The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-04-08
Vivid Picture OF Life.

What have become of the ret-hcclct
Hshocs, the vast hoops, the brocadcs ant
mountains of powdered hair, which no lad,
could be seen without La mere guillotin,
has made a clean sweep of them all. Tho
hoop has given place to the swinging rob,
of Greek statuary, which now scarcely wells
the form it drapes; Il tunic Of white cash.
mere, loopcd to one knee by Il cameo, only
half covers the neck and shoulders beneath
| the bosom it is confined by ccinturc of
| gold or bIass; the bare arms are claspcd by
antique bracelets; above the white tunic
| is worn another Of scarlet; buslns inclosc
the legs, Roman sandals have taken The
| place OF rcd hcelcd shoes, and the naked
toes arc encircled by rings of gold and
precious stones. The hair is gathered in a
snood, and is of different color TO the
complexion, III imitation of the ladies Of
ancient Rome. The men sometimes on
public occasions also don the classic dress.
and appear in tunic and toga but the cos
tune most affected by the jcuncsse dorce is
that Vi the incroyablc, strikingly contrast
ing in its grotesquc hidcousncss with the
graceful beauty of that of the other sex. 1t
consists of narrowskirtcd coat with u
high collar that reaches nearly to the top of
the head; a huge crayat, half conccaling
jaws and CHIN; short waistcoat, nankccn
brccches with punches of ribbons at The
knees, silk stockings, or boots with buff
tops, bunch of seals and trinkcts hanging
from the Erccchcs pocket to the knee; the
hair plated or gathered into queue, and
rings Ii the ears. The Spartan plainncss
of manner which Robespcrrc worked to
bring into fashion has disappeared with the
Conventions; and the incroyablc, who never
lo loti Co.,, 30
jcctionable fop than the arstocrat of the
ancient regime. Mingled with these cx-
qusites are few dark figures Of the old
Jacobins, coarsely and unclcanly clad, by
atfcctations; men who frown upon these
1oppcrics, and wish the days of In Terrcur
back again that they might consign these
sham aristocrats to the same fate as the real
ones Between these and the jcuncsse
dorcc there is deadly hatred. The furni-
ture of the rooms is as classical as the
ladies; the satins and gildings, and mirrors
OF Louis Quatorze and Louis Quinze have
given place to Pompeian decorations; beds,
couches, urns, lamps, bronzes-all arc |
classic. Literature is all but extinct odes |
TO Liberty and limitations of the Greek |
alone obtain favor; everybody has had |
enough of philosophy-at least in books. 1t
is dancing which is now the all-absorbing
rage; and instead of Rousseau, Voltuire
and Didcrot--Nestris, Trcnis, Gurdel, the
maltrcs dc dansc, are now the ruling spirits
Of the saloons. The moment they enter, an
eager and adlniring crowd gathers round to
10 them homage; then a ring is formed,
and these exposures proceed to execute Il
series OF marvellous and intricate figures,
which the bystanders applaud with the
most fervid enthusiasm. After q time all
,he company join in the dance the latlies
AXE the Bacchantcs for their model now
moving through the tigulShmcre shawl That
yoluptuous languor, nowlouldcrs, and the
graceful movements Of their arms, they
strike n series Of picturesque tablcauN, such
IS are now only seen in the opera ballet.
With true French instinct they make
fashion even out of the guillotinc. There
lre.what are called les balls des victimcs,
10 which no person is admitted who has not
lost relative by la Tcrrcur, and whose
mark must be band OF
Grape worn around the arm. The moral
system which the ladies and gentlemen of
the days Of Louis Quinzc preached Is now
in. practice. Marriage is Il contract which
can be dissolved Immediately at the will Of
the parties concerned; women still young |
have alfcady had three husbands; the |
Christian religion is banned by law, and
instead of Sunday, every tenth day is set
apart as holiday. All this applies to
France in one of her many changes.