Chapter XIII: Esther's Narrative (6)

"SIR--Your esteemed favor of the 10th ult. came duly to
hand, and, agreeably to your desire, we have the honor to
forward to you our quarterly sheet of photographic
likenesses of our Female Clients. We were very sorry that
the Ladies you fixed upon in our last year's sheets were all
engaged before your duly honored application arrived at our
Office; but we hope to be more fortunate in our present
sheet, which we flatter ourselves contains some highly
eligibles. We should, however, recommend as early an
application as possible, as, this being leap-year, Ladies
are looking up, and considerably risen in the Market, and
shares in their affections and fortunes are now much above
par. Should you not be particular to a shade, we should
respectfully beg leave to recommend No. 7, her father having
very large estates near Timbuctoo, to which she will be sole
heiress in case of her twenty-seven brothers dying without
issue. And should the Great African East and West Railway be
carried forward, the value of the Estates would be
prodigiously increased. No. 8 is a sweet poetess, whose
'Remains' would probably be a fortune to any Literary Gent.
to publish after her decease. No. 9 has been much approved
by Gents., having buried eight dear partners, and is an
eighth time inconsolable.

"Further particulars may be had on application at our
Office.

"We beg also, respectfully, to inform you that your esteemed
portrait was duly received and appeared in our last Gent.'s
sheet of Clients; but we are sorry to say as yet no
inquiries respecting it have come to hand.

"Permit us further to remind you that a year's subscription
was due on the 1st of January, which, with arrears amounting
to £4 4_s._, we shall be greatly obliged by your remitting
by return of post.

"With most respectful impatience, awaiting a renewal of your
ever-esteemed applications, and assuring you that they shall
be duly attended to with all dispatch, secrecy, and
punctuality.

"We have the honor to be, esteemed Sir,

"Your most obedient Servants,

"HOOKHAM AND SPLICER,

"_Sole Matrimonial Agents for Great Britain_.

"P.S.--We find our female clients run much on mustaches.
Would you allow us humbly to suggest the addition of them to
your portrait in our next Quarterly Sheet? It could be done
at a slight expense, and would probably insure your being
one of our fortunate clients."

* * * * *

LADY.--"Goodness Bridget! what is that you have on?"

BRIDGET.--"Shure! an' didn't I hear you say these Weskitts was all the fashion? An' so I borrer'd me bruther Pathrick's to wait at the table in."]

* * * * *

FASCINATING YOUNG LADY.--"I dare say you think me a very odd Girl--and indeed, mamma always says I am a giddy, thoughtless creature--and--"

PARTNER.--"Oh, here's a vacant seat, I think."]

* * * * *

YOUNG GENTLEMAN.--"I don't want to hurry you out of the room, old girl, but the fact is--I am going to wash myself."]

* * * * *

PROPRIETOR OF THE DOG.--"Has he been a bitin' on you, sir?"

VICTIM.--"Oh!--Ah!--Ugh!"

PROPRIETOR.--"Vell, I thought as there was somethink the matter with him, cos he wouldn't drink nuffin for two days, and so I vos jist a-goin to muzzle him."]

* * * * *

THE AMERICAN CRUSADERS.

AIR--"_Dunois the Brave_."

OLD HERMIT PETER was a goose
To preach the first Crusade,
And skase e'en GODFREY of Bouillon
The speculation paid;
They rose the banner of the Cross
Upon a foolish plan--
Not like we hists the Stars and Stripes,
To go agin Japan.

All to protect our mariners
The gallant PERRY sails,
Our free, enlightened citizens
A-cruisin' arter whales;
Who, bein' toss'd upon their shores
By stormy winds and seas,
Is wus than niggers used by them
Tarnation Japanese.

Our war-cries they are Breadstuffs, Silks.
With Silver, Copper, Gold,
And Camphor, too, and Ambergris,
All by them crittars sold:
And also Sugar, Tin, and Lead,
Black Pepper, Cloves likewise.
And Woolen Cloths and Cotton Thread,
Which articles they buys.

We shan't sing out to pattern saints
Nor gals, afore we fights,
Like, when they charged the Saracens,
Did them benighted knights:
But "Exports to the rescue, ho!"
And "Imports!" we will cry;
Then pitch the shell, or draw the bead
Upon the ene--my.

We'll soon teach them unsocial coon
Exclusiveness to drop;
And stick the hand of welcome out,
And open wide their shop;
And fust, I hope we shant be forced
To whip 'em into fits,
And chaw the savage loafers right
Up into little bits.

* * * * *

POETICAL COOKERY BOOK.

STEWED DUCK AND PEAS.

AIR--"_My Heart and Lute_."

I give thee all my kitchen lore,
Though poor the offering be;
I'll tell thee how 'tis cooked, before
You come to dine with me:
The Duck is truss'd from head to heels,
Then stew'd with butter well;
And streaky bacon, which reveals
A most delicious smell.

