The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-06-10
[FRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT. ]

| NUN w DE1 In l.
NEW YORK, May 81, 1850.
To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST:
There is every evidence of sudden
wealth in Ncw York, reminding ne Of
the days of 1866. Particularly during
the present seaaelb have tha'aiving ex
penses of rich and poor increased, and
never sincs the panic of '7S, or hardly
before, has such reckless extravaganza
prevailed.
"Tve been dress-making fOrtwenty
years, but never did put a scissors into
so much rich material or lay eyes on
such magnificent trimmings" said
fashionable modiste few days ago, and
others in the same business report a like
experience.
Some Of the passamenterie trimmings
of cashmere and rainbow beads range
in prices as high as S35 and $40 a yard,
with fringe to match in richness. It
really seems as il there we're a possible
conspiracy between the dress maker and
the importer to make up in the quality
Of the costume for the less quantity Of
material and trimmings required by the
present fashions.
Our leading houses must bear the
blame Of bringing sore temptations be-
fore the American women. One can
but wonder if the profit on these higher
priced goods is enough more in compar-
ison to compensate for the responsibility
of leading our nation into willful ex-
travagance and vanishing into thin air
the economic virtues which the hard
ships of the last few years had forced US
/ to learn.
1t is well known that the richest man
ufacture and finest specimens of French
skill are brought to America. This is
due to Fashion, the much-slandered
goddess. Fashion is not inconstant
she changes as seldom as possible, and
keeps the same favorites long at her
side. But to keep in the fashion it is
necessary to busy yourself about it
that is, to renew yourself without ceas-
/ ing. This must be the work Of every
moment, and demands much severe
study. Points: Never give way to any
personal whim, but be always ready tC
follow any whim Of the period learr
how &c give up quickly what please:
you the most; carefully avoid getting
fond of anything, as foudness for any
body or anything, or for an idea or plan,
means getting old and rusty. 1t is CIV
| ing a date that is, so to speak, saying
your last word. Yesterday must always
be wrong. To live, the woman Of fash
/ ion must mOve-move without stop
ping; stopping means finishing. She
is the Wandering Jew OF frivolity; like
him, she is allowed to live forever. bu,
on condition of never taking a rest.
We were talking the other day Of the
eou-'aucy of Fashion to her admirers.
This coustancy is not exhibited toward
animals, to whom she shows herself toll
erably Tickle. At the beginning OF
Winter the supple, silky cat was the
favorite ornament Of lsdy's boudoir,
until the playful leveret took its place ;
| but this last-named animal is chilly,
his dress is a source of pre-oeeupation,
and he requires rs much care as q child.
| The leveret is jealous, passionate, ca
ressing; 1t IUIL be loved (; and the wom-
an of fashion has not time to devote
herself even to the creature of her pres
cut fancy. Monkeys were once the rage
among fashionable animals, but, alas
they bear too close a resemblance to
some men, 50 now they are rejected.
Parrots were once much thought OF
during the period Of Tyranny" They
were taught to scream all kinds of sedl-
/ tious words that could not be spoken
to-day, when everything can be openly
said, parrots are despIsed. What is the
favorite animal now2 Has it become
fashionable to bring up in the drawing
rooms young tigers, little bears, small
lions, tiny panthers? 4? No. The fash.
ionable animal is most peaceful and not
very noisy-it is a turtle The animal
has one great advantage over his prede-
Icessors-he needs no attention. YoU
may forget to feed him for a month nc
matter, he does not feel "ugly" towarC
you. In short, he is the only affection
ate fancy that the selfishness of our cen.
tury will permit his companionshiT
demands no efforts to please; he is 8
favorite who does not particularly care
about being loved. MIRANDA