Year: 1876

| The British Minister's Family Setting n
| Good Example


The Washington correspondent of the
| Cincinna Gazette writes that Sir Ed
ward Thornton and family set a most
| excellent example, in the matter of dress,
to Washington society, and one that


Americans generally might heed to ad-


vantage. This declaration is called out
by an incident which occurred on the


avenue few bright days ago, when all


of fashionable life here that could get out


was on the promenade. The matinee at


the principal theater was just pouring


out its crowd, made up largely of young


ladies dressed in all the agonies of the


styles, to swell the tide, when the En-


glish minister and two daughters ap-


peared upon crossing which led dag


Onally along the line Of the five hundred


bedecked American women. AS if by d


common impulse the whole crowd caught


the sight, and all caught themselves


taking q look at once. Sir Edward


Thornton is known to all in Washington.


His is a striking figure, and he Ealks and


rides so often that every one recognizes


him. 1t was not his appearance, how


ever, that drew such sudden attention


from this crowd of silks, laces, feathers


and jewelry, but the dress of the two
daughters walking one on each side of
him. There was the titled minister of
one of the greatest nations of the earth,


living here in the largest mansion of the


city, and giving now and then such en-
tertainments as eclipse all others for their
elegance. His establishment is a shrine
where all fashion which can obtain ad-
mission worships But for all this here
i ri l., 4
for walk, and by chance passing out in
review before hundreds of American wo-
men tricked out in all that the fashion
plates prescribe; and being out for a
walk, these high-born young ladies were
setting their American cousins lesson
which should have put eve-y one of
them to the blush.


Tho En- ylish ladies had on heavy boots
to begin with, so heavy that it was en-
tirely unnecessary to dodge around the
damp spots in the avenue crossing.
Next, their arms were free, and not en-
gagged i'll holding up their trailing
dresses in which American female idiots
will persist in sweeping through the
filth of the streets. Their skirts not
only did not touch, but they were not so
low that every step spattered them with
concentrated nastiness. The skirts were
plain, and of plain material. There was
also an absence of the intricate hump
ing-up, reefng-in, pulling-back, and
bunching-out which distinguish those
whom Americans adore. But instead of
all this each wore a plain, comfortable
and decent walking-skirt. Each had
on substantial cloak, but, horror of
horrors, they were cut in the style of
two winters ago. The chances are that
the cut was that of three seasons since.
At any rate, that was the prevailing
opinion in one group of Americans that
discussed the question with that eager
ness which its Importance demanded.


"The horrid things" said one, as she
stepped into puddle and splashed her
white stockings and the whole side of a
white lace skirt she displayed as she was
trying to hold it out of the mud "the
horrid things, those cloaks and skirts are
four seasons old, as Pm alive. And all
the money they've got, too p


"Abominable % gasped another, in
an under tone, as her own trail of silk
swept off the curb and into the gutter,
where it soaked a moment, "AbOmina- |
BILE! What can the queen be thinking
about, if she knows what guys her inn
mediate representatives make of them |
selves in the capital of America"


And so the minister and his daughters, |
all the pictures of health and vigorous
life, moved along the front of that crowd |
quite unconscious of the universal atten-
tion they were exciting or of the valuable
lesson they were giving those who chose to
learn it. But few of those who did lay |
the lesson to heart will care to practice
it, and probable not one who moves in |
the fashionable life of Washington will
have the courage to initiate the good ex
ample of these English ladies of rank.
For if they did, you see, the young gen.
tlemen who give the Germans-gentle
men who would at any time exchange
their own number seven heads for num-
Der four feet-would never be seen with
them on the street, or at the opera, and
would never invite them to those "divine
dances" "A And then what would life