injury from a hard substance, an ivory or wooden plaything, possibly.
Some children do not get any teeth before they are a year old, though
six months is usually looked upon as the commencement of dentition. In
selecting a baby's toys, it is necessary to see that they are not hard
enough to hurt the mouth, or rough, so as to scratch and inflame it, as a
child naturally tries to bite everything it can lay hands on. Common cheap
toys are objectionable, as the paint comes off on the mouth and face. A
plain ring of bone or ivory, tied by a broad string of tape or ribbon to a
child's waist, will amuse it for hours, and is perfectly safe. Knit dolls
are excellent, and the old style "rag baby" is worth a dozen of wax or
composition. If a child has a plaything that will be likely to scratch its
mouth or put out its eyes, it should be held by the nurse or mother, and
never trusted to its powerless little hands.
"THE READING CIRCLE OF E., PA.," will find "Markland," by the author of
"Margaret Maitland," and the "Memoir of Mrs. Ware," added to their list.
We think the plan an excellent one; and, as the books are to be taken in
turn when read through, do not see how any ill feeling can grow out of it.
We should advise them to take "Household Words," if they can afford but
one English magazine.
"MRS. S."--Flannel will not answer the purpose. A half handkerchief of
oiled silk, bound with ribbon or flannel binding. Nursery aprons of
gingham or chintz, with an oil-silk lining, are much used.
"A. L. S."--For grafting, we have seen the following highly recommended in
a paper read before a State agricultural society: Two-thirds resin to one
of common beeswax. It will not melt or run.
"A YOUNG AUTHOR" has need of "good courage." In presenting his MSS. to a
publisher, send it by express or post, _prepaid_, with a plain, sensible
letter on the subject of the book, and leave it to him or his editor
to praise it. Never say "that a partial friend, or friends, advise its
publication." If you wish it done, you need offer no excuse; if not, keep
it to yourself. Do not expect to make a fortune on your first venture. If
you can have it printed free of expense, it is all you ought reasonably to
expect. Many are glad to do this. Remember that poems rarely pay for print
and binding at the present time, and no young writer can be a finished and
original essayist. The essay, above all other forms of composition, needs
purity of style, original thought, acute observation, and wide experience.
"MRS. K.," of White Plains.--We would recommend "Kane's Arctic
Expedition," and "St. Herndon's Valley of the Amazon;" they are the most
popular recent books of travel, and suitable for family reading.
"ALICE" will find we have attended to her request. Cambric sets are still
fashionable.
Fashions.
NOTICE TO LADY SUBSCRIBERS.
Having had frequent applications for the purchase of jewelry, millinery,
etc., by ladies living at a distance, _the Editress of the Fashion
Department_ will hereafter execute commissions for any who may desire it,
with the charge of a small percentage for the time and research required.
Bridal wardrobes, spring and autumn bonnets, dresses, jewelry, bridal
cards, cake-boxes, envelopes, etc. etc., will be chosen with a view to
economy, as well as taste; and boxes or packages forwarded by express to
any part of the country. For the last, distinct directions must be given.
_Orders, accompanied by checks for the proposed expenditure, to be
addressed to the care of L. A. Godey, Esq., who will be responsible for
the amount, and the early execution of commissions._
_No order will be attended to unless the money is first received._
Instructions to be as minute as is possible, accompanied by a note
of the height, complexion, and general style of the person, on which
_much depends_ in choice. Dress goods from Levy's or Stewart's; cloaks,
mantillas, or talmas, from Brodie's, 51 Canal Street, New York; bonnets
from Miss Wharton's; jewelry from Bailey's or Warden's, Philadelphia, or
Tiffany's, New York, if requested.
DESCRIPTION OF FASHIONS FOR JUNE.
_Fig. 1st._--Walking-dress of green taffeta, a skirt and basque. The
skirt is made on a band, very full, long, and plain. The basque is close,
and much sloped at the hip. It will be noticed that it is very long,
approaching the size of the velvet street basques worn last summer.
Sleeves demi-long, and flowing, finished with three ruffles, pinked. Large
collar of cambric embroidery. Bonnet of drawn taffeta, the same shade as
the dress, a light plume at the right. A simple full cap of blonde inside
the brim. Rich scarf, oriental style.
_Fig. 2d._--A graceful and serviceable riding-dress, one of the best
styles we have had for several seasons, being at once suited to the road
and becoming to the figure. The skirt is on a band, or under waist, the
ordinary fulness and length. The jacket, with its coat sleeves and rolling
collar, fits the figure easily, and rounds over the hips into a short
basque. A buff chemisette, in the fashion of a close vest, finished by
upright linen collar and small flat necktie. Beaver hat and plume, the
crown rather higher than has been worn of late. The material may be either
habit cloth, cashmere, or merino. Habit cloth, being heavier, seems more
serviceable for the road, and keeps in place better.
CHITCHAT UPON NEW YORK AND PHILADELPHIA FASHIONS FOR JUNE.
This is the favorite month in the year for the display of light and airy
styles in our Atlantic cities, the few who have gone to their country
houses in advance of the season being replaced by the arrival of Southern
and Western belles, refitting at Stewart's, Levy's, Lawson's, Miss
Wharton's, and every other fashionable establishment, for the summer
campaign at Saratoga and Newport. Every resident has her favorite spring
walking-dress, in which to pay her last round of calls, when she leaves
her P. P. C., and is "not at home," until autumn comes again, to her dear
five hundred friends.
