Year: 1864

Modern civilization and refinement is devel-
oped among us, from the female cbrysals, a
brilliant creature, who bears about the same re-
lation 10 woman that meteor does to the sun
This peculiar and radiant specimen of feminine
human nature is the "lady" par excellence. Ore
occasionally shoots across ocr pathway in going
up and down Broadway. We notice her stepping
from her carriage daintily crossing the side
walk, and wonder how anything so exquisite and
perfect in its way was ever put together. or how,
being completed, it remains so mysteriously
charming and unapproachable, so wondrous and
admirable creation OF beauty and art, to
scarcely betray suspicion of human origin.


We gaze with admiration, mingled with awe,
on the fair and delicately moulded figure, on the
stately and immaculate folds of silk and lace in
which it is enveloped. on the swimming motion
which presses and parts the air without apparent
ly touching the earth. and on the marvellous
whiteness of the jeweled fingers which disdain-
fully hold the rich robe from any fear OF pass
ing contact


The idea of wearing so peerless a creature next
to ones heart as wife. sister, or mother, is simply
an absurdity. She is quite too bright, if not too
good, for natures daily food. Kisses would dis
compose her, tears commit unheard of ravages,
even smiles must not be INDUCED in too often,
aud laughter never. This superb stoicism is a
chief point of difference been lady aud a woman.
n 10 ChOtiObaiy ShC 10 .hp"NhSeiSr StS
is quickly excited to laughter or to tears: she
will even neglect her personal adornment, and
forego her own wishes and incinations, where
her feelings very much interested But the
modern "lady" never by any accident iOrgets
herself Under any circumstances, her own in
dvduality is the first object of her attention and
the last of her thoughts. and the result is daz-
zling female phenomenon, which we are content
to worship at "A distance and have no wish to aD
prOpriate.


Such an idea, in fact, would be little less than
insanity in any thing short of millionaire. A
lady at present prices is luxury too great Tor al
Ordinary man to contemplate; the figures attached
plainly to her making up and adornments would
frighten any man who did not possess printing
press of his own that could turn out an unlimited
number of greenbacks.


Take the lady. FOX instance, who sweeps the
pavement she passes to the marble steps of a
dry goods palace. Her dress is a rich mauve
muire antique at eight dollars per yard, and il is
trimmed with lace leaves, edgei with tiny drop
buttons, which We happen to know can be pur-
chased only at six dollars per pair Twelve
pairs, including the epaulets and trimming for the
boiy. would be required at the very least, in
volving a cost of seventy FIVE dollars for The
trimming alone. Add fifteen yards of moire, at
eight dollars, and you reach two hundred dollars,
without the making, which. together with Innings
aud smaller items, will be thirty dollars more
Her magnif cent cloak is Of black velvet, en-
riched with profusion of jet and guipure lace,
and was imported at cost of FIVE hundred dol
lars. Her hat IS Partisan also, and with its
sweeping plume. which is the envy of half her fe
male friends, was considered cheap at fifty dol
lars.


Were it worth while to come down to smaller
d stails, we could enumerate her collar of real
point, which cost fifteen dollars; her lace covered
parasol, which cost twenty-five; her lace-edged
moucSoir. a bargain at forty, and her dainty
walking boots. which, it is complained, do not
pay the price of exchange, at seven dollars pei
pair Even then we leave out the jeweled watch
the daintily fitting gloves, once one dollar. now
two dollars per pair, and TWO boxes OF which
scarcely suffices for a season. Taking the more
prominent articles of costume, however, which
can be seen at glance. we have the following
result: