The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-10-10
MYSTERIES OF The TOILET
ny" FRENCH WOMAN MAKES HERSELF BEAU
TFUL-PAssING FOR THIRTY AT FIFTY,
from tho Mo+ro,o,;t.n,

~" FRENCH WOMAN MAKES HERSELF BEAU
| ifoL-PAssING FOR THIRTY AT FIFTY.
| From the Metropolitan
| had the pleasure Yesterday Of :. ASSISTING -
That Is to say looking on, not helping
| the toilet OF French woman, genuine Pa
risian. was good deal surprised, that /
| ADMIT; and she was good deal surprised at
my surprise. She imagined that the extremes
| OF aftlhclallty arrived at in Paris-making q
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 her
self to her maid, who on her part began by
| mower water. This accomplished the pre-
viously sallow face became OF Clearer hue. an
ivory yellow. Every particle of impurity in
the pores had yielded to the infu of the
alder flower water, with which half goblet
OF warm water had been mixed. The throat,
neck and hands partook of this refreshing
dew, aiding luster to the freshness given by
a tepid bath OF twenty minutes, and shower
bath Of five, gone through with half hour
before the beginning of the mysteries Of
dressing, or the "getting up"
Next came rubbing OF scented iris pow
der in the dark hair, which was short-that is
and rather thick. When the iris powder
was brushed out and carefully removed at the
temples and the nape of the neck, a delicate
creme, similar to cold crems, but without lard
the juice of lettuce being its main ingre-
dient-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 noir at
dinner: l had not observed any contraction
des traits, and thought within myself how
much fancy would do. The Partisan in
formed me that camphor and creme had SIM
liar composing effect upon the features, es-
pecially after the fatigues OF a ball.
The next thing done was the removal of
every trace of the creme with an extremely
fine linen cloth. This was skillful opera
ton, for while rubbing the skin into satin-like
smoothness, the femme-de- chambre did not
make ii red or in any way roughen its surface.
She seemed to polish and in polishing to
whiten her mistress complexion.
The next process was the application of We
loutine, a compound of bismu b and rice
powder, having the fxatiye quality of the
first and the delicacy of the last ingre dent
But, ah the care with which the maid ap
piled the preparation. 1t was alb olutely i'm
possible, in being thus laid on, to detect the
presence OF any foreign aid. The skin had
the firm, clear whiteness of alabaster. with
suggestion OF sunny luster and cleanliness to
subdue it.
Then came the grand Fir of the eyebrows.
These were brushed with minute soft brush,
with dark bristles and handle inlaid with
m other of pearl, and the least possible trac-
ing of fard indien from a 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 fard indien was lightly rubbed,
laid now dusky shadow, which increased
the bri!liancy OF the eyes to a great, and, to
my mind, unpleasant degree. What was to
become OF this appliance in case of emotion
/ can not say. Perhaps a 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
D little over the forehead, and with less addi- |
ton OF false hair than has been customary
for years. A small matte of permanently |
crimped black hair, Topped 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 re-
moved, and the under toilet began, that as
constituent claimed me for it's own.
First, corset, Of course, you will say. But,
let me remark, there are corsets and corsets.
The one placed above the delicate garment of
desh-colored raw silk, which takes the place I
Of linen with the elegantes Of Paris, and |
cings to the form so 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
here entered art that amounted to genius.
For, set in at the hips and making the bus
lie, were curved bones that stood out in a
swell of several inches and formed an ipcor-
porate part of the corset itself, impossible of
detection when the skirt of the dress was
placed over it.
Then the fesh-colored silk stockings; the
short cambria skirt with myriad tucks iner-
ions and fittings of lace; the delicate bot
ines of black satin; the white muslin dress,
without assistance OF color except rose at the
hroat, and made so extremely short in front
IS to display the entire foot; the one long hair
Din, with its head une crosse perle fine, and
he careless drawing up of the draping at one
Tide to display the underskirt of raw silk;
his and the toilet were an accomplished feat
md fact.
Let me not omit to say that the muslin
Ileeve was 50 extremely tight to the arm that
t seemed like a second skin. 1t terminated
wo inches above the well-rounded yet deli
,ate waist, where quaint bracelet of West
indian beetles, the cadeau Of lady admirer
rom Cuba, completed the ornamentation of
10 much studied simplicity.
1t was really very pretty, and the lady looked
us say thirty years old Her
.ge? Oh-well, fifty.
Bret Harte's stories have found their way to
Hungary. His American friends will not be
to learn from the translator that, in
hat country, Bret Harte has the reputation of
being par ev ota Macy hiruve lett as Amerikai.
This is exceedingly dattering; but what will
lis readers think when they find such state
nent followed by the remarkable assertion
hat this popular author is known in Hun
yary as szerencsesen kikerui? After this, OF