Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1889-04-13
LEARNING THE TRICKS.
How the Wife of Congressman Receive
Her First Lesson in Fashion.

How the Wife of Congressman Received
Her First Lesson i'm Fashion.
There is nothing better for the cult
walton of taste than the atmosphere of
Washington.
Members from the hay-seed districts,
who look as if there old-fashioned,
long-tailed broadcloth coats were of
home manufacture, and there cravat a
piece of 'wifes best gown" and who
can not tell the difference when they
take Their seats in the halls of Congress
between a dish of terrapin and stewed
turkey livers, soon becomes fastidious
enough to be enrolled among the fol-
lowers of Berry Wall and John Cham
chrysalis in which their taste for dress
has lain dormant, and develop into
butterflies Of fashion who set the styles
for The district at home. A member OF
this description had spent his first winter
here in bachelor quarters, had been
converted to the ways OF polite society,
and tie second winter, when his wife
Joined him, coached her. Among
other things which did not suit the now
fastidious husband was her bonnet, a
production of the spinster milliner at
home, which had the cold, ''nippy"
look of its creator Madame was bid
den to 90 to a swell establishment and
supply herself with a stylish covering.
The obedient wife studied the papers, and
selecting the firm which had the biggest
advertisement, promised all kinds Of
bargains, and announced itself as an
emporium of fashion," went there for
her bonnet When the production ar
rived at the hotel it did not suit the
taste of the critical member. who said
he would be hanged if he knew what
the matter with it was, but he would
wager rs seat in Congress that there
was something the matter with it, and
advised her to consult some of the wo-
men folks in the hotel, Some of the
women folks were ladies old in offic;a al
life at the Capital, and there was a
struggle between amusement and breed
ing when they had their first 81 mpses
Of the creation sent out by the EN-
porium of Fashion, but with the dip
lomacy for which women of the world
are celebrated, they suggested she
should 90 across the street to a fashion
able modis.e and have her make some
slight alterations in the poor, despised
bonnet. which was of course very pref
~ but did not suit madames style.
Sadly because her purchase had not re-
ceived the Endorsement of her more ex-
perienced sisters, the ambitious men,
ber's wife wendell her way to the mil
liner who did not pretend to keep an
emporium of fashion," but had for
years made all of Society's bonnets.
Can you do any thing with it9' pa
thet cally asked the disappointed wo-
man.
mo" answered the madame, a can
not
What can do with it, then?' said
the members wife.
81 would advise. madame" respond
the fashionable milliner, after turning
the poor bonnet about in her hands
cycling it with much the same express
sion that a French chef would look at a
corn-pone, Il would advise that you
use the thing to decorate your Christ
mas tree and order new bonnet"
The new bonnet was ordered, the
member and the women folks" were
harmed; and thus one of the best
dressed women in Washington received
ton Cor n. Y. Tribune.