Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-08-26
B-4BT"S TOILETTE.

One is of en- obliged TO wonder, concerning
the directing causes of the dresses OF children,
whether they originate In fashion, in conve-
rienee. or in the fitness Of things, for it is
almost impossible TO trace the course of any
single law in relation TO them. One would
suppose that these tiny people were exemptS
OF fashion, and that the eye OF the capricious
Dame would hardly rest on such small deer;
yet when We see the prevailing bonnet OF the
last year Mary Stuart, and next year Nor
mandy, We are forced 10 confess that the
lnfan'ile head dress has already come under
the yoke; and when We see al the children of
the country decorated with ribbons and sashes
OF certain color, perhaps a sombre one at
mat; and In its nature incongruous with child
fashion we has s'9 a up Inc case and dseare that
own: Still more is this felt when We look at
the frocks OF the children of wealthy parents
where linen cambria, with costly lace inSer.
ton, is worn over colored silk Slips making a
charming efect-a dress in which the enid
looks more like some lovely flower than
ever, but in which it is hardly possible for
him TO take any pleasure suitable, the dress
being utterly unit for playing and romping
according to the nature of children. Yet
nevertheless, with such exceptions as these
deStructlble slips, higE-heeled shoes, crmped
forelOckS, and few other follieS-the sub
sci vance to fashion being always allowed for
meanwhile-it must be admitted that there is
much common sense in the major part of the
dress OF children nowadays. The short skirts
hat prevent stumbling and afford no bar to
active exercise; the long stockings gartered
dl Tie Waist, tlal IedV6 no pare SKIN To De
rudely visited by the winds, and impede no
circulation; the loose waists that allow full
pay Of muscles; the high neckS and long
sieeVes-all these and other details are GER
fanny great hyglenic Improvements upon the
dress of ancestral children whose little waists
~ers sheathed in buckram, whose heads were
made tender with caps, whose skirts trailed on
the iioor a. those of their elders did enforcing
StaiG behavior; while the boy of the period.
100 Old for pettlcOatS and too young for the
mocklng dress OF miniature man, is quite as
picturesque as he would be in the doublet and
hose of boys three hundred years ago, and
considerably more comfortable.
The dress OF boys, however, always granted
them liberty OF movement denied TO girls:
and doubtless the dress OF women in general
has ways so hampered activity as virtually
TO enforce SecluSion, in more or less degree
ike that of the .harem. Yet even this very
matter Of convenience fashion takes into her
hands and mOulds. A few years ago the skirts
were so exceedingly short and so very full
that our best dressed little children were like
swarm OF ballet dancers; now, on the con-
trary, While still nearly as short, they are so
Scant and well fitted that We seem to see Ariel
and Mustard-Seed and Peas blossom i'm their
tradition garb about the family hearth
Full or Scant, short or long, the little bodies
are might particular concerning them and
all the rest of the toilette each object of that
toilette is as much matter of Importance to
them as corresponding objects are to their
mammas; the color and cut have become a
subject OF discussion. and the doubt as TO
whether or moi it is going to be admired by
WclSuS III tHp Ddlalc6 as the
world does with the rest Of us, while you shall
see missile turn herself before the glass for
rear and side views with the ease of practice
and feel satisfied. being well dressed. or else
exqLi>ltely uncOmfOr able with the con ciuuS-
ness OF falling below the standard of her age
and cOterle quite as intensely as you feel il all
Yourself when subject to the close scanning
OF the inSOlent eyes of women of the world,
and perhaps even more so, owing to the alb
Sence of powers of comparison and better
cOmpensationS.
1t is chiefly in view of this acuteness of their
feelings in relation to dress that We allow chill
dren so frequently to appear like popiniays
and II is TO be wished that they could be led
TO think less of its appearance, or to under
stand the reasons why simpler dress il more
suitable and healthy. and what 1.-THE girls
say about IT. For our own part-acknoWledg
ing some weakness in the matter, rather OF
pleasant fancy than of utility-we can never
think any dress so pretty for a child as that OF
the infant princess in NOrthcoteS picture al
the exposition. The little maid of four or five
years is pledglng her marriage trOth to hel
eager pretty lord and master, a year or two
her senior. under instruction of monk and
bishop, with the crowd of family dignitaries il
the rear and the ardOr of the young lover and
the faithful determination of the baby bride t.
| DO whatever is expected of her, could be set of
by no laceS, frillS and feathers half so we'll a.
| by the little, close, demure cap from which thu
! golden rings of hair escape, and the littl,
| straight gown that, just touching her toes
| gives her sort OF wOmanly charm even In be-
! babyho0d.-lH drper'S Bdzdr.