Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-04-05


know or dream of the luxuries which are consid-
cred perfectly indispensable by their descendants
aud who hurry through life striving ever for
wealth and position, and die before they have at
tanned the goal for which they were speeding with
such Understanding haste before they have
tasted the delights of the wealth and position
which are always so delightful in anticipation, so
often bitter and Disappointing in the realization.
Beacon Park has been leased to Barker & Co. for
five years. The summer meeting will be held
from June l2h TO 10th, the fall meeting from
Sept. llth to lith. Many changes and improve
ments will be made, and many are now in prog
ress. A grand stand is being built, aud the
club house remodeled. The location of many of
| the stables has been changed, running water in-
troduced, and the for carriages enlarged.
The preparations for the grand ball to be held
on Monday, April 9Th, 10 Music Hail. in aid of
the Old South preservation fund, are nearly COM
pleed. The dresses aud fashions shown on this
occasion win be those which have been in use
since the time of the Puritans up to our present
time and many of the wealthy and fashionable
people of society will be in attendance The ball
room is TO be decorated in the most elegant and
tasteful manner, and delightful tine is anici-
The Forences will close on Saturday next an
engagement at the Globe Theatre of two very sue
cessful weeks. They have met with most cor
dial reception from the Bostonians, for they are
favores here everywhere, and although there
is no deep laid plot heart rem ling tragedy in
The Mighty Dollar" it abounds in funny and
laughter provoking incidents and the audience is
kept in a continual roar of laughter from the be-
ginning to the end OF the play. Mr. Florence
sustans admirably his now celebrated character
Of the Hon. Bard well Slate, NJ. c. and Mrs. Flor
ence is as charming as ever in her character Of
Mrs. Ghory, a lady who has lived SO long
abroad, that she is obliged to apologize constant
ly for her forgetfuuess of American customs, and
even her own native tongue. The hum)r and
many excellenci,s of the play atone for the glar-
ing faults manifest to any observer. The dress
ing was superb, Mrs. Florence wearing costumes
of exquisite beauty VIII Oh sent the feminine part
OF the audience into rapture, and little exclaima-
tions of "oh how pretty" and "ah, how sweet,
were heard all over the theatre. The scenery
used in the play is excellent, and one lady sit
ting near me remarked, "rhe sight of the dresses
and scenery is worth the price of admission"
| The spring openings at the houses of Jordan 4
| Marsh, ard Il. III. White & Co., and other large
| and well known establishments, have drawn hum
| dreds into Boston from the suburban towns, and
| occupied the time and attention of. most of the
| feminine portion of Boston, who are ever able to
indulge fancy for pretty things" Truly one
| can well believe that the hard times which have
| been torturing us so long are over, when we see
| on exhibition such superb costumes and such
e
are bought, too, by those whose purses are long
| and heavy enough to stand the enormous prices
| charged for these ,anities of life. But there is
no denying that pretty woman looks twice as
| pretty, and homely one twice as handsome in a
| handsome costume from one of these establish
meuts, as she does in a dress which she has made
for econemy's sake at home, and rutiled her brows
and spoiled her temper over the tucks and gathers
and pufis and founccs necessary to make stylish
costume and then it does look as if it came
| from dear Paris. There is every bias fold, and
hem the unms,akable stamp "made at home"
which is patent TO every feminine eye.
But, o dear, when will we all be r,h enough
to indulge our fancies for Worth's combinations,
and Partisan bonne,s and gloves and flowers or
independent enough to 20 around dressed like the
celebrated DR.. Mary Walker Of Washington City,
or the editress Of the "Volcano" in Boston, in a
long coat and short panaloons, hair cut short,
and mans hat; "Womans Rights" in every look
and independence in every stepi
But often question if it is the right sort of in
dependence of VIII ch DIR. Mary Walker makes a
boast. She courts the gaze and sneers of thou
sands, and commands the respect of but few. She
says she dresses IN her present style from Irinc-
pie, and hopes in time TO see the whole feminine
population running about in long coats and pan
falcons. In order to carry out her principle, her
own coat grows shorter every year, and she grows
more manish as the years roll by, and all who
pass her turn again street and by-way to look
at the singular creature who has chosen costume
so different from that worn by the rest of her SEX
have seen the eyes of the spry, thin, little doc
tor kindle with Indignation at having her coat
brushed on the street by a passing butterfly of
| fashion in bedraggled, berufhed, embroidered,
| pinned-back skirts. have heard her deep sigh
over the perversity of her sex, who dress In such
| Ito herr unhealthful and untdy costumes. and
| who will spend half their time in porting over
fashion plates, or deciding if the new spring hat
shall be tilted over the nose or hung at the nape
of the neck, or if puhs, braids or curls most
fashionable and becoming instead of tucking up
the hair a Ia the doctor, in dowdy little brown
net, and content with little knickerbockers in the
shape of pantaloons. Yet DR.. Msry's clothes are
always made OF the finest material, and the heavy
| cloak which she wears in mid winter Is made of
| the richest cloth and lined with ermine. She is
said to have many patients, chiefly among the
poorer class in Washington; and has lately made
q convert to her mode of dress, for a woman
clothed in the style becoming to the Doctor has
lately been accompanying her on her Grounds"
| probably taking "notes" of the profession. The
two singularly dressed beings provoke much mirth
and criticism. l haye heard it said that the doc
tor is never satisfied perfectly happy unless she
| has crowd of rowdy boys running after herewith
shouts and jeers in every strange city she visits
for she gan thus show 10 every all she endures
| for the sake of principle.
| On looking this letter over, l am undecided
| whether to call il Boston Letter. Essay on
| Things In General. CONSTANCE STERLING.