Page:Peterson's Magazine 1867 a.pdf/237

 EDITOR'S EDITORIAL CHIT- CHAT. " MAKING CARD- HOUSES." -How earnestly the little fellow, in our principal embellishment, watches lest his cardhouse should tumble down! We, who are grown up, are inclined, at first, to laugh at him. We say to ourselves, in a self-contented way, "with what little things children are amused." And yet, after all, the child is as wise, in his day and generation, as we are. If being pleased with illusions is folly, we are all, old and young, foolish alike. The wisest of us build card-houses ; the wisest of us tremble lest our card-houses should tumble down. Mrs. Jones, who is ambitious for her daughter, and who thinks she has secured a " good match" at last, passes many an anxious hour lest the engagement should " go off," and her cardhouse go to pieces. Mr. Brown, the great speculator, who risked his all on the Patent Petroleum Company, and is now ruined, had countless sleepless nights while he watched his " card-house," and while success or failure was in suspense. " Oh ! if we could only live on the Fifth Avenue," says Mrs. Mode. "My dear," her husband would say, if he was frank and honest, " we cannot afford it : we shail only, if we go there, build a card-house that will tumble down." Yet it is as well, perhaps, we should have some illusions. Making card-houses is but another name for building castles in the air. Could we see life exactly as it is, could we prophecy the future, we should not be near so happy. All winter, Mrs. Brown and her daughters look forward to their summer trip to Newport, Saratoga, Cape May, or Sharon. The prospect is a source of never-failing delight. Perhaps, after all, they are disappointed. The reality falls short of what they imagined. But nothing can cheat them of the pleasure they experienced in the anticipation. They go home, in the fall, with their card-house in ruins; but that is better than having had no card-house at all. Let us confess the truth, those, who have nothing to look forward to, are to be pitied ! People, who never build cardhouses, may be wise, but they are hardly happy. Even in the smallest things let us continue to build card-houses. Let us try and believe that all our friends love us, that our lot is pleasanter than that of others, even that we are better dressed, or better bred, or better hearted, or somehow, at least, better than our neighbors. These sort of illusions, if we do not carry them too far, if we do not grow conceited, will do us no harm, but, on the contrary, will make us more contented. The pleasantest people are those who build card-houses in this way. It is only when we spend all our time in such illusions, that we miss the mark and are unhappy.

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CORAL, and especially the pale pink variety, is again very fashionable. It has been reintroduced by the farfamed Mr. Worth, of Paris, who uses it lavishly in the decoration of dresses. For example, he trims white cashmere dresses with fringes of rough coral ; he fastens black gros grain dresses with coral buttons, using buttons also round the armholes instead of fringe ; he edges the tunics of balldresses, and especially those made of white silk, with coral fringe. Tunics are frequently embroidered in sprays of coral; beads being introduced among the work so as to give it more relief. With brocaded dresses, trimmings made with precious stones are in vogue, because gimp is not considered sufficiently rich for such very handsomo materials; consequently, buttons made of lapis lazuli, jasper, aventurine, and amber, are in great demand. The milky-amber is also to be seen on bonnets, head-dresses, opera-cloaks, and even on dresses. WHITE TEETH, according to the British Medical Journal, are the result, principally, of careful diet and its attendant good health. It quotes, in proof of this assertion, the prac tice of the Arabs. These people live on couscoussou and coffee, prepared without milk or sugar : a diet devoid of the acids which occur in eivilized dietaries. They rinse the mouth always at each of their four or five daily ablutions, filtering the water slowly between the teeth. They never take their food and drink at more then " very moderate heat." This protects the enamel, the conservative envelope of the teeth. To increase the whiteness of the teeth, of which they are proud, they chew, once a week, a piece of an indigenous root, called sondte. When partly softened, they withdraw it, and rub the teeth with this, and then with white woolen stuff. To what sobriety and modesty of diet the emulation of the teeth of these savages should lead us! OUR MAMMOTH FASHION-PLATES continue to be as popular as ever. They are declared, by the newspaper press, to be the finest things of their kind in any periodical. We may add that they may be depended on as reliable representations of the latest styles. In this particular, we believe, they have no rivals. IF WOMEN Would cultivate their minds more, they would be more companionable to intelligent men. Many a husband goes out for his evenings, many a lover tires of his betrothed, because he finds her conversation insipid. Ladies, try not only to look pretty, but to talk well, also.

A HUSBAND, it is said, is always in a better humor after a good dinner. If this is so, it is a strong reason why a THE COLORED SLIPPER PATTERN, which we give in this wife should be a good cook, or, at least, capable of teaching number, is a very pretty affair. Remember, every number her servants to cook well. of "Peterson," throughout the year, has some similar IN CHOOSING PAPER FOR A ROOM, avoid that which has a design, printed in the appropriate color, or colors ; and variety of colors, or a large, showy figure, as no furniture "Peterson" is the only magazine that goes to this expense ! can appear to advantage with such. Large-figured paperEverybody is talking of the superb pattern for a " Banner ing makes a small room look smaller. Screen," which appeared in our January number; and a letter, now before us, declares that it alone is worth the NOTE PAPER may be effectually scented by keeping in subscription price. " The Railway Traveling Bag," which your desk, among the paper, a sachet of the scent preferwe gave in the February number, is also praised every- red-musk, violet, etc. Ifthe paper be not too dry, it will where. readily take the scent, and retain it for a long time. COSMETICS are very dangerous things, sometimes. The THE PRICE OF PAPER still continues as high as ever. But, best cosmetic is exercise, early rising, and plenty of fresh notwithstanding this, we are giving more reading matter, water. this year, than any magazine at the same price. 232