FASHIONS AND PERSONAL DEFECTS.

Western Star, Issue 426, 12 March 1881, Page 2 (Supplement)

FASHIONS AND PERSONAL DEFECTS.

The Figaro reminds its readers how most of the fashions of past times were due to the anxiety of some reigning beauty either to conceal a blemish or display a charm. La belle Ferronniere had the misfortune to burn her forehead. The accident left an awkward scar, which the famous beauty craftily covered with a gem, and from that time all the ladies of the French Court—who were not ugly and venomous—wore precious jewels on their brows. Anne of Austria had lovely arms ; but small is the worth of beauty from the sight retired. The Queen shortened her sleeves to show her charms, and all the artists of the day had to paint wrists and elbows as well as hands and faces. Madame de Pompadour was little, and so she thought it best to wear high heels—indeed Louis XIV. was of the same opinion and for the same reason, so that when he died we read that his insignificant stature astonished his courtiers, and gave a very literal illustration of the motto, Mors sola fatetor quantula sunt hominum corpuscula. But Madame de Pom* padour, as well as being a short woman, was also a grgat invalid, and ao she introduced those beautiful dressing-gowns knotted with lace and ribbon which soon were worn at every court in Europe. Poor Marie Antoinette in her anxiety to display her lovely blonde ghevulube, piled her flaxen locks upon a cushion and wore the crown of France several inches above her head ; while the Empress - Josephine, to exhibit her figure, at once Greek and Creole, invented cachemire, iput I brought its use into fashion. r fh\ , S> a t we come to our own tip\pg au,d ppv Own princess ; but ipst the transition might seem too audacious, the, thohiglitml' jouvmdist introduces; ii’uy a guai-deif’ The sceptre 9A fashion (he says) has fallen into her hands, since there are no more sovereigns in France. She wears on her swan-like neck ruches of lace, and velvet collars ornamented with silver carvings,