Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-08-06
TALE OF A BALL GOWN,

Before begin my story want you to
look closely at me. See my patterns
silver oak leaves and acorns on white
ground. Now examine my texture-ahl
they don't make such brocades nova
days. Be kind enough to bear in mind
that am an heirloom
was woven in France and brought to
Newport. where | was made up to be
worn at colonial ball was trimmed
with point lace ruffles then, and my mis-
tress' hair was powdered and decked with
ostrich feathers
She wore coach and four Of court
plaster on her forehead and other CO.
quettish patches on her cheeks. Her
daughter wore one when she danced a
minuet with Lafayette and her grand
with Aaron Burr
After the Aaron Burr episode | was
carefully pinned in lavender scented
sheets and packed away in a cedar chest,
where for many years | lay in undis-
turbed seclusion. Twas comfortable. The
combined perfume of cedar and lavender
was grateful to my senses.
One day received rude shock. /
heard a click above me, the linen cover
ings were torn away, and was literally
dragged out and violently flung upon q
chair, while silvery voice cried: ''Oh,
look here, Suei isn't this stunnerY"
Then two young women-who were,
| must confess, reprehensibly pretty,
though their manners lacked the patri.
clan repose of my former mistresses-
amined me with great delight, pointing
out my beauty and suggesting SO many
ways Of utilizing me that my lace ruff1es
shivered with indignation.
From their conversation, which was
extremely difficult to comprehend, SO in
terlarded was it with extraordinary
words, gathered that they were grand
nieces of my last mistress. The old New
England home, where for many years /
had peacefully rested, had come into
their fathers hands and they were ran
sacking it for heirlooms.
My existence in New York began with
quarrel. Fannie and Sue fell out over
me. Both wanted lne-the one for anna
teur theatricals, the other for ball
gown, to be yelled in tulle. A compro.
mise was at last effected and Twas hand
ed over to Sue.
1must not dwell Oh the physical suf-
fering | was forced to undergo when
Sues dressmaker shipped and clipped and
ripped me-the subject is too painful !
felt the cruel scissors and, most terrible
Of all, was constantly put through an
engine Of torture. which ran with
ceaseless click
At last ] was again joined together
all but one breadth, which the dress
maker put away to make sofa cushion
for herself-and then they draped lot
of fluffy stuff over me. packed me in
great box and sent me to Sue.
A maid took me and laid me tenderly
on lace covered bed, where for few
hours lay in utter exhaustion.
Then was lifted from the bed and
slipped over my new mistress head and
hooked and fastened about her. When
was fairly adjusted and my last fold in
place, she stepped back a bit. took long
look at herself, and said;
"I'm simply deliciousr'
| blushed for the audacious little bag
gage, as ! did later, when, having sent
the maid into the next room for her
bouquet, she said as she drew on her long
white gloves:
''If this gown doesn't fetch Jack I'm
sure shall give up in despairn
| fetched Jack That evening in the
conservatory he put his arm about me
and drew ne close to him and told Miss
Sue that he wished her to be his wife.
And shel Why, she interrupted him.
In my day maidens were more shy. But
Sue needed no besieging. She did not
look down, blush and sigh, but only
snuggled more closely to the bold young
man and said, "Yes, Jack"
She wore me once or twice again.
Then, pronouncing me perfect rag, she
hung me ignominiously away in dark
closet.
Some time later hand clutched me
and brought me forth. 1t proved to be
that Of Fannie, to whom Sue had given
me. Fannie, | soon found, was Stage
struck. | learned that her father left
very little money, and she was preparing
to elevate the dramatic profession by en-
tering 1t.
Of course she made her debut in Juliet,
and, equally Of course, appeared with
her. l was furnished with bands of
snowy feathers and some long, dropping
sleeyes-I believe they called them angel
sleeves-were fastened to my shoulders.
Thus renovated went in on the potion
scene.
Fannie made hit. So | gathered
from her conversations with her leading
man, whom heartily dlsllked. lie mad
way of stepping on my train and of re-
ferring to me us an antediluvian piece of
dry goods, which certainly was not re-
spectful His treatment Of me hastened
the change in my fortunes.
Fannie, ] judge, was desperately in
love with this young man, for one night
she said tenderly to him, 'T'm going to
give this thing away-you dislike it SO"
To which he replied with great earnest
ness.
Thank heaven, the country is save6.n
couldn't for the life of me see how
/ affected the condition Of the country,
but was relieved to know Twas to leave
the stage,
The next day Fannies maid bundled
me up and took me to second hand
clothing store. where she sold me for a
ridiculously low price.
Months afterward | was taken off a
shelf and spread out before man whose
wicked eyes stared greedily at me- He
cursed me and the price asked for me,
but took me away with him. He carried
mo to some handsomely furnished rooms.