New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1881-07-20
Paris Letter
( From our Regular Correspond Mt.

z From our Regular COrresp0n0e nj.
Paris, France, June, 9th, 1881.
Where is the American who, on
returning home from visit, Wheth.
or Of business or pleasure, to the
French capital, has not been nom
plussed by the inevitable question
emanating from the female portion
Of his family, What is being worn
in Paris. = Where, again is the in
divldual who has been lucky en-
ougL to supply a satisfactory or even
acceptable reply to this most puzz-
ling interogative! In nine cases out
of ten the bewildered man gets Hmm
self out of the difficulty by declaring
that the wet weather caused all the
fine dresses to be envel0ped in wa.
terproof "a shocking libel, seeing
that the French woman never wears
a waterproof, or he raises All out
burst Of derlsive laughter by describe
ing something that was worn in
New York twelve months previous
". In my humble endeaYors to en-
tighten the reader on things Partisan
in the shape Of politics, economics,
theatricals, and host Of miscellan.
eous subjects, ranging from coups
d'etat to vitriol throwing. | have
often felt a twinge Of conscience I'm
pleasantly reminding me that after
all I was neglecting serious part
of my duty. Visions flashed across
my mind Of fair eyes scanning the
Paris column, ard Of their owners
laying down the paper in disgust at
seeing dissertation on the success
of such and such a,bill in the French
Parliament, where they hoped to
find hint as to the kind Of bonnet
likely to become fashionable next
month.
1t is undoubtedly less easy to
write about fashions in Paris in the
present day than at a time when the
highest lady in the land, assisted by
sort Of female ministry on things
relating to dress, sent out her un-
written edicts which the Grand
Monde fastened to apply. Then q
State ball at the Tuileries Of the
Imperial box at Longchamps fur
nished ample illustration Of the
prevailing modes, and the chronic
lers had only to observe.
Now a change has come over the
spirit Of this pleasant dream, and
there are as many different and to-
tally distinct fashions running con.
| currently as there are modistes and
milliners to invite them. Far be it
from me to maintain that the world
has not gained by some scope being
left to individual originality. To
take only one example, perhaps not
a perfectly fair one, it is true, the
scene at the race course on the
Grand Prix Day. At one minute
the unlimited male observer would
admire cluster Of directive bonnets
tight fitting high wasted robes, and
artfully constructed costumes of the
''sweet simplicity type. The next
moment his attention would be at.
tracted by an equally fashionable,
no doubt, but strangely contrasting
display Of Spanish taste, broad.
brimined, round hat, the falling
beeded fringe Of which would al.
most conceal the wearers's features,
black satin bejetted costume, hugh
| fan, and lace matilda thrown over
the shoulders. The great and laud.
ible object seemed to be to achieve
picturesqueness in whatever particu
lar mode. the female form divine
Twas alfred The dressmaking art
&lhad evidently run loose on all coun
tries and all periods, and it at times
the combinations were somewhat II
congrnous the effect was rarely un.
satisfactory.
/ The fashion of wearing real flow
ers in every conceivable position
| has assumed in this capital the pro.
portions of a mania. The tendency
is commendable, for what more
beautiful contrast to a costume O
the prevailing ivory hue can be i'm
agined than a rich hoquet Of Grim
son.
rosebuds surrounded by.their natur
! al lovely foliage! Hats, fans, para
soils are heavy with punches O
tastetully selected flowers, the la
test fashion being to choose som.
graceful, and, if possible, little
known species, with which to sur
prise and charm the observer. Il
is needless to say that we are al
most daily treated TO- some new dis
covery in the way Of color, display
ing as much ingenuity in the nam.
given as in the choice Of the tint it.
self. Thus the hues known a;
"rouge du roi, lava. yieux muir.
terre d'Afriqe sand color and fe2,
together with the many prevalent
nances Of ivory and orange, AFFORD
ample scope for selection of fail
wearers, be they blondes, brunnettes
auburn haired, or endowned with
| golden tresses. I may add that the
/ fashion of shading such articles AZ
fans and parasols with the tints dis
| played in the costume still obtains
and one of the .prettiest toilettes Al
Longchamps the other day, all gray
| from bonnet to shoes, was enhanced
by a large deep parasol, the silk o.
| which was finely shaded from blacE
: at the edges through dark and light
gray to white at the top. As thu
seaside and country season is nov
upon us, attention is diverted from
| the elaborate and often gaudy tot
j lettes suitable for Paris to the simp
Ter, if equally ingenious and artistic
/ costumes requisite for the "brain'
4 de mer' or the Pyrenees. For these
d such linhk u, q tariala ak hakiska SIR,