The morning call., 1890-12-14

Victoria Guelpp-the way they do it in Eng
land. l felt pretty sure that the family
principles could stand that much. So l
abandoned myself TO the Joy of preparation,
which Lady Torquilin decreed should begin
the very next day. l thought this, though
pleasurable, rather unnecessary at first.
Dear Lady TorQuilin," said l, in the dis
cussion Of our court dresses. cant we see
about them next weekP We planned so
many other things for this one"
"Child, child" returned Lady Torquilin
fmpressively, ''in the coming fortnight we
have barely time. You must know that we
don't do things by steam and electricity in
this country. We can't go to court by press
ing button. We haven't a moment to
lose. And as to other arrangements, we
must just give everything up so as to have
our minds free and comfortable till we get
the whole business over" And afterward,
about the seventh time had my court dress
tried on, became convinced that Lady
Torquilin was right. You do nothing by
steam and electricity in this country 1
found that it took ten days to get pair of
satin slippers made. Though, ''of course if
you were not quite so particular, Miss,
about that toe, or if you 'ad come about
them sooner we could ave Obliged you in
less time" the shoemaker said. In less
tlmei A Chicago firm would have made
the slippers, gone into liquidation. have a
clearing sale and reOpened business at the
old stand in less time.
Lady TorQuilin counseled mild degree
OF extravaganza, and laughed at my ideas
though she usually respected them about
eiothes-when laid out for her inspection
three perfectly fresh New York dresses,
quite ideal in their way, and asked her if
any OF them would do"
YOU HAVE GREAT DEAL TO LEARN,
CHILDv'
She said. mo, they wont, indeedi Who
ever heard Of attending one of her Maiesty's
draw;ng-rooms In frock made in New
YORK! I'm not saying you haven't very
nice taste over there. my DEAR for that YOU
have; but it stands to reason that your
dressmakers, not having court instructions,
can't be expected to know anything about
court trains, doesn't it 90
From which there was no appeal, so that
the next day or two went In deep confer
enee with the head ladies of dressmaking
establishments and absorbed contemplation
OF resultant patterns, which Lady Toruuilin
never liked to hear me- call samples" |
was spared the trial of deciding upon
color combination. Being young lady 1
TO understand. by edict Of the court. But
should have the train or the petticoat of
the brocade, or would l prefer bengaline
train with bodice and petticoat of crepe de
chine? Should the train come from the
shoulder or be ''fuled " in at the waist, and
what did / really think myself about ostrich
Ups grouped down one side, or punches of
Held flowers dispersed upon the petticOat.
OF just suggestion of silver embroidery,
cleaning all through--or perhaps Mademoi-
would be thoroughly good style-they had
made them for the last drawing room? 1
bad never been so wrought up about any
dress before. When l found out how much
The Lord Chamberlain had to say in the
matter, how he arranged the exact length of
my train and the cut of my bodice, and
what wore in my hair. the whole UNDER
taking, while it grew in consequence, grew
also in charm. 1 enjoyed his interference.
This was hard to reconcile with demo-
cratic principles too. intend to read up
authorities in Anglo-American fiction who
may have dealt with the situation when l
get home. to see If they shed any light upon
IT. just for my own satisfaction.
One thing that surprised me during that
fortnight OF preparation was the remarkable
ing by all our friends. l should have thought
1t an old story in London, but it seemed just
As absorbing a topic to the ladies who came
to see Lady Torquilin on her "day," and
who had lived all their lives in England. If
the ladies' had been presented themselves
they gave graphic ard varying accounts of
the occasion, to which we listened with
charmed interest; il not they brought forth
stories, If anything,
MORE THRILLING
or what had happened to other people they
knew OF or mad heard of-the lady whose
aiamond necklace broke as she bent, the
lady who forgot to take the silver paper out
OF her train at home and left it in the arms
OF the gentleman Of the court as she sailed
forward, the lady who was attacked by vio-
lent hysteria just as she passed the Duke of
Edinburgh. One lady left us almost in
tears because she had failed to persuade me
70 take few lessons at a guinea lesson
from French lady who made a speciality
Of debutante presentations. think should
have taken them (the occasion found me with
80 little self-reliance) If 1t had not been for
Lady Torquilin. But Lady Torquilin said
no, certainly not. It was silly waste of
money, and she could show me everything
that was necessary for all practical pur-
poses rs well as M. Anybody. So several
mornings we had little rehsarsals, Lady
Tosquilin and !, after breakfast, ID my