These street dresses are mostly silks, varying from the rich dark poplins
and _moir antique_ to the lighter _glacé_ stripes and plaids, or the India
foulards, with their close glossy folds. The heavier silks are usually
entirely plain in the skirt; even _poult de soie_, the heavy plain-colored
silk that comes next to a poplin in richness of effect, has usually only
a deep hem at the bottom of the skirt. The basques and sleeves have all
the novelties of style and decoration. For these there are new galloons
and ribbons appearing daily, matching the silks in shade, or used as a
contrast, as taste may dictate. Velvet uncut, plain, and embossed; _moir
antique_, richly watered; brocaded and embroidered ribbons, varying from
one to three inches in width, are used for these heavier stuffs, which are
now nearly out of season.
The lighter silks are in stripes and plaids of infinite variety. Green
and violet seem to be the favorite shades. These are made with flounces,
usually three, nearly the same width, the top one measuring the same from
the top of the skirt. Fringe in alternate stripes, to correspond with
the silk, is used where much trimming is desired on the edge of these
flounces, or they may be simply bound or pinked. Pinking is used more
than of late, and, in every establishment where it is done, there are a
great variety of patterns, many of them elaborate. We have seen a very
tasteful walking-dress, of violet and white plaid--a "quadrilled" silk,
the manufacturer calls it--made with three flounces as above, the basque
trimmed with fringe (alternate white and violet, instead of being mixed,
as was the style) three inches deep. This was, in turn, headed by violet
satin ribbon an inch wide, box-plaited on, and continuing around the front
of the corsage. The sleeves were flowing, with three rows of fringe much
narrower, but exactly corresponding, also headed by the plaiting, and
fastened on the inside by a knot of rich brocaded ribbon with flowing
ends. This, of course, had an exceedingly elegant effect, and could only
be worn by a tall, full figure. We describe it to show how elaborate and
costly the trimming of dresses are made the present season, while the
materials, silks, tissues, _barèges_, etc., remain much the same as
the past year. Box-plaited ribbons, whether plain, pearl-edged satin,
brocaded, or plaided, are much used. It is usual to allow twice and a half
the desired length of the trimming in purchasing them. Bows of broader
and more expensive ribbon are still used for the sleeves and front of the
corsage.
For thin materials, as _barège_, tissues, etc., in all the fanciful names
by which they are called, most of which are manufactured by the importers'
clerks, there is every variety of trimming in the shape of gauze ribbons.
They have usually a coarse thread in the plain edge, by which they can be
drawn up into quillings, ruches, and even box-plaitings. So many yards are
used in a full trimming, and it is so expensive, never less, and usually
more than a quarter of a dollar a yard, that the trimming and making often
cost as much, and even more than the original material.
No city dressmaker, with any pretence to a good style, will undertake to
make a dress for less than three dollars. In the really fashionable shops,
$4 75 is the charge for making a basque waist, apart from the skirt--silk,
buttons, all trimmings charged separately in the bill; so that you have
from seven to nine, and even fifteen dollars, to add to the cost of your
two yards and a half of silk, the quantity usually purchased for a basque.
We have seen no more tasteful bonnets at any establishment than at Genin's
bazaar, which, as most of our readers know, has been elegantly fitted up,
and so arranged as to be nearly double the original size, thus leaving
plenty of room for a large millinery and dressmaking establishment,
carrying out more fully the first design of Mr. Genin. The workwomen have
two large and cheerful apartments assigned to them, and the show-room
adjoining is always thronged. The nursery department has been removed
to this more spacious suite, and the space below the dome is now filled
by rows of industrious workers, with the silks and muslins they are
manufacturing for the juveniles expressly.
Leghorn bonnets are still worn, though in July and August more dress hats
of silk, crape, and lace will be seen. The Leghorns are in unusually good
shapes, and trimmed very simply, either with straw, marabout plumes, or
plain white ribbons. We speak of the prevailing styles; of course, many
tastes are to be suited, and some people would flounce a _moir antique_
with the same, if they thought it would look more expensive, and for this
class of community ribbons and garlands cannot be too profuse even on a
Leghorn, which, if handsome, is generally considered, like a rich silk,
to "have no need of ornament." There is a profusion of plain straws of
every shape and cost. We notice that they come close, or nearly so, under
the chin, and the whole bonnet is a gradual slope from the brim to the
crown. They are trimmed in every variety of style, ruches of narrow ribbon
box-plaited on, numerous flat bows of ribbon an inch in width disposed as
a wreath, etc. etc. Ribbons, as a general thing, are much narrower than
the past season, and those long scarf-like strings are not considered in
good taste. We have before spoken of the profusion of trimming inside the
brim. Blonde caps--a narrow edge of blonde usually sewn upon a broad or
wash-blonde lace--are usually almost invariably used to soften the effect
of the flowers and ribbon bows that encircle the face. The flowers used
are of the most delicate description, made of crape, in strict imitation
of nature. Flag flowers, convolvulus, lilac sprays, field violets, and all
the more delicate blossoms, are exquisitely reproduced.
FASHION.
[Illustration: Godey's Latest Fashions.]
* * * * *
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| TRANSCRIBER NOTES: |
| |
| P. 486. 'Novado' changed to 'Novada'. |
| P. 501. 'toffe' changed to 'toffee' |
| P. 506. 'com' changed to 'come'. |
| P. 507. 'mocassin' changed to 'moccasin'. |
| P. 561. 'nna' changed to 'Anna'. |
| Fixed various punctuation. |
+-------------------------------------------------+