The Portland daily press., 1884-03-03

daughter Is short she must from very ear
ly age be the companion and comrade OF her
mother. Thus she has precoclous ihtelh-
genee. In many cases she becomes house
keeper and nurse; she fills the Tole OF
governess, and so adds to the fortune of the
family.
Whatever may be the fortune intended for
a daughter, ever habituate children to a sim
pie and modest life; they can easily accus.
tom themselves to splendors, but not TO re-
verse of fortune. A good fortune for chill
dren, consists in habit of work, economy,
order, moderate tastes and perseverance.
Add to these intelligence, and little special
aptitude, aud they will ever be able to get
out of difficulties.
The hard times are REFLECTED in the fash
ions. The shops are full of lovely attrac-
tions, but buyers are few, or limit their COM
mands. In fact it is moment for practis-
ing economy. One illustration among sew
eral: Actresses ever influence the fashions
in respect to robes and eolors. Now In the
The new plays represented, involving Of
course new toilettes, the latter have been
less initiated than admired. But ladies will
have, none the less, some metamorphases in
dress. A French lady in her desire to please,
aims above all, not to wear too long the same
costumes in the same forms; she studies TO
add some new aecessions and to multiply
hose which aim at effect. She thus COW
ers herself with embroideries, lace, and
jewalry. She decorates herself with how-
ers, in order to secnre for herself irresistible
attractions
A French lady also demands from a toll
lette the most refined, the compliment Of the
gifts that nature has given her. The mode,
she argues, is never ridiculous, because she
has sufficient sense to curb its extravagan-
ces, enough of taste to preserve its harmo-
nious proportions. This harm my is illus
trated in the case of that lady Of tact who
observed; "It is still permissible to dream in
a sky-blue bonnet, but it is prohibited to CRY
in a rose colored hat" So much for the
harmony of clothing, that the late Charles
Blanc said depended ON the three inyarlable
conditions of the beautiful-order, harmony,
and proportion.
AT the present moment most attention is
given to dinner and ball toilee.tes; for the
former, meryeilleux and embroidered sat
ins are 10 favor; the jupe is round; the cor.
sage orDamented with alternate satin bows
and lace, round the neck a collerette of lace.
Lake-blue silk and white lace, are also en-
ployed. Tulle and white satin are the favor
ite materials for ball toiettes. Figured
velvets are in great vogue for visiting dress
es, and frequently combined with ottoman;
other favorite materials consist of nui-coio--
ed vigogne, or grey cloth lined With ottoman.
For town dresses, the model most to be en-
countered, is a redingote in ottoman, trim
med with black beaver; as a general remark,
light cloths, not too sombre, are preferred.
The Amazon or Mousquetaire hat, is hold
ing its groun1 against the tendency for
turned up and rounded, whilst on the left
it falls. 1t is after all a convenient shape
and imparts character of elegance as a
head dress; then the beautiful large feathers
with which it is usually trimmed, impart to
it to rich character; in front, there is
tiful aigrette, while on the left side, the
feather gracefully sweeps over the back of
the neck and. shoulder. 1t Is a hat very
much patronized in Paris for the theatres,
aud the color preferred is black. 1t can be in
felt, with plush rim, or all in velvet.
The other hats are made following the
wearer's fancy; the small birds continue as
figure heads, to an alarming extent. Are
we drifting 20 the exaggerated luxury of the
eighteenth century, when 1000 msgpies
we're slaughtered for their feathers to trim a
single costume, and when Madame de Mat
ignon settled an annuity of 600 pounds on
her dressmaker, as payment for a special
robe? 1t is not not improbable that gar
lands or bands Of flowers, will be favorite
trimming for hats during the coming sum-
me.
The canal, or pelerine, continues to be
thing of beauty, and perhaps Joy for ever,
as young and old are enamored with this
convenient garment. II is pretty, not cum
bersOme, and coquettish. 1t can be worn
in the street upon redingote, over jacket,
at the corner of the fire, or in carriage; ct
the first sensation of chill, quick, the pei
erine 1t is made in fur of plush. A new
form of umbrella or parasol, or both, called
the 'graud mamma" has appeared; in
shape it is old fashioned, and its multicolor-
ed silk represents the wears and tears of life.
Under its antique appearance, it is very ele-
gant-and useful.
Areal novelty consists In ornamenting
opera glasses with diamonds; in the blaze
of light of theatre, such looks dazzling In q
hand, whose wrist already sparkles with
gems. The diamonds are encrusted as
rings, and often alternate with other gems.
The idea appears to have been borrowed
from "a like ornamentation applied to fans.
NJ. GIeys receptions have commenced.
Next month the two Presidential balls will
be given. Indeed so far, official life has
been very tame. 1t is runored, that the
Perfect de la Seine, as soon as he regulates
his misunderstanding with the Rag-pickers,
will give few balls in the new Hotel de
Vile. The theatres continue to be well sup
ported, save the Italiens, which want variety
ana duuiIlOudi JdlouJs luo ostaDHsnm6nL
seems to rest on the shoulders of two artis-
tes. Lecocq has obtained success in his
three-act operette, L'Oiseaubleu; it is an
Italian plot, trivial as matter of course.
The music is good average, rather rich in
souvenirs of other composers, as well as of
his own writings. 1t wants more gaiety for
Operette; more seriousness for comic opers.
Manon, by Ma 7senet, has been brought out
at the opera-Comique; the plot is of the
Dame aur Camelias andIthe From From class.
The music is elegant aud melodious, but
difficult, and ull of sadden engagements,
We have had neither ice nor snow this
season, but horrible dull, murky. foggy
weather. Berlin has surpassed other capt.
tails in skating amusements; but it does not
require very intense cold to freeze the Spec.
Young ladies go to the river accompanied by
female friend called an eismutter. who,
seated In low chair, watches her charge,
as she describes figure eight ON the ice and