The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-10-07
OF TnE TOILET
How a French Woman Makes
Herself Beauti1ul-PRSStng for
Thirty at Fifty.

How q French Woman Makes
Herself Beauti1ll-PRSStng for
Thirty at Fifty.
From the Metropolitan.
had the pleasure yesterday Of "assist-
iug'-that is to say, looking on, not help
ing at the toilet Of a French woman, a
genuine Partisan. wasagoOd deal sur.
priscd, thatI admit; and she was good
deal surprised at my surprise, She i'm
agined that the extremes Of artifciality
arrived at in Paris-making sort Of
dual woman, as it were, out OF one-were
known to US; and she considers US semi.
barbarians 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 be-
gan by submitting her to face friction
Of alder flower water. This accomplish
ed, the previously sallow face became Of
clearer hue, an ivory yellow. Every
particle Of impurity in the pores had
yielded to the influence Of the alder water,
with which half goblet Of warm water
had been mixed. The throat, neck and
hands partook Of this refreshing dew, adj.
ding lustre to the freshness given by
u tepid bath Of twenty minutes, and u
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 a scented iris
powder in the dark hair, which was short
that Is to say, not more than foot and
half long-and rather thick. When
the iris powder was brushed out and care
fully removed at the temples and the nape
Of the neck, delicate creme, similar 10
cold cream, but without lard-the Juice
Of lettuce being It's main ingr0dient-was
laid over the whole skin Of neck, face and
hands, and allowed to remain ten min
utes. This, 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 Hoir at dinner. had not observed
any "coHiruciiOR deS traits" and thought
within myself how much fancy would do,
The Partisan informed me that camphOr
and creme had q similar composing effect
upon the features, especially after the 70.
tigues OF ball.
The next thing done was the removal
Of every trace Of the creme with an ex.
tremely fine linen cloth. This was a
skilliul operation, for while rubbing the
Il, nj nNtu II 1, "a, -,
de-chambre did not make ii red or in any
way roughen is surface. She seemed to
polish and in polishing to whiten her
mistress complexion.
ThepeGt process was the application Of
veloutine, compound Of bismuth and
rice powder, having the iixNtive quality
OF the first and the deliCaCy Of the last In.
gredicnt. But ah the care with which
the maid applied 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 white
ness Of alabaster, with the suggestion OF
sunny lustre and Crcaminess to subdue
il.
Then came the grand affair OF the eye
brows. These were brushed with min
ute soft brush, with dark bristles and a
handle inlaid with mother Of pearl, and
the least possible tracing Of fard indien
from small stone jar laid upon them.
Under the eyes-very fine eyes, and
needing no aid from art-an estampo OF
leather, upon which the iarCl indien was
lightly rubbed, laid now n dusky shadow,
which increased the brilliancy Ofth eyes
to n great, md, to my mind, unpleasant
degree. WHAT was to become OF this APP
plianCc in case Of emotion cannot say.
Perhaps French woman only cries when
she chooses.
The neck and hands now partoOk Of the
bismulh powder whitening, and after that
the hair was dressed very low on the
neck, iri1zed n little over the forehead,
and with less addition Of false hair than
has been customary for years. A small
matte Of permanently Crimped black hair,
lOoped with white ivory comb cut in
cameo medalliOns, made up this part Of
the toilet, only one small ringlct being
suffered to play about the neck.
But twas when the large peignOir was
removed, and the under toilet began, that
establishment claimed me for its own.
First, u corset, Of course, yon will say.
But, LET me remark, there are Corsets and
corsets. The one placed above the deli.
cate garment Of llesh.cOlOred raw silk,
which takes the place Of linen with the
elegantes Of Paris, and Clings to the form
40 as In no way TO increase the size by
bulk of folds around the waist, was a
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
hustle, were curved bones that stood out
In q swell Of several inches and formed
an incorporate part Of the corset itself,
impossible Of detection when the skirt OF
the dress was placed over II.
Then the nesh.Colored silk stockings;
the short cambria skirt with myriad
tuckS, insertions, and Outings Of lace; the
delicate bottines Of black sntin; the white
muslin dress, without assistance Of color,
except n rose at the throat, and made so
| GAlItlntll EHUIb III lIOlt IN lUNibIluy tllc
entire foot; the one long hair pin, with its
head unc crosse perle fine, and the careless
drawing up OF the draping 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 so extremely tight to the arm
that Il seemed like n second skin. II ter.
minated two inches above the well.rornd.
ed yet delicate wrist, where quaint
bracelet Of West Indian beetles, the Cd.
dedu Of lady admirer from Cuba, com.
pleted the ornamentatiOn Of 80 much
studied simplicity.
It was really very pretty, and the lady
looked charming-let US say thirty years
old. Her age? Oh-well, My.
The Proper Length OF Sermons.
A discussion is going on in the reli-
gious newspapers MS 10 the proper length
Of sermons. The Boston Congregaiionalisl