Year: 1868

Caprcious April, with its smiles and tears, brings
warm, kissing breezes also from the sunny South"
to gladden. our hearts and make US unthankfui NOR
tails rejoice and prepare for the coming oi summer.
Fashion as well nature is throwing on the sombre
and cheerless habments OF winter and Is now ar
raging herself in lighter brighter and more fascinat
ing apparel while our bellies like the fragrant May
blossoms that the warm April showers are even now
trying to coax into life bloom upon us In all the
lovelness OF youth and gorgeousness OF the latest
spring styles. Down the vista OF the avenue we
catch glimpses OF the beautiful animated panorama
that from morn till night gdes to and fro with the
bright sunbeams stealing asant through the leaden
clouds illuminating the figures In the picture and
lending an air of enchantmen to the scene that is at
once both captivating and enhancing. The few nov
elites that dame fashion bestowed upon her votaries
this season are most assuredly made the most OF,
and it is probably well for her followers that more
was not given, otherwise that which now passes as
good might have been spoiled and that which we
now regard as superb could scarcely have been ex-
pected to rank as even passable. Too many COOKS
will spoil the best OF broth, and too many delights at
one time from the tickle goddess OF the modes would
be just as apt to bewilder the feminine world and
make chaos of that which is at present symmetry,
lOveliness and order.


One OF the noticeable features in the fashions
this season Is the tendency to introduce figured and
striped silks the Stylish solid c0i0rS some
OF the striped patterns are strongly suggestive Of bed
ticking, and lack every essential that contributes to
form beauty TASTE This last vagary is daily taking
q rmer hold upon the ladies or our beau monde and
if the inclination for stripes continues much longer
the ladies OF New York Will look as though they had
donned their bedticks for masquerade. This may
sound very ridiculous but nevertheesst it is just what
we are coming to, and our ladies would be doing well
to avoid making nnnies Of themselves to be laughed
at by the world. Visiting and walking toilets
are unquestiOnably tending towards the robes q
queue while for walking toilets revival Is antici-
to display upon of lighter shade of color, and In.
varlaby OF different material and in all cases more
or less ornamented. OF bonnets we have spoken be.
are we are sorry to say daily growing smaller by
degrees and beautifully less" In the manufacture
OF these microscopic AFFAIRS lace appears TO form the
principal ingredient, with an occasional tiny wreath
encircling them, few strawberries or couple OF
snS tied with small all ribbon bow, with the ends
hanging down over the mammoth chgnon, would be
about as serviceabe.


In the way Of toilets we submit the following for
the criticism OF our fair readerS:-


Morning Toilet.-Gray serge dress with redingote
cred braid of darker gray than the SERGE and with
gimp buttons. Black tulle bonnet tied with green
satin strings edged with black lace; delicate wreath
OF green leaves across the forehead.


Dinner TOuet t0r a Young Lddy-Pnk and white
striped Chambery gauze dress trimmed with cross
cut bands Of pink satin, edged with white blonde.
Pink satin braces and sashes studded with pearls ana
edged with blonde. Pearl necklace. Headdress-
pink velvet ribbon worked with pearls.


Epe,aing TOitet.-Pink tule dress; the skirt is
bordered with seven narrow bouillonn6s OF tue the
front breadth Is plain at the top, and at the lower
part there is q deep black lace iounce headed with
two cross bands Of pink satin. To commence from
the sides there are three deep founces Of pink tue,
alternating with Chantllly dounces At the top Of
the last tue nOunce, and to cover the space where
the skirt remains untrmned, point of Chantilly Is
added and the two ends are l0oped up to the front
with bouquets OF small pink roses frosted with
crystal. The wastband and short sash ends are
trimmed with roueaux OF pink satin to correspond
with the nOunces. The bodice is entirely bOuionne





bouquet at the left side and two bouquets are added
the shoulders. Headdress OF similar flowers.


Afternoon OutdO0r TOiet.--A shot silk dress OF
the new shade of violet trimmed with satin bands
The caseque s fastened back in front with buttons
and s edged with chenille fringe. Satin bonnet or
namented with garland OF flowers, which Is con-
tinued on to the lace lappets under the chin.