Year: 1876

There are ladies in every community
who possess to greater or less degree
tie gift of Worth with respect to their
own attire, and to some extent with re-
spect to that of others. They conse-
auently prescribe the laws of taste and
fashion which their sisters are only too
glad to follow, and which many of them
do follow without any regard to facts
which should be taken into considera-
ton. For instance, when green Is the
fashionable tint, and leader of the tom
wears green, which she will be sure not
to do unless it suits her complexion,
ssraightway all b. r followers array them
selves in green, though it makes some
o. them look like frights 4; but it is the
ssyle, and "green it shall be-" Just so
in the wearing of the hair. The fashion
leader piles on the top of her head braid
after braid, and strsightway all heads
arc dressed in the same manner, with
little regard to what is becoming to the
shape of the head and the character OF
its possessor. She has twenty-five
rufles on her silk dress. and, presto
all skirts of whatever quality are be-
rufled in the same manner. Che trails
length of silk behind her, and serges
and calicoes must trail, too. 1t is pitt
full to see the quantities of fabrics that
cost from twenty five to fifty cents a
yard that are trimmed to death, and are
nothing but wretched limitations OF fine
clothes after all Iu country villages
fashion is much more rigorous and terri
ole in its tyranny than in the city. One
or two dressmakers set the style and
everybody must follow it or be odd and
old fashioned. But in large cities one
may wear anything she pleases without
attracting the slightest attention. The
effort seems to be on the part OF each
finely dressed lady to have something
different from everybody else, to wear a
hat or dress or cloak unique and be-
coming, and though the style is gener-
orally similar, variations from it are In
Vulnerable.


ANY women who sets herself the task
of following the fashions will not be able
to do much else, for every month there
is some change which requires remodel
ing of the wardrobe or q fresh supply.
But she who dresses 80 as to escape
special observation has no very hard
task before her. Twice in the year, in
the spring and in the fall, she may give
attention to the requirements of the
next six months, and between times oc-
cupy herself with something else. When
one is having garment made it is easier
than not to have it made in the prevail
ing style, not 8, extremely fashionable
that in a short time it will be passed,
but with modification and discretion, 80
that it may be worn long time without
change. 1t is this necessarily ripping to
pieces and putting together again OF gar
ments that might better be worn as they
were made that consumes so much time
in families and make so many women, as
to their intellects, utterly barren and un-
fruitful.


Such fashions as tamper with the
health, comfort and dignity of the body
should never be followed. Among
these may named the piling on the head
of pounds of foreign hair, the compress
sion of the waist with steel and whale
bone, and some of the styles of draping
the skirt, which are simply absurd.
Dress ought to be an expression OF
character, and when it is so it will be
worn unconsciously and attract but lit
tie attention. It should suit the indi-
vidual in color. texture, quantity and
quality. Height, complexion, size, age,
temperament, should modify for each
individual her devotion to the fashion,
and when she wears what suits her in
all these respects she will be we'll dressed.