Middletown transcript., 1875-12-11

eu ner uay
At ten. after her "dish of Bohea,
as it was called, generally taken befor
rising, the lady arranged herself in
muslin peignoir, or wrapper, and ha
a regular reception of her friends
while, with her hair disheyelled. sh
was submitted. for the first time 10 th
day, to the hands of her hair-drcsser
for usually she dressed four or fv
times day. Her hair. dragged Of
her face. covered with powder. plaster
ed with pomdtun. and frizzled in stif
cu:ls, was raised, by means Of gauze
feathers. and flowers, into an cdi6cs
often equal to her height -Four ellis
of gauze have been contained in some
of these erections, with butterflies, birds,
and feathers introduced-the last of the
most preposterous height of. it is re-
corded. above yard After an hours
plastering and frizzing. the hair-dress-
er's task was over; and weary one it
was. though enlivened by the animated
conversation of the visitors. The re-
mainder Of the toilet was finished, the
most important part Of which was the
arrangement Of the patches point of
great interest These we're made Of
black silk, gummed and cut into stars,
crescents, and other forma. Patches
had originated in France under Louis
XIV, with view to show off the white
ness of the complexion, but they we're
never worn by women of dark skins.
Great was the art in plasin, these
patches the eye. the corner Of
the mouth, the forehead, and the tenn
pie. A lady Of the world would wear
seven or eight, and each had its special
designation. She never went without
a box of patches, to replace any that
might accidentally fall off; and these
little boxes, generally of Battersea en-
amel, finely painted by some eminent
artist, had usually tiny looking-glass
inserted within the lid. to help her to
repair the accident. Nor was the rouge
pot forgotten, rouge at that time being
an indispensable adjunct to the toilet
SO indispensable that when Marie An
toinette came over to France to marry
Louis XVI. and begged to dispense
with wearing it. family conclave was
held at Versailles on the subject, fol-
owed BY formal order from the king
10 put it on-a command which she had
10 alternative but to obey.
The business Of the toilet being. dis
posed of. with. as says the poet.
1.-THE powder, patches, and the pins,
The ribbons, jewels, and the rings,
The lace, and paint, and warlike things
That make up all their magazines,
'ur lady will perhaps have an interview
Rith her dressmaker before she takes
Ter morning drive. when perhaps a
title shopping-the choosing Of rib
ION or lace, or bargaining for some
'iece Of Indian china-will complete
be labors Of the afternoon.
Then follow dressing ard dinner, and
mother dressing for the theatre or card
arty.
Assemblies, cards, and dice,
The spring of every human vice.
Bedtime at last comes, and the night
oilet is as long as the day in the tedi-
Us operation Of undoing the hair,
ombing out the powder; the day pro-
ably finished by night counsel with
be lady's-maid on the plans for the
blowing morning.
Thus heavily dragged on the load
+ life" with the fashionable lady in the
liddle Of the last century, but the ex-
nple Of good Queen Charlotte did
luch to reform the manners of the
ourt.
10 their private life the king and
ueen we're perfect model. They ro. e
six, and after spending two hours
'gether as their own, apart from bust
ess and politics, they breakfasted with
leir children, who were not enforced
} the silence prescribed to them in
ablic. The sovereign also presided at
'eir dinner, and occasionally joined in
leir repast The afternoon was de- ..
,tcd to needle-work, in which the |,
leen and her daughters excelled; and
le even embroidered the kings waist
'at with her own royal hands. While
% queen worked the king read Shakes
'are aloud. Before retiring to rest the {
'ildren came to pay their respects to
cir parents. and if their dresses were
It neatly folded up, the. queen quickly :
ade them rise to repair their neglect.
he day was closed by joint act Of :
'votion. Such was the daily routine
the domestic life of the royal pair, !,
d good Queen Charlotte, with her !,
Gus husband and blooming family.
ere at once both the pattern and pride
the English court.
An exchange says; 1T is astcnish- 7
g to see how little there Is of some
dies in these days of contracted .
- W. xL..,- y