Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-04-24
A Lesson on Dress.

A Lesson on Dress.
My young friend, Cora Lee, was a
gay, dashing girl, fond Of dress and
looking always as if, to use common
saying, just out Of a handbook. Cora
was a belle, Of course, and had many
admirers. Among the number Of
these was young man named Ed
ward Douglass, who was the ''pink"
OF neatness in all matters pertaining
to dress, and exceedingly particular
in his observance in the little proper
ties of life.
| saw from the first thatif Douglass
pressed his suit, Cora's heart would
be an easy conquest, and SO proved
"How admirably they are fitted TO
each other," | remarked TO my hus-
band on the night of their wedding.
"Thcir tastes are similar, and their
habits so much alike that no violence
will be done to the feelings Of 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 oue," my nus
band replied.
There was, I thought, something
like reservation in his tone.
"Do you really think so?" said, Il
little ironically; for Mr.. Smiths APP
proval of the marriage was hardly
warm enough to suit my fancy.
ooh, certainly. Why not?" he re-
piled.
felt a little fretted at my husbands
mode of speaking, but made no fur
the, remark on the subject: He is
never enthusiastic nor sanguine,
and did not mean, 10 this instance, to
doubt the fitness Of the parties for hap
piness in the married state, as | halt
imagined. For myself, | warmly APP
proved my friends choice, and called
her husband II lucky fellow to secure
for his companion through life wo-
man so admirably fitted to make one
like him happy. But a visit which |
paid Cora Que day, about six weeks
after the honeymoon had expired, les
sened my enthusiasm on the subject,
and awoke some unpleasant doubt.
1t happened that l called soon after
breakfast. Cora met me in the par
lor, looking like a very fright. She
wore soiled and rumpled morning
wrapper, her hair was in paper, and
she had on dirty stockings and a pair
of slippers down at the heels.
"Bless me, Coram said, "what is
the matter? Have you been i'll ?"
"No. Why do you ask? Is my
deshabille rather on the extreme 2"
"Candidly ! think it is, Cora," was
my frank answer.
"Oh! well, no NATTER" she careless
ly replied, "my fortunes made.'
81 don't clearly understand yon," |
said.
I'm married, you know"
eyes, am aware of thatfact."
"No need of being so particular in
dress now; for didn't just say" re-
piled Cora, "that my fortunes made 7
I've got husband"
Beneath an air of testing was
apparent the real earnestness of my
friend.
"You dressed with 4 careful regard
and neatness in order to win Edwards
love-" said l.
"Certainly did,
"And you should do the same in
order to retain it,"
"Why, Mrs. Smith, do you think
my husbands affection goes no deeper
than my dress? | should be very
sorry indeed to think that. He loves
me for myself"
"No doubt of that in the world,
Cora; but remember that he cannot
see what is in your mind, except by
what you do or what you or what you
say. If he admires your taste. for in
stance, it is not from any abstract ap-
probation of it, but because the taste
mapifests itself in what you do; and
depend upon it, he will find it a very
hard matter to approve and admire
your correct taste in dress, for in
stance, when you appear before him
every day in your present unattractive
attire. If you do not dress well for
husbands eyes, for whose eyes pray
do you dress? You are as neat when
abroad as you were before your mar
rage"
GAS to that, Mrs. Smith, common
decency requires me to dress well
when 60 out into company, to say
nothing of the pride one naturally
feels in looking well.'
"And does not the same common
decency and natural pride argue
strongly in favor of your dressing
well at home for the eye of your hus-
band, whose approval and admiration
must be dearer to you than the ap-
proval and admiration of the whole
world?"
"But he doesn't want to see me
rugged out in silks and satins all the
time. A pretty bill my dressmaker
would have against him in that event!
Edward has more sense than that, l
f1atter myself"