, 1881-10-07
simplicity IN DIeSs.

A writer in a London paper says:
Must Won dear, delicate ladies soutfrlr
pour etre belle? Not IL bit OF it. When
ever you suffer from your clothing, be
assured that ii is not anything like as
becoming rs it might be. Iou are never
so charming as when you are quite at
ease. Rebel against the mantua-maker
when she pulls back AID weighs you
down with pllsses, and pellets and con-
lisses. and Jet tioriture. Persuade her
that if she studies convenience and SIM
plicity you Will be able to order SIX
dresses for each one she now furnishes,
and that she will not find more work IN
the whole half-dOZen than the single one
which is now the fashion. l saw the
other night a toilet which enhanced the
beauty OF the young wearGr, was dell
ciously simple, and which could not
possibly have been cause of suffering.
1t was composed of a plain white India
muslin skirt, neither long nor short, a
gathered body, a sash and bow of pink,
and here and there a rose. Mile. Jubinal
wore it. When she danced the light
drapery followed so closely her motion as
to be identified with her. In such dress
the late CZarina made n conquest of the
Car, who by chance saw her in 1t. At
Presidents Grevy's on Thursday night,
| Mile. Magnin, the daughter of the
Finance Minister, looked eXquisitely
pretty in white tulle made up III the
same fashion. Has it ever occurred TO
Won why the riding habit is one of the
most becoming of modern costumes? 1t
Is precisely because 1t is simple and not
adjusted to make its wearer suffer. Neat
ness of fit and liberty in all its move
ments are what the tailor who makes the
riding habits aims ut securing.
''rhOse who wear tight and high
heeled shoes walk badly and dance worse.
Heavily Ornamented skirts fatigue the
hips and dorSal region, and induce Ian
guld and drawn down expression of the
face. They also affect the spirits. Tight
lacing spOils the complexion and reddens
the nose, and what is worse checks cere
bratiOn. Ideas cannot flow freely when
the waist is squeezed There is, there
fore, no repartee in conversation, no
| sparkle, no fun, no light shone forth.
| Women who are good writers wear stays
as little as they can help. Nine. de Emile
Girardin was never out of her robe de
chambre at home, unless when she gave
| ceremoniOus dinners and recep-
! tions. She dressed in summer in
! white muslin or cashmere, and flowing,
| With ner wnlte blonde nalr fastened up
carelessly at the back. In winter the
| garment was of fine flannel. Nine. de
Sevigne wrote her celebrated letter at the
chimney corner, after she had thrown off
her courtly finery, or before she put it
on. Rachel patronized very loose and
conventional clothing. Elsie, the circus
rider, about whom the gommeux raved
hast year, went in for utter simplicity of
| attire. A maxim of hers was, with so.
! ber food, little color of the condiment
goes long way, and particularly with
a nice. young face, finely proportional
figure, and luxurious head of hair. -
Another example of the power of simple
attire to enhance beauty-even when il
| IS on the wane-is afforded by the
''grande dame," the superb sculptress,
the imperiOus Bohemienne who has step
ped from the Faubourg st. Germain TO
the Avenue Villiers quarter, in ques-
ton, attires herself at home in the garb
of a Calabrian fisher boy. In stopping
to the present level she hoped hereafter
| to seize upon the reins of Government
a high ambition, but for her mad oner'