Year: 1869

Irish Catholics for the support of
the Protestant Episcopal church OF
Ireland.


Dressing the Baby.


A New York letter in the Chicago
Tribune says:


l want to say few words in re-
gard to the dressing of children. I
happened yesterday into the parlors
of one Of New York's most fash
ionable modistes, and found the
lady walking exposition of her
art. But her little daughter of ten
years was dressed in the most
sweetly childish manner possible,
without other ornament than her
own grace and beauty.


GLOW does it happen," I asked,
''that your little girl is not fash
ion plate p


Because I cannot bring myself
to put her in the harness." she re-
piled, Il want her to be natural
just as long as she can"


And I thought there was world
of wisdom in the answer. A child
dressed up in the fantastic manner
of the present day, with pannier
and waterfall and jewelry, worn
with that hard, worldly look which
is too often the concomitant of
fine dress, is sad sight, especially
when there are thousand simple,
beautiful forms in which to embody
childhood. What little girl is there
promenading Broadway to day, in
bright puffed silk, kid boots and
French bonnet, who would net
rather follow the instincts of her
nature with gingham dress, a chip
hat, trundling hoop, and blissfully
unconcious Of the relative value of
Valenciennes of silk? But what
are the little dears to do? They
must wear something.


Give them summer wardrobe cf
at least six white dresses, neatly and
daintily made, but not burdened
with trimming: give them three
French calicoes, and three checked
ginghams apiece, and if they must
wear silk, one pretty blue or pink,
silk, without any trimming, other
than fold of the same, with soft
lace ruche at the neck or sleeve, and
put it on as if it were gingbam, and
don't let the little puppet walk just
50 far ahead Of you all the way to
church, that you can admire the
mature swing of the skirts-keep
her child-pure and fresh and
undefiled by the litter and chaf that
sometimes smother you.


Babies wardrobes, at a hundred
dollars, are advertised at prominent
houses here. There are six of
everything made up neatly and in
good style, a basket with appurte-
nances, and manual containing
some valuable advice i'll regard to
babies. When one reckons the cost
of things it is strange to how nice
point the matter can be reduced
There is plain, sensible little
woman, with a kindly eye, who tells
me that her baby's wardrobe was as
pretty as a picture, and only cost
S25. She did all the sewing her
self, and had enough pretty dresses
to last into short clothes, but l
made her ackno Wedge she visited
the cheap stores and bought some
remnants. There are many people
who think a baby cannot wear
anything but silk flannel at 50 per
yard. Now all wool at one dollar
is comfortable enough for the best
baby that ever was born; but fine
ness and finish arc matters of taste.
The expense Of a baby is often dis
cussed, and the question and the
baby both waived, there is no more
absurd idea than that the first
shrieking specimen Of babyhood
| that enters the family must be re-
ceived as if he were a young prince,
and swathed in garments that cost a
maternity of toll and anxiety, and
money enough to have supported
him respectfully the first five years
of his life. A plain, sensible ward
robe, with q mothers welcome, is
better than lace stomachers and
christening caps for appearance.


Apropos of this, six little fine
knitted Saxony shirts are much
better than the flowing stripes OF
linen and thread lace, which chill
the blue mottled skin like paper.
Babies like to be warm-small ami
mails that they are-and the warm
Saxony shirts are just the thing.
They can be easily knit in a day, or
bought ready made, and the warmest
days in July are mono too warm for
young infants in that undressed
state to which fashion, fate or folly
has decided it.


Small zephyr sacques are infinite
ly superior to the square blankets,
which are only shams for covering.
Look at the little blue, pitiful arms,
and ask your common sense if they
ought not to be covered. Pretty
ones can be made of merino Or all
wool delaine, either white, or pink
or blue, and worked around the edge
in scallops.


Coop ADvIcE.-Reader did you
ever enjoy the ecstatic bliss of
courtin2 If you didn't then get a
| .lAIz