The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-07-25
Jennie June on BOnnetS.

1t has beer reported in almost every
paper in the country that Jennie June
said fashionable bonnet could be
bought for two dollars, but certainly ]
never said anything OF the kind. What
did say was this: That u hat more
suitable for wear with n tweed travelling
dress could be made at home, with the
help of a proper frame, for two dollars
using the material OF the dress for a
covering g-than fashionable bonnet
which cost from $40 to $40. For my
own part, / have never been able TO
find pretty, well-made bonne,s at reaN
sonable prices in ordinary milliner
shops-at least not within the past fit-
teen years. Bonnets are the most un-
satisfactory of purchases, tha cost OF
what is called stylish one being so
out of all proportion to its value There
was time when bonnets were bonnets,
Notwithstanding their ugliness. The
first cost of fine one WAS matter of
little Importance, for the Tuscan or
Leghorn braid, the English split straw
and fine Neapolitan could be cleaned and
made over many times if required, and
the handsome ostrich plume or piece Of
real lace could be made to serve its pur-
pose over and over again, But il is
very different nowadays. Money is
thrown away on fine straw or chips, for
the shapes are so insignificant and so
fantastic that they could not possibly
be considered permanent, and the trim
mings are heterogeneous mixture
which change their color and variety
with every season, and must never show
themselves twice alike.
There was certain kind OF satisfaction
in paying from $40 to $50 for a bonnet
when it had permanent value in itsel
and its belongings. But there is none
now, when it seems to be a mixture o.
mere scraps and odds and ends and SO
insist that it is better to follow iashior
strictly, using ones own skill and inge
nuity in working out ideas, than to pay
enormous prices for what il, after all
neither suitable nor satisfactory,
Fortunately, there seems to be pros
pect of improvement in this respect. II
has been harl for the m.lliners to follow
the course of city industries and reduce
their charges, but they have beer
obliged to do it. They will also have tc
study how to accommodate themselves
to more diversified class OF purchasers
In the largest dry goods stores of al
our large cities lady can find ready
made suits and dresses at any price she
can afford to pay, from the calico
wrapper at one dollar to the most ele
CANT reception dress of $3.50. But tn,
fashionable millinery establishment
cultivate only one class of custom, AM
that the most idiotic as well as the mos
expensive class, for il is folly to pa
, $35 for simple walking hat, which
, what fashionable milliner asked th
other day, with the apologize remark
} for its low (?) price: Because it's onl
} a simple little hat you know"
In London the guinea bonnet is an il
stitutioD, can be found in infinite var
ETY. and is tasteful, pretty, well mad
and salts 'ac.ory in all respects. II W
could 90 out and find such honneIs her
Tor from five TO seven dollars each,
would seem like foretasto OF the mil
lenium. But we have never been abl
to do this. BY accident one can some
times discover a plain, sensible hat 0
bonnet, at fairly reasonable price; bu
it is 40 purely by accident that one won
der4 how it came there and that sam
hat or bonnet, or one like it, is never t
be found where it is wanted.