The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-01-12
How We Get Our Habits.

Things that are novel are liable to be
regarded as nice. Once accepted, NJ
man can tell how long they are going
to remain. A good many years ago a
married couple of noble tendencies
we refer to their birth-were descend
ing stairway in Paris. The gentle
man blunderingly stepped on her dress
and tore the same from her waist in the
rear. The lady hit him savagely with
her parasol, breaking the handle of that
article.
"What shah we do now?' she said
with sob.
"rll tell you, my DEAR" he replied,
with that cheerfulness and adaptability
to circumstances which married men
know so well how to assume quickly.
drop your shawl to your waist, so
covering the rent, and there you are"
"How ridiculousr' she replied, she'd
ding tears copiously. Il shall look
like fright. l shall never dare to APP
pear on the street again. You wretch!
| shall be the talk of the whole town.
cit cannot be helped, | am afraid,'
remarked the gentleman ruefully. 1--WE
must get home somehow. And really,
my dear, l think the dress will look
quite nicely. 1t will be novelty, any
how.n
my new silkr' exclaimed the lady,
wringing her hands. 1T will be utter
ly spoiled. The skirts will sweep up
unutterable filth. 1t will be loaded
with mud, and nutshells, and straws,
and little sticks, and dust, and every
thing. You abominable person! You
have ruined me forever
Il hope it is not so bad as that
said the poor man, trying to smile.
but see here, my dear ! am as I'M
fortunate as you. Observe how ridicu-
lous you have made this hat. You have
battered it all out of shape with your
parasol. 1t looks-it looks like a Sec
ton of badly-used stove-pipe. l am
ashamed. to be seen on the street with
"And the parasolr' confined the
lady. 1.-The stick is broken off nearly
up to the shade. | dare not 90 out
without it, but it looks so absurd that |
shall be the laughing-stock of all we
meet
The couple were a long way from
home. The righteousness of the situa-
ton finally overcame their timidity and
veXation, and they laughed. This put
them in such good humor that they be-
came bold. Marching out to the street
they went on their way looking as if
nothing had happened. People stared
at them curiously. But they were
known and respected, and there were
no smiles and no questions. The ladies
of Paris occasionally look around for
back view of the ladies they have
passed. 1t is a custom peculiar to no
other part of the world. In this in
stance the backward chances were nu-
merous, but by no means alarming.
Why, look at the Countess dressn'
was the general remark. 1T sweeps
the walk at least yard in her rear.
How sweet! The folds of her dress fall
so gracefully! 1t is evidence that there
is no stinginess in the Countess fam
lily. 1t shows that art will have its way.
regardless of expense. 1t is the con-
summation of grace. And observe the
Countess parasol! The shade is down
to the tip of the Countess nose. There's
utility for you. What is a shade for
but to keep the sun off? What is the
N7N VI " 'iN VI oplShs IL Is I'LL unnpC-
essary weight, and it serves to let the
sun shine in under the shade. 1t is the
sweetest and best of parasols."
The Count had no less reason to
be happy. "By Georger' remarked the
gentlemen who looked at him, 1.-The
Counts hat is sumner this time.
Looks as if it had been accidentally
elongated. That's art Studied care
lessness, you know. Seems to be stiff,
too. That's art. Seems to have SUI
perfiuous amount of vacuum; but what's
a hat unless you have enough of it?
Wonder where the Count got it? His
own invention, probably. Just like
him. Nobody knows how to dress
tastefully equal to the Count. 1t is the
hat OF hats. 1t is the brightest and
most artistic and most valuable hat that
ever came from the Makers
This was centuries ago. A week
after the event all Paris had a peculiar
parasol, and likewise the trail and the
stove-pipe hat. Since then they have
all over the world, and. dear
children, they are with us vet. We
stepped on one of them moment apoI
Our hat was banged with another of
them, as a result, sufficiently to make
another fashion in that article. But
alas! we are not Count.-Rocheste
Democrat.