The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-28
THE OLD POWERED BANDBox.

With the impending revival of the old
time round or oval bandbox covered with
wall paper a pretty fashion will return.
The bandboxes of our grandmothers may
have been heavy, clumsy and cumbersome,
but there was a picturesque quality about
them which is entirely wanting even in
the most expensive and fashionable mil
liners hatbox of to-day. These old-fash-
toned bandboxes were under discussion the
other day in family of four elderly gen.
tlewomen; and Miss Susanna brought
down stairs into the parlor a fine specimen,
seventy years old, and in perfect condition,
except that it was a little faded. The box
was large and oval in shape; II was pa
pered with heavy old-time wall paper, with
great pink roses strewn all over a white
ground. A wallpaper border of smaller
pink roses and green tendrils was applied
around the lower edge of the bandbox and
on the edge Of the deep lid.
When the Powered bandbox was opened
its contents proved delightfully."- interesting.
An old Methodist bonnet" was the frst
article of ancient garb taken out; quaint
enough it looked-made almost on the old
Shaker pattern-large, thirteen inches
deep. and elaborate. The material was
heavy black silk, shirred, and it was lined
with rich. white satin. Although there
was much painstaking needlework on the
old Methodist bonnet it was considered
quite plain Methodists allowed their
women to wear no bright colors or artif-
cial flowers in those days; and, as Miss
Susanna said: People could tell a Meth
odist woman by her bonnet as far as they
could see her. On the bonnet were simple
broad black ribbon tiles" and a white
book-muslin neckerchief, made with a
rolled hem"-the old-fashioned gentle
woman was always exquisite with her
needle'-was always worn with it, over a
plain, straight black frock
Beside the bonnet, the old bandbox con-
tanned corded dimity skirt'-also made
neatly by hand-which was worn instead
of hoops" in those straight-laced days. A
handmade corset, beautifully stitched,
was also shown; it had real ivory eyelets.
one single. broad whalebone or Dusk I'D
the front, and had to be laced UP the back
after it was donned by the wearer An
other curious object of womans old-time
wear was a large heavy "underpocket,
made of the old material called drilling. -
1t was almost as big as a doctors saddle
bag; the opening was on the fat side of
the pocket, it was mounted on a belt, and
was worn under the dress skirt
There was also, in this entertaining mu-
scum of old treasure a very beautiful old
three-cornered neckerchief of pale pink
cashmere, from Canton, very fine in quail
ity and decorated with peacock plumes
embroidered in their iridescent colors.
This "gaudy' bit of finery was probably
never worn outside of the house by the
staid Methodist gentlewoman Another
quaint belonging was a pair Of bright vel
low buckskin shoes. also the property OF
the dame who wore the Methodist bonnet.
AS these had been made too tight a fit,
they had never been worn, and were as
good as new.
Other interesting articles in the bewitch-
ing old pink-fiowered bandbox were a
handmade white apron. deeply bound with
tape. pair of white wedding gloves. whose
seams were curiously covered with tiny
strips of kid: also an old-fashioned needle
book, made of old-fashioned plaid ribbon;
Japanned snuffbox with an enameled lid
a silver stock buckle. worn at the
back of the neck by the father of the gen.
tlewoman: some old-fashioned toilet pins
and what was once known as IAN OPEN
ended thimble"