The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-28
LONDON SOCIETY CRAZE.
X FASHIONABLE REVIVAL OF THE
GREEK STYLE OF COSTUME.
Reform In Female Dress phaeiit-
isEn--AmusIng scenes at London
Reunions.
New York Start

The piauant letters of "Puss' to her Fifth
Avenue friend In New York. which are pub
h Iished In Truth. are always agreeable reading.
The following gives lively picture. OF London
craze after the antique:
/ don't think that monotony will be the
death of the last half of this chaotic cen
i Jury Though the tendency of society has
been to make everybody like everybody else,
society has become 50 bored by the dead LEVEL
oil dullness and so bitten by the artistic ele-
ment which, once allowed to come 10 at the
back door is now welcomed at the front
portal, that sudden craze has seized its fe-
male members to be as unlike their neghbors
as possible-at least in the way OF clothes.
Pre-Raphaelitism has broken out to q fright,
ful extent Women 60 about with washed ssl
the shoulders and heads SO scratched up,
that If YOU didn't know this frowsfness was
part OF the menu, you'd think the dear crea-
lures had forgotten to comb the hair. |
loathe this particular craze, because 1t
deforms the figure, Sleeves that ruin
the slope of the shoulders are very bad art to
my eye and don't fancy colors that appear
dirty. and heads that look untidy. It's one
thing to wear curls and quite another to sug-
gest a free fight. So when a lady kindly in
vited us all to q party, at which it was de
rigate,T to appear In ancient Greek costume,
rather liked the idea. 1t was new sensa-
quiet protest against fashionable. angulari-
Ties. Fra Angelica would have died rather
thar, have put his saints, or even sinners into
such attire as Is called Pre- Raphaelite.' Ac-
curdng to our invitations, men were allowed
to dress as they pleased. They were sup
posed to be of no consequence. The object
d aimed at was the BIRTH of o reform in female
costume, the present dress being considered
ungraceful and unhealthy.
Men arrayed in sheets, and nothing else IN
particular exclaimed Bob. "To be invaded
by small army of baggy bean-poles! The
i Greeks had legs but where are the calves of
the nineteenth century? The modern trousers
cover multitude of bones, Puss, but few
the stage" / argued. How many pads do
you think would be in the place whore the
calves ought to grow asked Bob, mo,
Puss. Our hostess is quite right in con
lining her experiment to women / doubt
whether they will realize expectations, but
under no circumstances can they make such
guys of themselves as we men. "Go, II you
like Puss,' said Aunt Fanny. Bob will
take you; but don't expect me to make a
fool of myself at my age. I'm too fat,
my dear should look like a feather bed
tied In the middle There's not costume on
: the face of the earth SO trying as that OF an
cient Greece. 1t demands a well-set head, u
gegular profile, a fine throat, good shoulders,
d figure neither stout nor thin distinction of
bearing, and last, though by no means least,
properly modelled arm. Now, how many
women possess these requisites? Moreover, 1t
is unsuted to all women the moment age be-
may he covered though the dress loses in
beauty by length of sleeve but concealment
of ugly or wrlnkled Threats is impossible. All
/ ask of you Puss, If you do go. Is not to wear
otherwise you'll feel as though you were I'M
dressed and look as though you had on a
nightgown.
II went to fancy ball once in Greek cos
tune, when | weighed less than now, but be-
ing all in white without embroidery or Greek
: border. and wearing no jewelry, assure you
/ felt ashamed of myself Profit by my ex-
perience. Wear Greek jewclry and outside
drapery. Then you will lose all Unconscious
ness. What suits the stage. with the illusion
given by distance, does not suit the drawing
room. Several years ago attended an anna
.teur performance of a Greek play, in which
the characters were dressed with fidelity to
the antique that quite took away my breath
Nobody wore stockings, bare feet were seen
through the sandals, even tights were utterly
ignored and Juno's leg was visible above the
kneel So long as the actors were behind the
footights | preserved marble exterior. but
when they mingled with the guests and began
TO dance | bushed. For the equatorial Afri-
can to wear nothing but smile Is natural and
comforting; but with our civilization, my
dear, we can't do that sort Of thing with pro
priety."
After this lecture, Ella, I did not select
white for my costume. | chose the dreamieSt
OF light blues which was cut by an artist and
was embroidered in gold with the Greek Dor
hOu LpA y, nhu II white SCaTI
with Greek gold border Guiano makes the
loveliest Greek iewelry in the world. He
copies all the best antiques, and such a charm
ing necklace and tiara | got from him
When arrayed for the festival I felt sure of
two things Il. g., that | looked dressed, and
was dressed correctly. Lets go and be pho
tographed, said Bob. as we started off Sure
enough, at 9 o'clock at night posed before an
not this wonderful convenience. Who wants
to spare valuable time during the day to
the vanity OF photography? But we must
dress for balls and when gotten up in
al our glory IT. Is rather run to dedicate 1.
/ dare say, when the sun goes all to pieces, as
scientists declare it must one of these days,
its place will be supplied by electric lights,
every country regulating the number accord
be d bad idea for London to look into this
. matter at once.
Well, dear, went to the party, and COR.