Page:Peterson's Magazine 1862.pdf/502

 EDITOR'S EDITORIAL CHIT- CHAT. GARIBALDI DRESSES. CHILDREN'S GARIBALDIS.-Garibaldi dresses still continue fashionable. They are particularly suitable for the warm weather, which is now approaching. For children they are even prettier than for adults. In the front of the number we give two engravings of new Garibaldi dresses for children. One is high in the neck. It is suitable for a child from four to six years old. To enable mothers to make it themselves we give the dimensions: length of skirt thirteen inches, without turnings or hem ; length of shoulder, six inches ; length of sleeve-band, ten inches ; length of wristband, six inches ; length of neck, thirteen inches. This costume may be made in almost any kind of material, such as mohair, mousseline-de-laine, French merino, tweed, etc., etc., but is prettier, and more stylish, made with a body of bright blue or scarlet, worn with any kind of skirt. The body has a pleat down the front, should hang over in a loose manner, and may be fastened up the front with hooks and eyes, or buttons and button-holes. It is gathered together on the shoulders to the length mentioned above, and gathered into the band at the waist, according to the size of the child. The sleeve consists of nearly a straight piece, gathered together at the join to the size of the band, and the band placed over it. This band may be trimmed with buttons or velvet, or both. The sleeve is gathered at the top and bottom, and is put into a band at the wrist. In sewing in the sleeve, let the band come rather forward. A sash is usually worn with this costume, placed on the right side. Now the warmer weather is approaching, our little dress will be found extremely pretty, and suitable for out-door costume, letting the child wear a silk handkerchief, or something equally warm, underneath the body. The other Garibaldi is low in the neck. Its dimensions are: length of skirt, twelve inches; length of body, fourteen inches down the front, one and a halfinch on the shoulder, and eleven inches under the arms ; length of body behind, twelve inches; length of puff for sleeve, fourteen inches ; depth of puff for sleeve, five inches ; length of sleeve-band, nine inches. Take the pattern, in lining, of one of the child's low frocks, see that it fits nicely, and is sufficiently long waisted. Then cut out a high body, arrange it over the low lining, and cut it off round the neck to the shape of the lining, allowing it to hang, both back and front, nicely over the skirt. After gathering the top of the neck to the size of the lining, it should be corded, and finished off with a little worked tucker tacked down. The dress is made to fasten behind-the lining, by means of hooks and eyes, and the loose body by buttons and button-holes. The sleeve consists of a full puff put into a band, and trimmed with work. A small pointed epaulet ornaments the top of the sleeve. A sash is also worn with this little costume, which gives it a dressy and pretty finish.

THE SECRET OF A CHARMING MANNER.-Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine chats thus upon this subject :-" There are two sorts of fine manners- the one, which expresses an easy sense of fitness for every company, lofty, a shade supercilious, but really good; the other, which confers benefit on others, and which must proceed from deeper and kindlier sources than self-appreciation, self-respect, and the habit of good company. One which, if it does not imply a more excellent nature than common, shows a nature whose best qualities are now within our reach-a gift to societythe manner which conveys to us the idea that we are worth 496

TABLE. pleasing, that we have inspired an interest, and waked sympathy. We rise in our own opinion in such a presence; we feel ourselves appreciated, our powers are quickened, we are at ease, and show ourselves at our best. What is it that makes some women so charming-some men so plea sant? What quality that diffuses an aroma, an influence as of rose-leaves about them? that manifests itself in hands that receive us with graceful warmth, in eyes that beam with kindly pleasure, in smiles so genuine, so tender-in the general radiance of reception? What a benignant sunshine of welcome ! how soothing to be cared for! how easily the time passes ! And what constitutes this charm? for we are not supposing it to arise from any deep moral or intellectual superiority, which, truth to say, does not often exhibit itself in this way. Surely it is a natural sweetness, an inherent tenderness of sympathy-pervading rather than deep- acting upon a desire to please. There are some persons on whom society acts almost chemically, compelling them to be charming. It is part of themselves to meet advances, to labor in their graceful way, to create a favorable impression and to give pleasure ; and yet, perhaps, our arrival was, after all, ill-timed-our approach at least was not welcome-we interrupted, we necessitated an effort. If at night we could overhear our friend's summary of the day, we might find ourselves classed as one of its troubles and hindrances : and, as we have said, we might unjustly feel a twinge of ill-usage. But is it not something not to have been made uncomfortable at the time- to have spent a happy hour instead of sitting on thorns, as with certain of our acquaintances we should certainly have been made to do? They are not necessarily more sincere because they take no pains to conceal that we are in their way. The kindly welcomer has been as true to his character all the while as our surly friend has been to his. It would have cost too much ; it would have been impossible for him to be ungracious. Thus he is neither insincere, for he has sincerely wished to please, nor, what might seem the other alternative, affected, for he has been acting according to nature."

FLANNEL.- Flannel should be worn, in summer and winter, during the day, but should be taken off at night. In summer it allows the perspiration to pass off without condensing upon the skin, and prevents the evil effects of the rapid changes of temperature, to which we are liable in our changeable climate, when out of doors. In winter, as a non-conductor of heat, it is a protection against cold. At night the flannel jacket or jersey should be exposed to a free current of air and allowed thoroughly to dry; it should never be put in a heap of clothes by the bedside. Flannel is usually only worn over the chest and abdomen. PROTECTION AGAINST MOTHS.-The best security against the depredation of moths is to place the muff, boa, cuffs, etc., in a glazed-holland bag, and tie them closely up. Supposing them to be entirely free from the moth when thus enclosed, no harm can happen to them, as these winged destroyers cannot enter to lay their eggs. The moths that fly about in the dark do not destroy cloth of any kind. WARM AND COLD COLORS.-A subscriber asks the meaning of warm and cold colors. Warm colors are those which partake more or less of red ; cold colors are those fro which red is entirely absent. Blue is decidedly cold ; so is green, in a rather less degree. The warmest colors are red and orange.