The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-02-10
In Ye O.aea Time.

Chatting few evenings since with
charming old lady of eighty years, and
seated close beside her in chimney COR
ner, whose capacious fire place was aglow
with hickory blaze, such as few of this
generation have been fortunate enough
to witness and enjoy, the current of So
cial gossip and reminiseIlce flowed into
the domain of Fashion. With minute
Ness of detail which exhibited remark
able powers of memory, we were favored
with clearly defined description of the
manners, customs and prevalent modes
of dress of the days when she was
young and to the manor born"
threescore years ago. Excusing herself
q moment, she returned bearing on her
arm . silk dress, once white. but now
limp and yellowed by the touch of time.
The dress deserves description: It was
narrowly gored on the front and .and
side breadths, ana quite short. In the
back there was large cluster of deep
gathers. The waist line was relegated
almost to the arm-pits; and the very
short bodice was cut out square in the
neck and edged with old-fashioned lace.
The waist was laced up the back with q
fiat silk cord. The sleeves were long
and close, and finished with frills of lace
at the wrists. This was my wedding
dress. - she said. MY father rode dis
tance of more than thirty miles on horse
back to buy the silk of which it is made.
Its cost represented my savings for more
tnan four years in butter and cheese
making. / cut and made it
with my own hands. Ny pattern
was the bridal dress CT our pas
tors wife, who the year. before
had come to us young bride, from the
shores of Massachusetts Bay" Holding
up one of the sleeves, she said: Here
is stain upon the silk. One of my
bridesmaids, in adjusting my modest,
homemade bridal veil, pricked her fin
ger with an intrusive pin, and from the
tiny wound fell single drop OF blood.
of which this blemish is the sign and
token. To me it was but tride; to her
it was grievous mishap, which clouded
her evenings happiness. Milliners,
dressmakers, books and plates of fashion
were Injuries of which we heard some
times, but never counted among our
needs or possessions. Such changes as
ruled the hour in cities and In fashion
able circles found their way by tardy
stages 10 our villages and hamlets, and
if the style of dress or bonnet was
marked departure from our own,
it cost some courage and the crossfire
of gossipping tongues to adopt and wear
it. The wives of ministers and deacons
were usually the first to sit in judgment
on all fanciful and new -fedged modes OF
apparel. 1t was well with the new
wrinkle if this tribunal gave to it tacit
or positive approval; otherwise it was
doomed-at least for season. Perhaps
life passed quite as happily then as now
Our wants were few. our sympathies
cares, pleasures, and bereavements were
as an open book, known and read oi
kindred, friends, and neighbors; and il
home life and life in society and in the
world of fashion has had in latter life Its
charms and attractions, so that in the
day when drop of my laughing youne
friends blood lefta stain upon this wed
ding dress, we lived in world whose
horizon was broad enough for our wants
encircling homes, alas! whose hearth
stones are now desolate, but which wer.
then abodes of quiet but satisfying hap
/ piness and peace"