The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1879-07-19


lowing truthful article on neatness,
on dress and general appearance.
It's suggestions are so valuable that
it is well worthy Of q place in the
scrap-books OF onI lady readers:
"Neatness is absolutely essential
A soiled collar or a crumped ruche.
q tumbled or untidy ribon, will
spoil the effect of the richest dress.
It is scarcely necessary to condemn
frayed fiounces and torn gloves;
these are wholly inexcusable, since
even the poorest woman can afford
needles and thread. We all know
persons who app BAR as II their
clothes had been pitched upon
them with a hay-fork, and can
realize the difference made BY care
in putting the things on. 1t was
Harper's Bazaar, We think, which
once published two companion
sketches, with the legend-'Mary
ON Arriving in Town and Mary
Two Months Later. The clothes
are the same-the difference is In
the manner of wearing them. The
first picture shows Mary as an i'll
dressed. gawky girl; in the second
she is neat, trim and ladylike. with
a couple of 'swells' looking after
her admiringly, here the garments
are the same, not plating or
flounce more or less; she has only
learned how to put them, and how
to carry, herself, and this is half
the battle. An ill-6tting dress can
never never look we'll. but one that
fits may be spoiled by putting on.
The importance Of the inside waist
band which keeps the back straight
and true, cannot be overestimated;
a dress soon pulls out of shape
without it. When q new dress
is put on for the first time, as
much pains should be taken with
it a. . new kid glove, and the sc-
cessories of gloves and ribons
should be chosen with the greatest
care. Next to neatness in wearing
dress comes neatness in taking
it of. One must be very rich IT.
deed to be able to afford to be
careless with ones clothes. Dres-
ses tossed down anyhow. when
taken off soon grow shabby and
tumbled, and wear out twice as
fast as if we'll kept. When a dress
is taken off even for q few hours,
it should always be shsken out and
hung up, or else folded and laid
away. If it has been worn. ont
walking. it should be we'll brushed,
since dust, if allowed SOON robs it
of its freshness and ,uts the mate
rial in every crease into which It
works its way. A stiff whisk
broom should never be- used for
silk-a hair brush is far batter
while q soft wooden cloth is best Of
all, especially for removing the dust
from the skirt under the Aounces.
Whether it is best TO fold dresses
to or hang them mp, is an open
question. Thick silks cut in the
folds when folded, SO they probably
keep best when hung up; while, on
the other hand. thin, light dresses
are better folded Princess dress
ses with much trimming, made after
the present fashion, should have
two loops for hanging, one on each
side, else the weight of the trim
ming will pull the skirt out OF
shape. Dresses should never be
crowded in q wardrobe lest they
loose their freshness and take nm
desirable folds. Dress waists, if
separate, should never be hung out;
the proper way is to fold them
smoothly, with the sleeves carefully
pulled ont, the shoulder seams
straight and the lining outside;
then lay them in . drawer, on q
shelf, or i'll the stray Of packing
trunk long enough to let them lie
fat. Ribbons and ruches, tossed
carelessly into q drawer, soon lose
their freshness and look soiled and
worn. All such should be carefully
rolled up and laid away in boxes
after each time of wearing. A
soft whisk should form part OF
every lady's toilet properties; her
bonnets should always be brushed
and the strings rolled up before
putting away"