Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-11-02
Amuscments ia oId.rlme France.

It is amusing to note the devices
by which these social and pleasure.
seeking coteries sought to amuso
themselves, and to pass the time
which hung heavily on their hands,
At one period it became fashion
able for men to busy themselves
with embroidery and other light
work which had been the exclusive
province of the ladies. Entering
the salon, you would observe gayly
dressed cavaliers seated at the en-
broidery frames or stitching away
at q piece Of tapestry; even grave
statesmen and popderous philoso-
pliers might have been seen busily
embroidering birds, flowers and
coats-of-arms. Then there came
about Il fashion of mrayeling the
silken and metallic threads OF
finges end tissues. This was called
purfling." The ladies Of quality
were won't in this to make pre-
tense Of doing somtthing useful
and economical. AT first they and
their male gallants employed them
selves in picking out the god and
silver threads from old garments
worn trimmings, epauletS, and Sc
on. Con circle Of ladies being
formed" says Taino, "a big unray
cling bag in green tatfeta is placeC
on the table, which belongs to the
lady of the house; Immediately al
the ladies call for their bags" The
gentlemen were expected to suppl,
The costly materials for this rathe
curious pastime; On one occasion
the Duke de Lauzun supplied hi
guests with a harp to be unstrun,
and unraveled. The ladies, afte
thus separating the threads, yieC
with each each other in s2lln!
them, and thus made II merit 0
earning an income. If they de
stroyed u garment worth q thousanr
francs, and then sold the thread
taken from it for a hundred, the
regarded it as Il good operation.
Not content with uurayeling oil
= garments, they would oapriciousl
destroy new ones IN the rage for e2
ceiling in this peculiar accomplish
I ment. One day Il LADY, as she sweI
}. out of the drawing-room, took
n into her head that the gold firing
which dangled from her robe wouI
be capital for unrayelng; an
n without hesitation took her scissor
and cut it off. "Ten women SUI
u denly surround man wearin
y friuges, pull off his coat, and pl
n his fringes agd laces into their bag
lust as if a bold locle Of tomht
ID fluttering and chatteing 10 the a
ie should suddenly dart on a jay
,e pluck of its feathers. Thencelorr
g man who enters a circle OF woms
~ stands in danger Of being Stripe
alive"
In all the fancy work on Will
ladies employed themselves the nj
!, seem to have taken part. Polnsln'
i in one of his comedies, represents
young Marquis entering a roc
n where two fair damsels are embr
y daring. One Is working a piece
dress trimming; the other a MAJ
y founce. The beau examines t
* embroidery with the eye Of 4 &C
noisseur, points out here and the
the specially good touches, and
% too polite to notice any defects.
On takes q little gold tube out Of I
pocket Of his richly decorat
IL waistcoat, and selects u dainty g
needle. 'IIe goes to the frame
NJ which Cidalise is working, and I
ishes Che aower which she had
gun. From her be moves to
u Sola, and, seizing one end OF
,,., aounce. assists Ismone, to whom
pays special attention, to compl
mi her task" At this time it was
Q custom of the ladies invariably
carry their workbags with them
the evening receptions, in w6
IN they had not only their embroid
ou materials, but the last novel,
v" popular song, and their patch 'bo
and rouge.pots. Gentlemen
the carried defilv embroidered Ii
a hags into comGany. which held