Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-11-08
COUNTING THE COST.
What II C"sts a Young Lady to Get
Married ln Preseniabie shape
Figures that Will Make
Fathers Cast up Bank
Accounts.

Figures that Will Make
Fathers Castup Bank
Accounts.
From the New York Mail and Express
"Gettipg ready to be married." is,
perhaps, the most fascinating employ
ment of womanhood. The brides
trousseau is concededly the most i'm
portant feature OF the wedding pre-
parations. Every young woman ex-
poets to marry some time, or ought to,
and even where the prospect is not i'm
mediate the temptation is irresistible
to devise costumes and make calcula-
tions of expenses in anticipation of
destiny's demand. From the point of
view OF the shops and mantau makers
brides are divided into three distinct
classes: Those with whom money is
the object: those who must be moder-
ately economical, and those restricted
10 the essentials of a bridal outfit in
ordinary wei-to-do and respectable
society,". The trousseau of a young
woman of wealth and fashion may be,
and usually is, thing OF bewildering
expensiveness The father of the family
is made to feel that the occasion calls
for the display of unwonted and ex-
cessive liberality. An easy and COM
Portable method in such Case is to
send the Young lady to Paris to be
gauged and fitted by Worth. She will
have her costumes selected and con-
structed with regard to her figure, gait,
complexion and style, and regardless
of the expense thereof. In eight or
nine weeks she receives the bewitching
boxes in which are packed to perfec-
ton twenty or more trumphs of art
which shall be the envy and admiration
of her friends for year to come. A
check for $4,000 will cover the cost
and include the bridal dress. The rest
of the outfit it is impossible to esti-
mate, since with unlimited means and
luxurious taste it may be made to cost
almost anything. The richest of lace
and undergarments, the finest of silk
hose, the costliest of embroideries, the
rarest OF jewels, the marvels of boots,
gloves, bows, wraps and bonnets, the
travelling paraphernalia of trunks, ,satch-
els, dressing cases, toilet attachments
and other articles of taste and luxury
can bring the cost of the trousseau up
to $5O,0O0 without wasteful eXtrava-
gance.
| A MODEST ESTIMATE.
| But now young women have to be
content with trOusseauX of a different
sort from that of Miss jerome and Miss
Astor, and can be quite as happy with
out unbridled magnificence. Indeed,
when calculations of cost must enter
the composition, wedding outfits have
a certain personal cnarm-the chic of
taste, convenience and ingenuity
which ought to make them doubly
precious. This sort of modest esti-
mates in which most young women can
have a personal and possible interest is
the best basis on which TO proceed in
trying to find out what it costs a young
woman to get married. A check for
81 900 from dutiful father will fix out
his daughter very handsomely and COM
pletely, and the odd $l00 can be knock
ed off without serious complications.
This would furnish a moderately lux
urious trousseau, suitable for church
wedding and reception, and including
all the necessaries to a woman of good
social position in receipt of the hospi-
talities naturally shown a bride. The
wedding dress, the most sacred vest
ment of all, would be of first impor-
tance. A handsome white silk or satin
garment, trimmed with oriental lace,
elegantly made, could be procured for
500. Duchesse lace could be substi-
tuted for oriental for all extra $50. "A
suitable veil, gloves, white satin boots,
etc., would probably cost $50. This
last, however, could be brought with
in $25.
When the wedding dress had been
disposed of two more costumes would
demand attention-one tor travelling
and another for calling. Both could be
procured tor $3.50, and each would cost
about $75. Nothing is filter for travel
than a tailor-made suit of ladies' cloth
or some similar material. The dress
pattern Of eight yards, double width,
at 50 25 would cost $lS, and this would
give the very best material. There are
tailors and tailors, but an elegant and
exactly S3S 33, including buttons, trim
mings, Innings, threads, etc. Lining of
silk instead of farmers satin will cost
S5 more, and the garment may be
finished in a way to bring the cost up
to $75. But tirst-class tailors for men
are charging less than formerly, and
furnishing trimmings at cost price.
The $3S 80 were the figures of an
itemized bill recently rendered by a
Brooklyn tailor to lady about to be
married. The same artist made her
calling costume for $2S 81. 1t was OF
pearl silk and brocade velvet to match,
to be worn with or without the de-
tachable train. Its whole cost was
S72 So. This same lady had hats to
match the first and bonnet the second,
and boots and gloves for both. The
travelling hat of soft brown felt, orra-
mented by d golden brown bird, cost
Sl4, a bonnet OF pearl gray satin and
ostrich plumes cost S2S so, two pairs
of boots were made to order for SIG,
and her costumes were completed with
gloves for So
A black silk suit is desirable for call.
ing or house wear. 1t can be made fol
sos. with a very fine quality of silk
No bride need be reminded of her need
OF morning gown. Beautiful gowns
can be devised of delicate shades OF
surah silk, pale pink, baby blue and
heliotrope being the most desirable
shades. They should be made with 6
long Vatican train and the front one
mass Of lace. They cost from $25 tC
$50 and even more. Soft cashmere!
with fronts Of shirred silk in harmon
iZing shades are less expensive ant
more serviceable. One can be beauti
fully executed for S2S. Perhaps i
would be we'll to have two o such gowns
} if possible. One more house dress o
cashmere and silk or velvet could bt
, made at home for $50, and would prove
most useful, and with this the list o
dresses might end.
If the brides father is at all suscep
tible to feminine representations, ant
has a flowing purse, the young lad,
will certainly 90 to her husband witt
} a sealskin cloak. This can be procured
for from $40 to $500 and be as hand
, some as is necessary. But Il Lighter
wrap is desirable, and those most worl
0 this winter will be made OF velve
brocade, costing from $40 to S75 o.
500. If a very elegant one is wanted
such are now advertised up to wnfo
S245. A cloth jacket for morning wea
will be needed. These are most ele
giant tailor made, are of rough finished
cloth generally, and can be had fo
: from S35 to $50. In most tailor mad,
garments the burdensome additions t.
actual cost are in the quality and tfnisl
of the Innings and trimmings. Yer,
many girls who are accustomed tt
study economy save much by content
ing themselves with cheaper Innings
etc. which are inferior in appearance,
only to the best skins.