ONLY SIX !

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8616, 30 October 1889, Page 2

ONLY SIX !

A stoby was told by the late M. De Villemessont of a Parisian dressmaker that brought her an immense amount of business. Mdme. C. was honored by the commands of the Baroness X., a lady noted for her fine figure, and small, but not too small, waist. She was extremely anxious that not an iota should be added to its circumference, and one evening when she was going first to a dinner party and then to a ball, awaited the arrival of Mdme. C. with a magnificent toilette with some impatience. She .was dressed in all other respects when the dressmaker was announced, but when the new dress was put on, and about to be laced, she declared it too small, and almost with tears she exclaimed that even if it were fastened she could never dance in it. " Mais »i" said the high priestess of the toilet, " Madame can dance, but she cannot dine." " Not dine I" exclaimed the Baroness; " but I am ravenously hungry !" " Then Madame cannot wear her new robe," was the imperturbable answer. After some parley it was settled that Madame should eat a few oysters at once, but be only a spectator at the dinner to which she was invited. A plate of oysters was brought, and the dressmaker mounted guard while they were eaten. Six disappeared, but as the Baroness was about to attack the seventh she cried " Stop! not another mouthful, or I cannot answer for the gown !" Baroness X. was equal to the occasion, and at once sent away the tempting bivalves. The dress fitted her like a glove, and was the envy of every salon in which she was seen. The tale soon spread, and the nicety of the fit that would not allow of swallowing a seventh oyater was a nine days' wonder. There can be no reason of any cogency why dancing should not constitute an •leinent of liberal education in tin's country as well as in " foreign parts." It is a salutary recreation, exercising well nigh every muscle of the human body, imparting suppleness to the limbs and case to tho gait. It brings " lads and lasses" into harmless and exhilarating association, is frequently a pleasant preliminary to desirable acquaintanceship, and ia favoured alike by little Cupid and by the tutelary genius of matrimony, whose torch is at least as frequently set alight in the ballroom as on the lawn tennis ground or the river. —Telegraph. Christmas cards of local scenery for sending Homo ; best kind you can sendMail closes Saturday November 2nd. W. A. Collia, Devon-street, opposite Criterion Hotel.—Advt.