Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-12-14
Che fireman.
TFrom Our Regular Correspondent. !
Our EurODpan Letter.

LONDON, Eng, November 22, 1881.
These was scene of amusing excite
neut at Drurv-lane Theatre on Wadnes
dav afternoon the fair sex mastering
strongly in answer to an advertisement for
one hundred pretty Young ladies'. which
appeared in London paper. In all the
thoroughfares leading to Drury-lane were
70 be seen examples Of feminine grace and
loveliness. Some were dark, and some
we're fair, sOme were tall and some were
short There were beauties of she slender
,vpe. and others Of fAmazonian prop 'rtions;
Int of one thing all we're thoroughly con-
cnced. and this was that their claims to
ba considered "prettv" we're not to be dis
mred. Not only did one hundred assem-
Me according TO requirements of the man.
,cenent, but by the time the iulges Of
feminine attractions we're ready five han
5-ed ladies' offered themselves, AMI the
rivalry might we'll have appalled, the stout
at heart. The publicity given to the an
nouncement naturally attracted consider
.hle cr ,wd to witness this novel exhibition
of youth and beauty. In fact even before
the time appointed the colonnade, the
stree. a, the side of the theatre, and the
,horoughfare from DrurY lane to Bow
street and the Covent garden were almost
completely blocksded. An idea was prev
,lspt Al first that the whole atftir was a
hoax and the advertisement had been the
work Of some person acting without au
,boriiv. II was soon discovered, however
that this was not so. The stage door WAS
s1ng wide open, and inside stood the Of
6csls, the solemn judges who were to de-
eide as to the youth and betury of the
applcsnts; but whether they hal request
al their fair visitors to bring certitio ,tes of
birth We have not learned. The scene was
rather trying one for the young ladies'.
as, in addition to the professional JUICES
Of their beauty. they hid to undergo the
searching and not always complimentary
criticisms of the crowd Dec ccr>ionally II
lady "fsir, fat, and forty" would come to
the entrance labOring under the pleasing
lslusion that she might pass for sweet
seventeen, or there might be seen Others
whose appearance might be described AS
agreeable or laivlIke. but could oy no
sketch Of compliment be set down as
pretty" Several policemen were on the
spot. but were only purity successful in
maintaining order, the scene lasting for
upwards of an hour. Finally the canii-
dates, TO the number of about five hundred,
we're all admitted ndiscrimnately, and
retained inside with closed doors until the
excitement had had time to subside, and
only few stragglers remained in the
street.
There was a time, and not so very long
ago, when art in any shape was held OF
little account in this city. Grave mer'
chants and responsible bankers, keen
stockbrokers and thriving sp 1culators,
we're not supposed to care much for pic
lures, save perhaps in the shape of a pom
derous portrait of an alderman or civic
millionaire. Gentlemen who were seen
daily at the exchange were supposed to be
too deeply immersed in mighty CONNER
oial enterprises to trouble their heads
about landscape or figure pictures. But
this was in q past day. The city takes
kindly TO art now, and honors eminent
artists. No longer do city men reject The
claims of the beautiful. No longer do
they regard the artist a. a shiftless vasa-
bond who, when his works would not sell
at the galleries, painted sign boards to pay
for his food and lodging ut some village
inn. Since artists have learned to respect
themselves and their art the city has learn
ed to respect them; and in regard to cul-
ture and accom- plishments, the gentlemen
of the Royal Academy who We're entertain
ed by the Lord Mayor on "Wednesday
evening may claim to he ql.l if not sd
perier. to any similar body hitherto exist
ing in England. Sir Frederick Leighton,
the president is not only one of the IN Jst
gifted artistic creators of this or any other
time, and in most Of other departments
of art besides that of painting his varied
gifts have gained MIN Il reputation not only
in Europe, but throughout the civilized
world
We may congratulate ourselves that ii
one respect. at least, English women show
better taste in dress than WAS once the case
Twenty y3irs ago the m )st brilliant colors
were not con nsiderei unsuitable to wear in
the street. aad it WIS tnougnt to be "styl-
ish" to drag several feet of light colored
silks at ones heels over the far from sP)t.
less pavement. Walking dresses are now
subtuei in color for the IN )st part. Only
in the height of summer are bright plnks
blues, m tuves or greens admissible for
outdoor wear. TIE one exception. ms re-
CARDS sombreness Of fashion sble garments
In autumn and winter, il rel. For the
last three or four years this brilliant tint
has been proninsnt-un tlly prominent
Its aOrid attractions has proved lrresiSt
able even to those whose complexions are
KILLED. by its proximity. Blondes have
been beguiled into wearing gowns of un
mitigated red. When u fair hared, blue
eyed woman Is looking her best she may
perhaps, venture upon such an experiment
but when she is litle cold. little sad, d
little hungry, or little cross. the colo
other gown turns upon her and makes he
look gray. pallid, sallow, and certainly
elder.
The electric light, which is rapidly tax
ing the place of gas in all places of amuse
meuts, turns red into dull, ifeless black
fact of which my readers mey make 4
note. Lustrous black, as seen in jet, satir
and fur, is very becoming Soft black, a
In velvet or good velveteen. is equally so
but the monotonous, grayish black refer
AZ. strv