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2 , I THE Mysmzzy “r
ery picturesque,‘ and the monster hotel itself stootin. ‘
a commanding eminence, surrounded by darkly beau-
tiful pine woods, andwas .fitted up with everytluxury
of modern civilization,including every specimen of
bath that humair ingenuity, had devised, the com-
pany looked blankly at thc'returns on their balance-
sheet, and one or two directors murmured audible
complaints at special, board meetings, against the
fashionable physicians who had notgaeted up to,thcir
promiscs,or proved deserving of the substantial bonus
which had been more than hinted at, as a. reward for
recommcnderl patients.
On this December morning, some halfdozen la-
dies, of various ages and stability of person,‘ and all
suffering, in a greater or less degree, from various‘
fashionable complaints-such as neuralgia, indiges-
tion,Trheumatism, or its aristocratic?‘ cousin, rheu-
matic gout--were in -Room No- 1" of the Turkish
The female form is generally supposed to -be'“ di-
vine,”.and poets and painters have, fronrtime imme-
morial, rhapsodized over “ beauty unadorncd.” It is
probable that such ‘poets and painters have never
been gratified by such a‘ vision "of -feminine charms
as Room No. >1 presented. - i
Light and airy garments were, certainly, to be
seen, but ‘not-forms. It was, of course, a question
of taste, as to whether the fat women or the thin wo4
men looked the worst-probably thelformer, if one
might judge by the two samples of the lady who had
arched feet, and the lady who had‘ not.
Both were staying ‘at the hotel, and were respec-
tively named Mrs. M-asterman, and Mrs. Ray Jeffer-
son: Mrs. Masterman was a widow. Mrs. Ray Jeffer.
son,had a husband. He was an American, blessed
with many dollars, amassed on the strength of an
“invention” -When Mrs. Jefferson spoke of the in-
vention, people usually supposed it to be of ame-
chanieal nature. As they became more familiar with
him, they learned that it was something “ chemical.”
No one quite knepwuwhat. but it became associated
in their minds with “ vats” and “boilers,” and large
Works somewhere: “ down Boston w.y.” There
could be no doubt‘ of the excellence of the inven-
tion, because Mr.‘ Ray Jclferson said it was known
and used all over Eu-rope, and its success was backed
by dollars to an apparently ‘unlimited extent. The
inventor and his wife had sumptuous rooms, but they
were not avcrsetto mixing with their “ fellow-man,”
or rather “ woman,”-for Mrs. Jelterson rejoiced in
the possession of certain Parisian toilets, and was not
selfish enough to keep them only for the eyes of her
lord‘.-and master. ‘
1.4’ TURKISH 134 TH.
‘ She was grudgingly btituiiiversally acknowledged -
to be the best-dressedxwotnaln in the hotel-except of
course, when she was in the 'l‘urkish baths, which...
unfortunately reduced its Kfrequentcrs ‘to one level -of, ;
appareling-a garment which madeup in"simplicity-
for any luck of elegance.‘ ' s
The shape was always the same‘-viz. , short in the
skirt, low in the necl<,'and bare as to sleeves. -The .
material was generally pink cotton, or white with ‘a- K
red border. . " ' l ‘ V ..
‘Mrs. Jefferson was quite American enough to havey
“ notions” on dressmore "or less original and extrctva-, -
gant. Finding her companion was unusually silent -
this morning, she gave up her thoughts to the devis-
ing of a special toilet for the bath. .
These garments were so hideous, shestoldvherself,
that it was no ' wonder people looked such guys in;
them. Still there was no'reason"'whv she should not: -'
have something -chic and ‘novel for.11erself-some- ‘
thing which should arouse the envy of, andmake the -I L
wearer appear quite ditferentrto, the other women.
The choice of style was‘easycnougli-something
Grecian andartistic-but the material discomposed."
her. It was ‘hard1y,"possible to‘have‘albath.of this
description without one’s ‘garments getting into a :"
moist and clinging condition-leaving alone the after
processes of shampooing, douche, and plunge.-’ So
silk, or satin, or woolen material was out of-the ques- "
tion, and cotton was common, not to say vulgar.
She knitted lierbrowsiwithla vigor demanded byso
absorbing a subject: the white head-cloth fell oif, and
she felt that her frlngewas all out of curl and lay -“
straight on her forehead in most unbecoming fashion:
That also would have to be considered in the question -'
of costume-a head-dress which'should combine use
and ornament. The idea of having only a wet, white‘
rag on 'one’s head. No wonder -people looked ‘‘ob- '
jects I ” Per'l1aps it would be better to cell the hair
about the brow and have no fringe, or at least only a
few loose locks that would look equally well, straight i
or curled.
As-Mrs. Ravdefterson was taking all thisbitrouble‘
about her personal appearance, when that.'appear-
ance would only gratify the sight of a few members
of her own sex .who were generally too much taken r
up with their own ailments or complaints to care what ‘=5
their fellow-sufferers looked like, it shows thefallacy:
ofa popular superstition that women only care to
dress for men. Believe me, no.'-they'dress for egg.
ics, the critics of their own sear, who with onecon-
temptuous glance can sweep atollet into insignificance .-
and make its wearer miserable, or, by some envious
approbation, are reluctantly compelled to bestow on '
it the seal of success. . - - i . 4 , .
f