The Portland daily press., 1877-02-17
Vanity Fair.

"A new glove has been brought out in Paris
called le CANT Beatrice, which, says the inventor
sis warranted not to retain any 10 arks of strain
ing or pressure on being taken off the hand"
This is the sort of glove which would suit bud
ding flrts of either sex
There was grand ball at Indian Rock. ID.
l., fortnight ago. Among the lovely girls
who danced were three Miss Bears, dressed in
beautiful new calico worth 121 cents yard
aud trimmed with beads; Miss Bellyfat, the
Uncappa chiefs daughter, arrayed in buckskin
embroidered with beads, and in leggins of
scarlet cloth; and Miss Antelope. Running
Antelope's ruddy daughter, dressed iu a beau
tful blue blanket and black cloth leggius, with
her hair closely oiled to her head.
Frank Buckand, the English naturalist.
advises ladies TO trim their dresses with tanned
snake skins. Why not? Golden serpents are
used as ornaments, which proves that the in
herited prejudice against the gliding creatures
is not insurmounta5le when fashion adopts
them. Many snakes are very beautiful and
would be as ornamental as furs. 1t is not
probable that any tender-hearted ladies would
petition for their preservation as they have for
birds, and the wearers of snake-trimmng
would benefit society by lessening the number
of noxious reptiles while discharging one of the
first duties of women, that of making them
selves attractive.
1t is contrary to custom to invite guests to
the marriage of widow. If widower marres
young girl, the etiquette is the same as that
of first marriage. A widow must marry in
the morning early, without show, and has only
her witnesses and those of her intended. Her
dress must be plain, of quiet color; black, how
ever, is not admissible. On leaving church,
the bride invites to breakfast the witnesses
who have formed the party, but no other
guests are invited to this repast On the ff-
teenth day after the marriage, cards are sent
bearing the new address of. the married pair.
widow never makes wedding calls after re-
marrying. Those who receive the cards do the
visiting. There is month allowed for the re-
turn OF cards, and the visits. When a single
lady marries, after having passed the usual age
for marriage, the ceremony should be simple
and unobtrusive.
Let any one try to interpret his feelings at
seeing hundreds of persons on the avenue dis
playing in large letters ''this is o coachman,'
s'this is footman," and he will understand
exactly the meaning of top-boots and maroon
or cream-colored. overcoats, with their tre-
mendous display Of brass buttons. 1t is moth
ing more nor less than an advertisement that
they are servants aud menials and that they
are entitled to no other consideration from the
public. Accordingly, they do not fail to In
spire secret, not to say mutual contempt.
Their entire dress and position and bearing:
their stiff attitudes and folded arms; their
amazing gravity, as though it were perfectly
understood that everything depends on it
makes one to feel that their condition, for the
time at least, is but one remove beyond slavery
We do not say it is as degrading as to be
perched in this way behind sleigh, or to ride
backward in a dog-csrt as to be chained to
trinBphal car and dragged through the streets
of Rome; but it comes too painfully near it for
this free republic and at this present time.
Now every body knows that this is nothing but
desire of caste. 1t is mark of stylishness
and fashion. 1t is wearing badge, and dig
playing sign which ministers to the vanity Of
one class at the expense of the manhood of
another Its object is to make distinction
and, withal, a needless distinction, and have
the public point a two-fold finger, which is
quite as depreciative of the servant as appre-
eiative of the master. 1t is called for by no
grace of manners, aud by no skill or efficiency
in serving, and unfortunately only affxes q
stigma to class of persons who desire to be
lifted and not lowered in true self-esteem.-Es