Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-05-08
WILDWOOD ELFs.
Tho Mountain GiFls OF TenneSsee-
"A Pen Picture for CiIy Readers.

a Pen Picture fOf Ciiy Renders.
Elizabeth Dudley contributes this |
fancy sketch to cotemporary;
Since it is a common complaint
that the railroad and sewing ma
chine are fast reducing us to one
level Of dull uniformity in dress
and manners, it is a relief to know,
while surveying the fashionable la
dies in their wonderful costumes as
they promenade Fifth avenue or
ride in Central Park, that four or
five days journey to the mountains
of Tennessee would bring me
among a race of cbarmingly simple,
unworldly maidens, who at this day
wear the "linsey gown which
Shakespeare alludes to as the dress
of rustic women in his time, and
which Scott describes as the attire
of "Jeanie Deans"
A city belle would open her eyes
in wonder and dismay at the sight.of
one of these mountain girls in her
peculiar array, which, indeed, |
must try to describe to our ladies,
who, however, will hardly venture
to initiate a style so unadorned.
Imagine girl of sixteen, well
grown and developed (they mature
early there) just the hight of Venus
di Medici, and just as plump and
graceful. Cold water and soap are
her only cosmetics; she has always
made plentiful use Of them, and |
wish any words in our language
could probably describe her bril-
liant, healthy skinner forehead
so softly white, her cheek so trans.
parently rosy, her smiling lips so
crimson and inviting.
Her head is finely shaped and
well poised, a most womanly head,
and round at the back of it coiled
her wavy, brown hair (undone it
would fall nearly to her ankles),
after the fashion Of 5000 years ago,
Her eyes are downcast when stran-
gers are near, for she is very shy,
but sometimes they are suddenly
raised, large and dark, and full Of
wondering pleasure at what you
are saying; they are innocent eyes,
with a look Of pure womanly sweet
ness that we rarely meet in thC
eyes of our city ladies.
But this beautiful girl covers hel
head and face and shoulders with {
large sun-bonuet of colored or white
calico that completely obscures anC
hides her. When men are presen
she wears it even in the house anC
when sitting at the table. She i
taught that modesty demands this
her father and grown brothers ar
: not excepted-no man must see he
, head uncovered, her face unob
scured. For the same reasol
(modesty) she does not sit down t
eat with any men but those Of he
+ own family; she waits on them an,
/, takes her own meal when they ar
gone. Her mother does the same
and covers her head in the sam
e manner lin her case you do not re
gret it..
Our mountain girl wears, as
: said, a gown of "linsey woolsey !;
: this is a homemade material; sh
(, has carded and spun and dyed an,
!, woven the cotton and the WOO
3 helped by her mothers and sisters
4 and among them they make it NJ
4 In the skirt of her dress, or, to his
I, her own language, " the tail of he
y gown" (Shakspearean), there al
three straight breadths of the ms
- terial hemmed roand the bottom
and sewed to belt at the wais
which is made as simple as possible
!. with an effort to somewhat hide til
70, form, which is, however revealed j
1i ,n its youthful symmetry by ever
re movement she makes. This gov
T rs falls about three inches above Il
Se ankle, disclosing the proportions
" Venus, with a foot clean, pink AT
= most perfectly shaped, entirely Vi
. deformed by tight shoes or walkin
; on stone payements.
| have fully described the DIRE
Of the mountain maid-what 81
t. our city ladies? | think they "