The Osceola times., 1876-03-18
COM MON SENSE.
The nriti.h Minister. Family Setting n
Good Example.

The Washington correspondent of the
Cincinnati Gazette writes that Sir Ed
| ward Thornton and family set NEST
excellent example, in the matter of dress,
To Washington society, and one that
! Americans generally might heed 10 ad-
vantage. This declaration is called out
by an incident which occurred on the
avenue few bright days ago, when all
of fashionable life here that could get out
was on the promenade The matinee at
the principal theatcr was just pouring
out its crowd, made up largely of young
ladies dressed in all the agonics of the
styles, to swell the tide, when the En-
glsh minister and two daughters ap-
peared upon crossing which led dag
onally along the line of the fl We hundred
bedecked American women. As if by
common impulse the whole crowd caught
the sight, and all caught themselves
taking a look at once. Sir Edward
Thornton is known to all in Washington.
His is striking figure, and he walks and
rides so often that every one recognizes
him. 1t was not his appearance, how
ever, that drew such sudden attention
from this crowd of silks, laces, feathers
and jewelry, but the dress of the two
daughters walking one on each side of
him. There was the titled minister of
one of the greatest nations Of the earth,
| living here in the largest mansion of the
city, and giving now and then such en-
| tcrtainments as eclipse all Others for their
elegance. His establishment is shrine
where all fashion which can obtain adj
mission worships But for all this here
were Sir Edward and his daughters out
for walk, and by chance passing out in
review before hundreds of American wo-
men tricked out in all that the fashion
plates prescribe; and being out for a
walk, these high-born young ladies were
setting their American cousins lesson
which should have put every one of
them to the blush.
The En- ylish ladies had on heavy boots,
to begin with, 20 heavy that it was en-
tirely unnecessary to dodge around the
damp spots in the avenue crossing.
Next, their arms were free, and not en-
gagged in holding up their trailing
dresses in which American female idiots
will persist in sweeping through the
filth of the streets. Their skirts not
only did not touch, but they were not 80
low that every step spattered them with
concentrated nastiness. The skirts were
plain, and of plain material. There was
also an absence of the intricate hump
ing-up, reefing-in, pulling back, and
bunching-out which distinguish those
whom Americans adore. But instead of
all this each wore a plain, comfortable
and decent walking-skirt. Each had
on substantial cloak, hut, horror of
horrors, they were cut in the style of
two winters ago. The chances are that
the cut was that Of three seasons since.
At any rate, that was the prevailing
opinion in one group of Americans that
di cussed the question with that eager
ness which its Importance demanded.
"The horrid things" said one, as she
stepped into puddle and splashed her
white stockings and the whole side of a
white lace skirt she displayed as she was
trying TO hold it out of the mud "the
horrid things, those cloaks and skirts are
four seasons old, as Pm alive. And all
the money they've got, too"
| Abominable gasped another, in
an under tone, as her own trail of silk
/ swept on tnc cuTD anu lnto tne gutter,
where IL soaked a moment, "Abomina.
BILE! What can the queen he thinking
abOut, il she knows what guys her i'm
mediate representatives make of them
selves in the capital of American
And 80 the minister and his daughters
all the pictures of health and vigorou,
life, moved along the front of that crowd
quite unconscious of the universal atten
ton they were exciting or of the valuabl,
lesson they weregiving those who chose t.
learn it. But few of those who did lay
the lesson to heart will care to practic,
it, and probable not one who moves il
the fashionable life of Washington will
have the courage to initiate the good ex
ample of these English ladies Of rank
For if they did, you see, the young gen
tlemen who give the Germans-gentle
men who would at any time exchange
their own number seven heads for mum
ber four feet-would never be seen witt
them on the street, or at the opera, anc
would never invite them to those "divin,
dances" "And then what would liz