Page:A hairdresser's experience in high life.djvu/271

Rh pictures of royal families. On the second floor were five elegant rooms thrown open—a gentleman's smoking-room and dressing-room, and two dressing-rooms for the ladies; the fifth was a coffee-room. A great deal of beauty and elegance was displayed on that night. As for the hostess, she is the most queenly lady in our city. Among her guests were several belles. These grand entertainments she generally gives once or twice a year.

I will now give you a description of a calico ball, which was given a few winters ago by one of our first ladies. I had often heard of calico balls, but was never fortunate enough to be at one before. It created quite an excitement through the city; those who were going were in a state of excitement about what they would wear, and those who were not were continually talking about what they would have worn if they had been invited. The hostess wore a dark chintz, very plain and neat; her sister-in-law wore a rich colored chintz, with a very long train, its figures representing clusters of roses; it resembled a very old fashioned brocade; her costume altogether was after the old style of Madame Pompadour. Mrs. wore a dress with delicate blue stripes, made with all the simplicity of a school girl. Mrs. Colonel H's dress very much resembled that of the hostess's sister; her coiffure was of the old style of Madame Pompadour. Many of the dresses at a little distance, looked like the most elegant brocade. One lady, a Miss R. wore a corn colored dress, her head-dress and bosom piece were composed of pop-corn. Among the rest was a party of ladies who all wore bright crimson dresses. Mrs. P's dress was a plain, red oil calico, with