cloud" in her attire. 8
very common in the city She belongs to
the upper circles Of society. and feels that
her position is a certain safcgu "a against
any questioning that may bc made
against her. In the street. rs we'll az the
parlor, She indalgcs IN all the eccentric.
tiles which fashion dictates or human Dc.
vice can fashion. But She sails gracefully
along, unmindful Of the criticism which
her dress may evoke. Furs. furbelows.
and feathers are well enough in THEN
place affected punishment not only
spolls the effect but robs the object