Year: 1861

they could not get up fete at Cremorne, or
something of that kind, for the sake of the OBJ
ject that was in view. She had known a great
deal of good done by fetes. Perhaps an anna
teur performance at the opera might be of ser
vice.


Lady j. said she did not see how either fete
at Cremorne, or an operatic benefit, could preeent
muslin dresses taking fire, if they were extended
on steel hoops and placed in close proximity 10 a
fire or a candle.


The Duchess of h. suggested that it would be
exceedingly desirable to obtain the assent of the
Empress Eugenie 70 the proposed change in the
mode. for she knew she was looked up to by many
ladies of the highest rank in this country as mod
ell of taste in costume.


Madame la Vicomte de L. said she could prom
ise the concurrence of her Imperial Majesty.
She knew for fact there was the strongest pos
sible disposition on the part of the French
Court to maintain entente eordiale with this
country.


Lady NJ. made no objection to join in any reason
able plan for putting stop ty the lamentable loss
of life which had resulted from the use of crino-
line; but she wished to know how it would be pos
sbe to distinguished between the different classes
of society if the use of that article of dress was
abandoned.


Lady N. said that at present the amplitude of
the garment established no distinction because



the highest. 1t was the richness of the material
which distinguished the mistress from the maid,
and it would continue to do so if crinoline were
abolished TO morrow.


Lady o. said she must say she hated this affec-
tatiOn of philanthropy. She did not see why la
dies of rank and fashion were to make frights Of
themselves because the inferior classes would ape
the manners of their superiors. (Murmers of dis
approbation.)


l. 4.
In was not often that ladies in their position had
an opportunity of doing anything by which they
could confer benefit son society, aud she was only
too glad to seize the present occasion to render
some service TO humanity.


Lady q. said she could not altogether take that
view of the case. She subscribed to several char
ities both in London and at their own place in
the country, and in winter she gave something to
the soup kitchen, but she must say the thought,
the poor were uDgrateful.


The Duchess of A. begged to direct the atten-
ton of the meeting to the question before it, The
question was, whether the meeting should pledge
itself to renOunce the of crinoline. After the
discussion which had taken place, she must say
she had heard nothing to shake her opinion, that
nothing but example set by the highest in rank
would induce the great bulk of the female commu-
nifty to give up the expanding dresses; and seeing
that they had every reason TO expect that the
highest lady in the land would be the first to take
a step in behalf of humanity, and that the exalted
lady on the other side of the channel would con-
cur in the movement, she did hope that the meet
ing would vote unanimously in favor of the reso-
luton.


The Duchess of B. begged that her grace, the
chairwoman would put it to the meeting.


The Duchess of A. then put the resolution and
it was carried, if not unanimously, at least Renine
cOntradieente. Ices we're then brought in, the
meeting broke up into little sroupes, in which the
discussion was carried on with much vivacity 1t
seemed, however, to be generally agreed that the
present recurrence the hoops of our great grand
mothers had not been a step in the direction of
good TASTE and that somewhat nearer approach
to classicalty in the outline of dress would be not
less an aesthetic Improvement than means of
preventing the loss of many lives by fire.