The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-06-06
LEARNING THE TRICKS.
How the wife Of . Congressman Receive
Aor first Lesson In Pavilion.

How the wife or Congressman Received
Nor First Lesson In Pavilion.
There is nothing better for the culti-
walton OF taste than the atmosphere OF
Washington.
Members from the hay districts,
who look as If there Old-fashioned,
long-tailed broadcloth coats were OF
home manufacture, and there cravat a
piece OF "wifcs best gown" and who
can not tell the difference when they
take t!leir 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
berlin; while their wives burst the
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 tho ways OF polite society,
and tho second winter, when his wife
joined him, coached her. Among
other things which did not suit the now
fastidious husband was her bonnet, q
production Of tho spinster milliner at
home. which had the cold, 'nippy"
look Of its creator. Madame was bid
den to 60 to 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 il he know what
the matter with it was. but he would
wager his seat IN Congress that there
was something the matter with it, and
advised her to consult some of the wo-
men folks In tho hotel. ..Somc OF the
women folks" were ladies old In oflic.a
life at the Capital, and there was a
struggle between amusement and breed
ing when they had their first gl;mpses
Of the creation" scnt out by the I'm
pOrium OF Fashion," but with the dip
lomacy for which women Of the world
ARC celebrated, they suggested she
should 60 across the street to fashion
able modiste. and have hcr make some
slight alterations in tho poor, despised
bonnet. which was OF course very pref
ty. but did not suit inadame's style.
sadly. because her purchase had not re-
ceiyed the Endorsement OF her more ex-
perienced sisters. the ambitious men,
boris wife wended her way to the mil
liner who did not pretend to keep an
emporium of fashion," but had for
years made NIL Of Socicty's bonnets.
Can you do any thing with it?" pa
thetically asked the disappointed wo-
man.
NO" answered the madame, II can
not
What can do with 1t. thenp' said
tho members wife.
Il would advise, madame" respond
the fashionable miliiner. after turning
the poor bonnet about In her hssnds,
cycling it with much the same express
sion that q French chef would look ut q
Il would advise that you
use the thing to decorate your Christ
mas tree and order q now bonnet"
Tho now bonnet WINS ordered, tho
and the women folks" were
harmed; and thus one Of the best
dressed women In Washington received
her first lesson In fashion. -Washing-
lon Cor. n. Y. Tribune.