A Fashionable Parisienne's Life.

Otago Witness, Issue 1797, 30 April 1886, Page 27

A Fashionable Parisienne's Life.

An hour before you get up your maid will light your fire and then screen it with a sih er framework lined with rose silk, which will temper the heat and give the whole room a sort of rose morning light that warms while it illumines. Then she will brine you on a silver ,plate-warmer your cup of chocolate, and foaming, which you will drink from the warmer itself, launching the while your rusks served on a little gold toast rack, kept hoi in its turn by a little live charcoal, sprinkled with vanilla to perfume the air. After \ou have taken your chocolate you will doze again for a couple o!: hours. Then j 7 ou will put on a dishabille of pink satin, lined with swansdown, enveloping the whole body from liond to foot. The waistband and the fastening of the neck of this garment must be of vel\ el, so as to be warm to the touch. You may now pass into the bathroom, the atmosphere of which will be kept at an agreeable temperature by little en«t<! of rose-scented vapour pumped through ;..■ ...j t ; airo in the wall. It is now time to draw on the stockings, lined with warm, flossy silk, long and perfumed and gartered with Kussian sables, clasped with cats-eye stones in diamonds. The boots are to be lined with swansdown and trimmed with Kussian sables as well. Our precious product of civilisation is now in her dressingroom. This is to be made comfortable by means of an immense fool-warmer some ten feet square, which is to form a kind of second flooring all about the dressing-table. The blinds may be coloured to represent the ardent rays of the sun, and the padding to keep out the draught is to be trimmed with natural flowers. This will make the place look and feel like a summer bower in the depth of winter. The maid may now fumigate the nape of the neck with a little burnt benzoin, to make it supple. We must not forget the hands. These may be kept warm by holding them in two little vessels of enamel with warm water, and shaped like apples. The promised advantage of this arrangement is that it gives the hands that attractive rosiness which warmth can alone impart. The Parisienne avoids, as though it was laden with the breath of pestilence, every touch of cold air. The carriage in which she takes her drive is hermetically closed. She may realise winter by watching the ice and milk men blowing on their fingers through the windows. It is bed time. The lady assumes the vetement ordinaire ; then the second garment — a sort of ulster of white plush, trimmed with ostrich feathers at the neck and wrists. The nightcap, of white satin, should bo trimmed with feathers of the same bird, and, for additional warmth, a little turtle dove may be fastened above the left ear. The very hands are to have their nightcap, gloves of pink kid, lined with plush and fastened by elastics (in pink chenille), so as not to check the circulation. The bed is to be heated by the fumes of burnt lime, flowers,

and \iolets. Enfin you will drink just before going to sleep, a light crenic de sabillon, nice and hot; made with two fresh eggs and a glass of Madeira. Good night ! — La Vie Parisienne.