A BRIDE'S TROUSSEAU IN FRANCE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2141, 5 January 1881, Page 3

A BRIDE'S TROUSSEAU IN FRANCE.

As there are eo many weddings celebrated in the gay world just at present, I (Elaine de Marsay) will describe the minor points of etiquette which distinguish a French marriage. After the proposal has been accepted the future husband sends his biide elect an engaged ring. This ring should be of pearls —one or two pearls with diamonds la now usual, but in former days it was confined to pearls. Every day he sends a bouquet of white flowers, and the newest fashion is to tie it with a white satin ribbon that h»s tho name of the young lady and her motto embroidered on it. The stalks are sometimes smothered In exquisite lace, which serves later for trimming dresses. The trousseau of a young girl belonging to what we call the " monde el«gaut" costs, in these days, from 20,000 to 50,000 francs, and the bride's parents not only give her the household linen and her personal liuen, bnc a dozen made-up dresses. The trousaeau comprises Bix dozan nightgowns, twelvo dozen chemises, and three dozan petticoats, six of which are long, and intended for evening dress. Ihese last are made of muslin; one dozen, intended for walkirg, are composed of short skirts very neatly made, and trimmed with embroidory or thread laca; another dozen, short also, but more elaborately trimmed, aro intended for wearing under visiting dresses. And lastly, there are six petticoats, made with trains, and most elegantly ornamented, destined for wearing under robeu de ohambros. Stockinga to match every toilette there are, as a matter of course, and sometimes these reach the number of twelve dr.zen. There are six pair of evtry color for the different dresses the bride has; six navy blue, six bronze green, six grey, Bix Bky blue, six claret, and twelve plain black riding stookings. Then there are the fancy stockings, black silk ones embroidered in jet, embroidered in gold, and embroidered in steel; stockings with flowers in relief, stocking 3 with bouquets worked flat, stockings studded with small rosebuds; stockings of several oolors ; as, for example, black stockings Btarred with red, the logs pale blue ; Lisle throad stocking embroidered with bright colored cilks; open-worked stockings, sometimes studded with tiny pearls and coral beads.

Tho handkerchiefs are also very numerous, and of every description. They include six dozen cambric handkerchiefs, with openworked hems, the name and coronet in the corner ; two dozßn handkerchiefo for small dinners and similar occasions when a drcfsy toilette is donned ; these are batiste, with an open riviere, and bordered with Valenciennes lace, the initials more ornate; two dozen summer handkerchiefs with colored cmbroidery ; one dozen gala bandherchiefG, trimmed with magnificent laee and embroidered with armorial bearings ; lastly, a dozen fancy handkerchiefs, surrounded vrith motifs of embroidery, representing birds, buttoiflios, The dresses vary in oach troustoau. Sometimes aa many as eighteen aro given, but, twelvo made-up cneß is tho more usual number. It seemed a pity that so many beautiful dresses would become old-fashioned before their wearer could even deprive them of their freshness. This excessive luxury lacks common senEO.