FASHIONS OF THE PERIOD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 20, 6 September 1889, Page 20

FASHIONS OF THE PERIOD.

(From Truth.)

Thk whole system of life in society is now arranged on the assumption that the married women are to get all the fun, and that the girls are to look on at it. The fashions of drew favour this unnatural arrangement. They am devised so as at once to hide the charms of youth and the ravages of decay. As one walks the streets or parks nowadays one seams to be surrounded by a female population " made up to look 30," not more ; but, on ihe other hand, not a day less. Of course, if you examine the ladies carefully you perceive that they are not all exactly of the same age ; but, superficially regarded, they are as much alike as carefully rolled-up umbrellas. If critically scrutinised, one umbrella will, indeed, be seen to be old and the other new, but, looked at casually, they are just alike. Perhaps the greatest of feminine charms, and assuredly the first to go, is the neck, but for necks the wise and wily matron who has determined never to grow old has now substituted collars. Where is now the graceful and undulating suppleness of girlhood 7 We seek it in vain in tbe pin-cushion plumpness and poker- like rigidity of the " tailor-made " costume. Into these hideous cylinders of cloth tbe female form divine (be it old or yeuug, plump or scraggy) i« now forced by pressure, probably (I have no actual knowledge of the fact) hydraulic. If the constriction does not produce lumps and protuberances where fashion decrees that lumps and protuberances ought to be, then the required lumps are constructed by means of inserted wadding or other occult contrivances. In fact, women are now dressed very much as Guy Fawkeses are made or candles are moulded, and when so dressed or moulded they are (except to most careful and microsoopio scrutiny) all alike as peas, or sheep, or bees, or negroes. The erase for painting the face, now all but universal, must also not be lost sight of. The general result is that, so far as appearance goes, the young have little or no advantage over the middle-aged, or even tbe old. And then the cunningness of age steps in, its craftiness, tUi experience, its knowledge, its use of the world. All these things place youth, onoe supreme, at a terrible discount.

According to the estimate of the publishers of theCbicago directory for 1889, about to be issued, the present population of Chicago is over 900,000.

An opportunity is offered to advertisers of obtaining spaces at the corner of Princes and Manor streets, Duuedin, in view of the principal entrance to the Exhibition. It is needless to point out the advantages of the situation.

Mr. W. Wood has taken over the well-known and much frequented refreshment and dining rooms in Rattray street, lately oonducted by Mr. T. Broadway. The rooms will, as usual, be managed so as to secure in every way the convenience and comfort of patrons. Orders'for catering of all kinds will be promptly attended to. Messrs. M. Donagby and Co., Dunedin, to meet demand, are manufacturing a second quality of binder twine, which will be found superior to aoy yet made for ordinary use. The firm, however, especially recommend their prize medal Manilla, which they guaran* toe m sufficient for all possible requirements,