The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-01-03
A Fashion Story.

A Fashion Story.
THINGS that are novel are liable to be
regarded rs nice. Once accepted, no
man can tell how long they are going
to remain. A good many years ago, !
married couple, OF noble tendencies
we rffer to their birth-were descend
ingA stairway, in Paris. The lady was
was dressed quite simply. 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 shall we do now?'' she said,
with sob.
I'm tell you, my dear,'' he replied,
with that cheerfulness and adaptability
to circumstance which married men
know SO we'll how to assume quickly.
drop your shawl to your waist, SO
covering the rent, and there YOU are"
How ridiculousr' she replied, she'd
din tears copiously. II 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."
lit cannot be helped, am afraid"
remarked the gentleman, ruefully.
1--WE must get home somehow. And
really, my dear, 1 think the dress will
look quite nicely. 1t will be novelty,
anyhow"
"My new silk!'' exclaimed the lady.
wringing her hands. '.It will be utter
" spoiled. The skirts will sweep up
unuttcrable filth. 1t will be loaded
with mud, and nutshclls. and straws.
and little sticks, and dust, and every
thing. You abominablc person! You
have ruined me forever
II hope it is not so bad as that, "
said the poor man, trying to smile.
But, see here, my dear! / am ~ UNI
eunate as you. Observe how ridicu-
ldt,s you have made this hat. You have
battered it out of all shape with your
parasOl. 1t loOks-it looks like Sec
ton of badly-used stove-pipe. l am
/ ashamed to BIC seen on the street with
it,
"And the parasolr' continued the
lady. 1.-THE stick is broken off nearly
up to the shade. l dare not go out
without it, but it looks so absurd that
shall be the laughing-stock of all We
meet"
The couple were a long distance from
home. The righteousness of the situa
ton finally overcame their timidity and
vexation, and they laughed. This pu,
them in such y good humor that they
became bold. Marching out to thu
street, they went on their way looking
as if nothing had happened. People
stared at them curiOusly. But they
were known and respected. and Their.
were no smiles and no questions. Thu
ladies of Paris occasionally look arount
for back view of the ladies' they hav,
other part of the world. In this in
stance the backward glances wer'
numerous, but by no means alarming
"Why. look ut the Countess drcssr
was the general remark. lit sweep!
the walk at least a yard in her rear
How sweet! The folds of the dress fal
SO gracefully! 1t is evidence that Their,
is no stinginess in the Countess family
1t shows that art will have its way re
gardless of expense. 1t is the consum
nation of grace. And observe tn
Countess parasol! The shade is dow
to the tip of the Countess nose
There's utility for you. What is I
shade for but to keep the sun off? Wha
is the use of yard of stick? 1t is al
unnecessary weight and it serves to lie
the sunshine in under the shade. 1t i
the sweetest and best of parasols.''
The Count had no less reason to b.
happy. "By Jovcr' remarked tn
gentlemen who looked at him. eth
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
supcrfiuous amount of vacuum; bu
what's hat unless YOU have enough Q
it? Wonder where the Count got it
His own invention, probably. Jus
like him. Nobody knows how to dres
tastefully equal to the Count. 1t is tn
hat of hats. 1t is the brightest an
most artistic and most valuable hat tina
ever came from the makers"
This was centuries ago. A wee
after the event all Paris had a peculia
parasol, and likewise the trail and tn
stove-pipe hat. Since then they hav
travelled all over the world, and, dea
children, they are with us yet. w
stepped on one of them moment age
Our hat was banged with another &
them, as = result, sufficiently to max
another fashion in that article. But
alas! we are not q COunt.-ROchcste
IN. Y. Democrat.