LADIES' EXPRESS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 322, 6 November 1875, Page 2

LADIES' EXPRESS.

Editor will be glad to give insertion to any local coutrd.ulions from his lady friends that may be considered interesting in the family circle, or to the sex generally.] :0: (FROM OUB OWN COBBESriINDEM.) Paris, September 4. Ladies returned front the s< a side complain they never passed a duller season in their lives; the weather being so capricious, gentlemen on settling their families at a watering place apparently forget their existence, so far as visits were concerned ; hence, the absence of gentlemen generally made such residence the dullest of affairs ; ladies had nothing to fall back upon but talking chiffons, and even discussions over toilettes with friends or maids, become like all prolonged debates, tedious; novels palled, and boating is not an amusement French ladies injjklge in ; balls are melancholy places qdfleut partners, after doing the season, know well what such reunions are, when gentlemen prefer their club, their billiards, and their cigars. To return to the capital will be as great a joy to them, as if the Republicans had obtained the dissolution of the Assembly ; the country is so tranquil, and gets along without accident when the Government lets it alone, that one is inclined to believe the philosopher's stone is to be found, in the abolition of both legislatures and ministries. There lias been a flutter abroad at the idea of the “hereditary foe’’ sending a pilgrim procession to traverse Frfnce, so that even devout French Caffiolics begged they might be spared thq honor of the visit, these processions will not pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, nor lighten the taxes consequent on paying the countrymen of Arminius five milliards in eash. Educated French society, to use au expressive phrase, is “ backing out of the pilgrim business,"andthereisaremarkable slowness about the erection of what is called, the political cathedral of Sacrd Coeur on Montmaitre; it is whispered that the Rope is not very enthusiastic about a structure that will be used as an emblem of difference between the professors of a common faith ; this is only another instance of where Pio Nino is wiser than his admirers. Another building iu which the public take a far greater interest is the new- hall of Legislature, now in course of erection at Versailles; it promises to he the most handsomely decorated building in France, and that is saying much, no wonder then every ninetynine men in the country are candidates for the seventy-five life senatorships to be filled up. Exhibitions promise to be perpetual in Paris, next year one is to ba opened in honor of electricity and its applications; steam will follow in due course, and by varying the theme, the ball can be kept going for ever; tiie citizens do support these kind of monster shrouds, aud so do visitors, whose first duty after ogling the ruins of tiie Tuileries, and admiring the stair-case of the new opera, is to flock to the palace of industry, tiie only structure associated witli the name of Prince Napoleon. Respecting visitors they were never more numerous than at present; no less than six four-in-hands leave the city every morning to make the journey around the most intercstii g parts of the suburbs, arc full inside and outside, the drivers must becoming men of property, as every day they lend their glazed hat, Happily with a patented iron clad crown, to be sent round at the moment when passengers are in the gushing mood, and small contributions are not general. But what a pity the lady visitors cannot show off to advantage their toilettes; the materials are rich aud costly, but all are cast into the shade the moment an ordinarily dressed lady passes by; why not place themselves for once only unreservedly iu the hands of a French modiste ; it is interfering with her that leads to such sad breaking down in point of taste, ladies occasionally persist in following the latest fashions, totally regardless of its individual suitability. At the present moment the matter is important, where plaids and plain tissues, require so much judgment, to be mixed ; never let the squares be too large, nor the colors too glaring; the plaid pattern over a plain jupon, in different shades, is very elegant; elegant are at present also made to be useful robes; cashmere and vigogne are material* generally worn, a uniform silk dress is hardly to be met with, it now only forms the jupou. Jet is very much worn, as also galoon in various designs, mixed with steel, silver, and gold ; white beaver hats are trimmed witli corresponding jet; the hats are flower-pot or Tyroliau, and are “ filled ” with flowers and fruits ; but the most lady-like trimming will ever be found in grapes; and the coarse straw hat trimmed with the richest lace, a muslin scarf, or an Algerian guaze, has more admirers than ever; it is good for travelling; the pinch, and Joan of Arc belt with ribbon interlacings, continue to be in favor, as also the cuirasse corsage aud the Bulgare puff; it is said thattlyjre are no more old ladies more than there are no children, are so precocious, and the fornreHto rejuvenated by the dress-maker, theKrfumer, and the dentist; certainly vthite or grey hair is becoming a rarity with ladies on the shady side of fifty; absorbed iu so many anxieties to make herself young, the old lady is rapidly losing he acquired character of being amiable, r charming causeur, and a wise counsellom and yet if history be not maligned, th , most influential and respected women, have ever been old ladies. One young looking lady is about disappearing, the wan faced damsel that represented the Republic on the postage stamps ; instead of one, there will be henceforth two dear creatures, supporting a globe — tiie demoiselles atlas —on which will be engraved a large figure representing the value of the stamp ; it is an illustration of how the more oue changes things in France, the more they remain the same. Bad as the Napoleon family is now held by many, the country is not wholly ungrateful, thus the tomb of the first Napoleon —it will be a long while before the nation erectsa statuetothethird —isto be covered with a glass screen—to have all its beauties scanned, instead of the present close iron railing. As we can never get on without some kind of rowing, the most troublesome home question is—not employing Bouviers to forge indictments against Republicans and applauding the functionaries for being tricked—but the struggle between tiie tram cars and the cabs ; the latter will not keep off the rails, despite blast’s from horns, sug

gesting the trumpets of the Last Day ; tuis would be uo harm if the public were not run over, or passengers left in the tain, pending that the driver runs after a butcher’s cart or a cab; poiicetneu generously come to the aid, and drive the train to the nearest bureau; there is an agitation on foot to reduce the salaries of actresses who are ranked as stars; so exorbitant have become their demands, that while they roll in luxuries, managers are packing up for the bankrupt Court. The eMffirmtiers have duly honored the anniversary of their old chief; the “ scavengers" are to give a Billy O’Rourke's banquet to theirs.