, 1876-06-18

The first aim OF IlIuI1'"" "'A' as"5 ~
New York Sun} even before the possession OF
6rck. itself, is to know how to wear her dress
With the essc and grace that make It, 50 to say
n n,rt of herself, and set of It's intrinsic merits
n the same proportion us It embellishes and
hefchtens her own grace and beauty. lh's ar
~ uknovins how to Dress" which has made
Frenctvoncn famous, their American sisters
fu1lr share with them, II even they do not sur
,,es them in some respects The American
paics at the Court Of the Empress Eugenie
rcra nnted for the supreme taste and elegance
the,r toilets, not yielding the palm even TO
Jadame de Metternich herself, the Vice-Quecn
1 taste and fashion in the latter years o1 Tue
jccond Empire .usr.h.
understood how the writer. after an absence
Snm Paris and sojourn Of four years IN Lon
i'm. where, not once in all that time, were his
,res feasted Will, the sight OF cashmere 6ae7.
sorte or train that did not suggest, IN some me
nmhs of the wearcr, OF to the limbs OF those
rho yentured near it, 1t will be readily under
1tood how the writer, in his hrst "aik uo"n
broadway, after his voyage across the A1lantfc,
llmost fandcd himself strolllng along nis De-
owed Boulevard des 1taliens.
The sharp, clear atmosphere Of New York
u,ornIne, the brilliant shops, the lovely ano e1-
sutsitcly dressed women moving past nun WIN
she light, easy step, and graceful, unouiating
notion, that mark the Partisan Of al me women
~ Eurone. easy step and a graceful motion
hat srr not. nor ever will be- compatible with
acht s}oes With heels $ inches high,-all these
tEines conspircd to strengthen the dcluston;
.he only weak point In the picture, ana which
tlone drew him back to reality, being the more
ihan homelv look Of the horses and general
. Turnout" Of the cquipages on the roadway Of
sue OF the most splendid streets OF perhaps the
most luxurious city on the globe
Delighted vith his first promenade in the
American metropolis, he repeated It the next
5ay and the NEXT and On many saceeeon uaSs
himself ii Paris-a dclusion that usually fell
nDon him somewhere in the region OF Union
5rnare. and accompanied him nil along Broad
Tay down to the Post Ofice-began to diminish,
md he grew weary and tired OF the esal'ianI
ttalacc IN the shop-windows. and OF the still
nore brilliant multitulcs that surrounded them
And. when be took himself to task for this sud
acn change in his humor, he discovered that his
tastid3ous taste revolted at the dazzling snow,
Is an oyerburieucd stomach reEolts at an e1-
ecss Of food Briefly, be found the tn1ng over
lone. s-... +.
4 French lady for morning walk dresses IN
rhe simplest possible style. A plain, sombre-
eolorcd dress, Of light or substantial material,
according to the requirements Of the season,
black or gray hat with vsIy nttle ornament fa cai
pred gloves, constitute the principal items Q ol
her morning promenade toilet Morning calls
IRE not customary In France, except between
relations or intimate acquaintance, and when
HE hour for paving or receiving visits arrives,
ebe chooses the toilet she will wear according to
ihc renuireu1ents Of the circumstances. Ii il
k her hday' for receiving visits IN her owl
house, she dresses herself as plainly and simply
Is possfble, so as not to outshine, but to leave
free field in the matter OF toilet, to the laoief
who NAV call upon her. II, on the contrary, she
has to nay visits, she dresses herself Tor WAX
Ing OF driving, as the case may be. Hcr carriage
costume may be rs rich and elegant as she
chooses to make It. but her walking toilet must
be vigorously selected, so as not to attract Inc
eye 6r any gaudiness OF color Or ecccnt11cty , o,
form. And it Is on this point especially TINT
the beautiful women Of America sin, both
against good taste aud against themselves.
Toufcars pudrir il as mischieyous in It's effects
or its object in the matter OF Women's dress and
ado1nment as It is IN the matter OF food, taking
the phrase in its literal sense 4 FrcncnToman
by an innate perception Of the suitability o1
things, especially in dress, is rendered douolJ
attractive, because her obedience to thls SAME
perception not only gratifes the sense OF pro
prietr Of those who come into contact With net
hut adds to her own charms nercr-endlns
change and variety. Like a balf-opened foWe1
at early morning, she blooms out In all hc'
beauty and flnery only when the heat OF the da,
Is over; but the American woman may be sale
to be full blown all day long, md this is Why thu
fastiiious foreigner gets 60 quickly satiatct
with her splendors, and, turning, away his fear
fully dazzfcd eyes, sighs for the sl1mptuary Lar"
OF former days, and-an oasis in desert O
silks, sattns, and velycts-the sight of a woma1
In straw hat and simple calico gown.