Southern ladies' journal., August 07, 1886, Page 3, Image 5

About Southern ladies' journal. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1886-18??

Image provided by: Arkansas State Archives

                
Young People's Page-
I /From a country house in Virginia
tollowing letter oomes, ladened with
I 'he intelligence and thought, that so
I 'J’ rns one of our gifted Southern
I 'lk dear Journal— When I partially
I promised to send a letter for your col-
I I little thought I should spend the
I summer in as quiet a manner. True, I
I had more happiness in this secluded
I nook than at the sea-side or in our
fl charming mountain resorts surrounded
Iby throngs of gayest people. But what
■ isthere to write about that will enter
fl ta j D you? Very little, I fear. During
■ these quiet weeks I have reveled in
■ reading books from the old home li-
I brary, among others I very much en-
■ joyed “A Memoir of the Reverend
I Sydney Smith,” edited by Mrs. Sarah
■ Austin in 1855. From childhood we
I were taught to admire and reverence
fl this man distinguished for the rare liter
fl ary merit evinced in those powerful con-
■ tributions to the Edinburgh Review,
fl But these letters give us a glimpse of
fl his everyday lite, and are charming ex
fl pressions of a generous heart and wise
I head. And were there ever such flashes
fl of exquisite wit followed by profound
fl reasoning. Some of his references to
fl the New World are a little surprising to
fl ‘Young America.” Though, he does
fl make kindly mention of a few of our
fl distinguished men—notably so of
■ “Everett, the American Minister.”
fl And this brings to mind a little circum
fl stance of last week. In looking through
■ the old mohogany desk my hands fell
■ an old newspaper with “Mr.
■ with the kind regards of Edward
written on its margin. Be-
■ hie investigation, I found it to be the
*■ '‘Boston Evening Courier,” of Scptem
fl u tyth, 1859, containing a detailed
■ acc °iint of the anniversary, September
fl of the settlement of the city of
fl oston. The special feature of the day
fl " as the inauguration of the bronze
■ h' itUe an ' e l Webster. It must
fl l ' c been a memorable occasion, as
fl an y distinguished men took part in the
■ F ? reSsive ce remonies. Professor C. C.
Badd° n ' War d University, made the
fl of presentation to the mayor of
fl'intk ' * the way, is he not the
flfub‘ O Q°^ 11 osa ’ cs ” an ß those delight
fl tan ior the Social, ar.d the Soli
fl bav inree rat her curious works we
fl Gov g Wa^S nown hived.) After
fl "anie acce Pted the statue in the
*flday,°. t ' le P e °ple, the orator of the
fl e tt S j ntl ° ( ' UCe d- was Edward
fl select’ ’ and surely a wiser
■ ° n f° r a post of honor was never
made. A more beautiful, and more com
plete tribute to the illustrious Daniel
Webster, as Statesman, Patroit and
h riend could not be conceived. I won
der upon whom Edward Everett’s
“mantle fell? Some years ago his
sephew the Reverend E. E. Hale, the
distinguished Unitarian Minister of
Boston, visited New Orleans. We
rushed eagerly to hear him, and were
impiessed by his dignity of manner and
eloquent language, but could scarcely
1 epress the little sigh of disappoint
ment. But these reminiscences of days
long gone, however pleasant to me,
dear Journal, may become wearisome
to you, and as you have brought only
pleasure to me during your whole life
time, I would not willingly give any
thing else to you. I know I might have
interested you more by telling of some
mementoes found in the walnut desk.
It is too old and too dignified to remain
in the same room with that mahogany
thing, that is not yet a hundred years
old, and has not even a secret drawer.
A stately ancestor taken from it,
(done in India ink, I think) looks at
me very gravely, and reminds me that
his old desk has kept silence for more
thad a century. “ A hint to the wise
is sufficient.” I have no doubt he would
shake his head at this slight mention,
but the fear of displacing his wig keeps
him forever quiet. The young, attract
ive face makes me rebel at the wig,
albeit it adds the dignity then consid
ered necessary in a barrister. If these
lines are suitable only for your waste
basket, please be good enough to imag
ine “ I’m talking in my sleep.”
Always your friend,
Elizabeth.”
THE TRAIL OF OUR ROBES.
Macrame lace, as well as crochet is
much used for trimming dresses.
The skirts of pongee dresses have a
broad band of colored velvet at the bot
tom.
Plaid surah is used for paniers and
scarf on costumes of plain silk or Siei
lienne.
Spanish and Breton jackets are worn
with full chemisettes which fall over the
belt.
Black lace skirts are worn with
bodies of colored crepe de chine, silk,
satin or moire antique.
The Spanish combination of black and
scarlet plays an important part in tennis
costumes.
Shawls of open-work material have
stripes of satin or velvet, and are found
in all the fashionable colors.
Dresses of woollen material are now
made so light that they are not a burden
even in the warmest weather.
Jet continues in high favor and is seen
in great variety. Jet galloon is used
foi trimming skirts and bodices.
Afternoon dresses of faille veiled with
lace have overdresses of figured silk,
having the same colored ground as the
plain faille.
Prophecies from the highest authority
herald the fact that black will be in su
preme favor the coming autumn season.
Many superb toilets of this sombre color
are already being made of fabrics both
heavy and diaphanous.
A striped frock is now a trial of any
dressmaker’s skill, for the stripes must
make points in the back of the waist,
and the front must be made of crosswise
material, and the skirt must be varied in
all manner of intricate ways.
Pink toilets of every description, from
zephyr gingham to Lyons satin are seen
in profusion at all fashionable summer
resorts, with some exclusively pretty
ones made of pink silk illusion over
surah slips. Fair people, with dark
hair and eyes, look admirable in pink
toilets. Success lies in stsictly main
taining the color unmixed with any
other. An exception is always made,
of course, in the matter of an addition of
white lace to a toilet of any description.
Belted waists are liked for the lace
dresses worn by young ladies. This is
true of black French lace gowns, and
also of those of Valenciennes. They
are folded or gathered on the shoulders,
and lapped in surplice style, or else the
V at the neck is filled in with gathered
or folded net, and the belt is of watered
ribbon fastened b®hind or on the left
side under a wide watered ribbon sash.
The sk : rt haslace flounces of different
widths draped over black or white satin
surah, and the waist is lined with the
same surah.
There is something very prettily Ori
ental about the satin surahs, striped in
gay colors, and they are made up into
frocks that will brighten the cold, dark
days, against which no landlord can
protect his guests, and will also be suit
able for autumn wear. The underskirts
are of red silk, trimmed with rnilles of
the surah, bordered with lace, and set a
little apart, so that the foundation shows ;
and there are two aprons, one of lace
and one of surah. The waist is cf
surah, with quantities of lace about the
throat, and the back draperies are very
full, with the ruffies covering one side
breadth completely, and the other to
the depth of half a yard.
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