Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1880-04-22
LESSON ON DRESS.

My young friend, Cora Lee, was Z
gay, dashing girl. fond ofdress and look
ing always as il, 10 use . common say.
ing, just out Of . band-5ox. Cora wa.
| belle, Of course, and had many admir-.
ers. Among the number Of these wa,
young man named Edward Douglass
who was the very "pink" Of neatnes,
in all matters pertaining to dress, and
exceedingly particular in bis observance
in the little proprieties of life.
I saw from the first that If Douglass
pressed his suit, Cora's heart would be
an easy conquest, and so it proved.
"How admirably they are fitted e
each other" ] remarked to my hus.
band on the night Of :heir wed.
ding. "Their tastes are similar, and
their habits SO much alike that no vIo.
Ience will be done to the feelings ol
either in the more intimate associations
that marriage brings. Both are neat in
person and orderly by instinct, and both
have good principles"
"From all present appearances the
match will be good one, J" my husband
replied.
There was, thought, something like
reservation in his tone.
"Do you really think so ?" | said, q
little ironically; for Mr.. Smiths appro-
val of the marriage was hardly warm
enough to suit my fancy.
"Oh, certainly. Why not :" he re-
rlted.
felt little fretted at my husbands
mode Of speaking, but made no further
remark on the subject. He is never
enthusiastic nor sanguine, and did not
mean, in this instance, to doubt the fit-
ness Of the parties for happiness in the
married state, as | halt imagined. For
myself, l warmly approved my friends
choice, and called her husband lucky
fellow to secure for his companion
through life q woman SO admirably fit-
ted TO make one like him happy. But
visit which paid Cora one day, about
six weeks after the honeymoon had ex-
pired, lessened my enthusiasm on the
subject, and awoke some unpleasant
doubt. II happened that | called soon
after breakfast. Cora met me in the
parlor, looking like very fright. She
wore a soiled and rumpled morning
wrapper, her hair was in paper, and she
had on dirty stockings and pair Of old
slippers down at the heels.
"Bless me, Cora I" said. "what "a
the matter. Have you been i'll ,"
"No. Why do you aski Is my dis
habille rather on the extreme 7"
"Candidly I think il is, Cora" was
nv frank answer.
"0h! well, no matter," she careless.
ly replied. "my fortunes made"
"I don't clearly understand you"
said.
"I'm married, you know"
ayes, / am aware of that fact"
"No need Of being so particular in
dress now; for didn't | just say" re.
piled Cora, "that's my fortunes made
I've got husband"
Beneath an air ofiesting was apparent
the real earnestness of my friend.
"You dressed with a careful regard
and neatness in order to win Edwards
love-" said |.
"Certsinly I did,"
"And you should do the same m or.
der to retain it."
"Why, Mrs. Smith. do you think my
husbands affection goes no deeper than
nv dress, / should be very sorry IN.
deed to think that. He loves me for
myself"
"No doubt of that in the world, Cora;
but remember that he cannot see whai
is in your mind. except by what you dc
or what you say. ii he admires your
taste, for instance, il is not from any
abstract appreciation of it, but because
The taste manifests itself in what you
do; and depend upon il. he will End j
a very hard matter TO approve and ad-
mire your correct taste in dress, for in.
stance, when you appear before him ev.
cry day IN your unattractive attire. II
you do not dress well for your husband
eyes, for whose eyes pray do you dress
You are as neat when abroad a. you
were before your marriage"
"As to that. Mrs. Smith, common de-
cency requires me TO dress well when
40 out into company, TO say nothing ol
the pride one naturally feels in looking
we'll"
"And does not the same common de.
cency and natural pride argue strongly
in favor Of your dressing well a home
for the eye of your husband. whose ap-
proval and admiration must be deareE
to you than the approval and the admi.
raiion Of the whole world 7"
"But he doesn't want to see me rig
ged out iE silks and satins al the time,
A pretty bill my dressmaker would have