New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-26
Mysteries of the Toilet.

ing-at the toilet of French woman,
genuine Partisan. l was good deal sur
prised, that admit; and she was good
deal surprised at my surprise. She i'm
sgined that the extremes of artihciality ar
rived at in Paris-making a sort of dual
woman, as it were, out OF one-were known
to us; and she considers US semi bar barians
since she discovered how much nearer the
natural state we are.
She began, my Franchise. by submitting
herself to her maid, who on her part began
by subjecting her to face friction of elder
flower water. This accomplished, the pre-
viously sallow face became OF clearer hue,
an ivory yellow. Every particle of impur-
ity in the pores had yielded to the influence
OF the elder flower water, with which half
a goblet of warm water mad baen mixed.
The throat, neck and hands partook of this
refreshing dew, adding lustre to the fresh
ness given by tepid bath of twenty min
utes and a shower bath of five, gone through
with half hour before the beginning of
the mysteries OF dressing or the getting
up"
Next came a rubbing of scented iris
powder in the dark hair, which was short
that is to say, not more than foot and a
half long-an0 rather thick. When the
iris powder was brushed out aad carefully
removed at the temples and the nape of the
neck, delicate creme, similar to cod
cream, but without lard-the juice OF let
tuoe being its main ingredient-was laid
over the whole skin of neck, face and
hands, and allowed to remain ten minutes.
This, l was informed, was intended to do
away with the contraction OF the features
arising from want of sleep, which want of
sleep had arisen from too much cafe NOR
at dinner. l had not observed any soon
traction des traits" and thought within my
sell how much fancy would do. The
Partisan informed me that camphor and
S1.pryp had a similar PDmnnainU atfaat
the features, especially alter the fatigues OF
ball.
The next thing done was the removal of
every trace of the creme with an extremely
fine linen cloth. This was a skilltul opera
ton, for while rubbing the skin into satin
like smoothness the teDtne-de-chambre did
not make it red or in any way roughen its
surface She seemed to polish aad in polish
ing to whiten her MISTRESS complexion.
The next process was the application of
veloutine, a compound of bismuth and rice
powder, having the tixative quality of the
first, and the delicacy OF the last ingredient.
But ah! the care with which the maid ap-
piled the preparation. 1t was absolutely
impossible, in being thus laid on, to detect
the presence of any foreign aid. The skin
had the firm, clear wilderness of alabaster,
with suggestion OF sunny lustre and
creaminess to subdue 1t.
Then came the grand affair of the eve
brows. These were brushed with minute
soft brush, with dark bristles and handle
inlaid with mother of pear, and the least
possible tracing of tdrd indien from small
stone jar laid upon them.
Under the eyes-very fine eyes, and need
ing no aid from art-an estampe OF leather,
upon which the fdrd indien was lightly
rubbed, laid now dusky shadow, which
increased the brilliancy Of the eyes to a
great, and, to my mind, unpleasant degree.
What was to become of this appliance ia
case of emotion can not say. Perhaps q
French woman only cries when she chooses.
The neck and hands now partook of the
bismuth powder whitening, and after that
the hair was dressed very low on the neck,
frizzed little of the forehead, and with
less addition of false hair than has been
customary for years. A small matte of per-
manently cIimped black hair, looped with
white ivory comb cut in cameo medallions,
made up this part of the toilet, only one
small ringlet being suffered to play about
the neck.
But it was when the large peignoir was
removed, and the under toilet began, that
astonishment claimed me for its own.
First, Q corset, of course, you will say
But, let me remark, there ara corsets and
corsets. The one placed above the delicate
garment of flesh c0lored raw silk, which
takes the place of linen with the elegantes
of Paris, and clings to the form so as in no
way to increase the size by bulk of folds
around the waist, was corset of gray silk,
stitched with rose color and edged with
Valenciennes on the hips and about the
shoulders. But in the make OF this "article
of female wear" there entered art that
amounted to genius. For, set in at the hips,
and making the bustle, we're curved bones
that stood out in swell of several inches
and formed an Incorporate part of the COR
set itself, impossible of detection when the
skirt of the dress lie placed over it.
Then the flesh col0red silk stockings; the
short cambria skirt with myriad tucks, in
sertiaps, and futlngs OF lace; the delicate
bottines of black satin; the white muslin
dress, without assistance of color except q
rose ct the throat, and made so extremely
short in front ~ to display the entire foot;
the one long hair pin, with its head une
crosse perk fine, and the careless drawing
up Of the drsoing at one side to display the
underskirt Of raw silk: this and the toilet
were an accomplished feat and fact
Let me not omit 10 say that the muslin
sleeve was 20 extremely tight to the arm
that it seemed like second akin. 1t ter
minated, two inches above the we'll.
rounded yet delicate wrist, where quaint
bracelet Of West India nettlee, the cadeau
of lady admirer from Cuba, completed
the ornamentation Of 20 much studied Sim
plicity. r y
It Wa really very pretty, and the lady
old. Her agei Oh-well, ~. -Kssropoli-
eesfSs 49, Il Is