When Duck and Bacon in a mass
You in a stewpan lay,
A spoon around the vessel pass,
And gently stir away:
A table-spoon of flour bring,
A quart of water plain,
Then in it twenty onions fling,
And gently stir again.

A bunch of parsley, and a leaf
Of ever-verdant bay,
Two cloves--I make my language brief--
Then add your Peas you may!
And let it simmer till it sings
In a delicious strain:
Then take your Duck, nor let the string
For trussing it remain.

The parsley fail not to remove,
Also the leaf of bay;
Dish up your Duck--the sauce improve
In the accustom'd way,
With pepper, salt, and other things,
I need not here explain:
And, if the dish contentment brings,
You'll dine with me again.

Fashions for Summer.

Novelty is the distinguishing characteristic of the prevailing fashions. Give us something new in material, is the cry to the manufacturer. Give us something new in form, is the demand made upon the modiste. Both do their best to meet this demand; and both have succeeded. For the present, whatever is new, fantastic, striking, and odd, is admired and adopted. It will doubtless be a work of time to return to simplicity again.

The costumes which we present for the present month, combine originality enough to meet even the present demand, with good taste and elegance--a union not always attainable.

FIG. 1.--Dress of white taffeta with colored figures, a particular pattern for each part of the dress. The ground of the skirt and body is sprinkled with small Pompadour bouquets _en jardinière_, that is to say, with flowers of different colors in graduated shades. The flounces have scolloped edges; the ground is white, and over each scollop is a rich bouquet of various flowers. The body is very high behind; it opens square in front, and the middle of the opening is even a little wider than the top (this cut is more graceful than the straight one). The waist is very long, especially at the sides; the front ends in a rounded point not very long. The bottom of the body is trimmed with a _ruche_, composed of small white ribbons mixed with others. This _ruche_ is continued on the waist, and meets at the bottom of the point. There are three bows of _chiné_ ribbon on the middle of the body. The upper one has double bows and ends; the other two gradually smaller. The sleeves are rather wide, and open a little behind at the side. The opening is rounded; the edge is trimmed with a _ruche_, like the body. There is a small lace at the edge of the body. The lace sleeves are the same form as those of the stuff, but they are longer. Coiffure, _à la jeune Femme_--the parting on the left side; the hair lying in close curls on each side.

FIG. 2.--Redingote of _moire antique_; body high, with six lozenge-shaped openings in front, diminishing in size toward the waist. The edges of these lozenges are trimmed with velvet; the points meet like bands under a button. Through these lozenge openings there appears a white muslin habit-shirt, gathered in small flutes (this muslin, however close, always projects through the openings, under the pressure of the body). The habit-shirt is finished at the neck by two rows of lace. The sleeve, which increases in size toward the bottom, has also lozenge openings, confined by buttons, and through the opening is seen a muslin under-sleeve, puffing a little, plaited length-wise in small flutes and held at the wrist by an embroidered band with lace at the edge. The skirt has nine graduated openings down the front from top to bottom, buttoned like the others, through which is seen a nansouk petticoat, worked with wheels linked together, small at top and larger at bottom. Drawn bonnet of blond and satin. The brim is very open at the sides and lowered a little in front. It is transparent for a depth of four inches, and consists of five rows of gathered blond, on each of which is sewed a narrow white terry velvet ribbon, No. 1. The brim, made of Lyons tulle, is edged with a white satin roll. The band of the crown is Tuscan straw on which are five drawings of white satin. The top of the crown is round, and of white satin; it is puffed in _crevés_. The curtain is blond, like the brim. The ornament consists of a white satin bow, placed quite at the side of the brim and near the edge.--The inside of the brim is trimmed with four rows of blond, each having a narrow pink terry velvet, and a wreath of roses, small near the forehead, larger near the cheeks. Blond is likewise mixed with the flowers.

FIG. 3.--BONNET. Foundation of crèpe; trimming of blond and satin; the curtain of crèpe, edged with narrow blond.

FIG. 4.--Dress of white muslin, the skirt with three deep flounces, richly embroidered. The body, _à basquine_, is lined with pale blue silk; it has a small pattern embroidered round the edge; which is finished by a broad lace set on full. The sleeves have three rows of lace, the bottom one forming a deep ruffle.--Waistcoat of pale blue silk, buttoning high at the throat, then left open, about half way, to show the chemisette; the waist is long, and has small lappets. White lace bonnet, the crown covered with a _fanchonnette_ of lace; rows of lace, about two inches wide, form the front. The bonnet is appropriately trimmed with light and extremely elegant flowers.

FIG. 5.--_Fanchon_ of India muslin, trimmed with pink silk ribbons, forming tufts near the cheek, and a knot on the head.

FIG. 6.--_Pagoda sleeve_ of jaconet, with under-sleeves; trimming relieved with small plaits.

The new materials of the season include some elegant printed cashmeres, bareges, and broche silks, in endless variety as to pattern, and combination of color. There are some beautiful dresses of _lampas, broché_, with wreaths and bouquets in white, on a blue, green, or straw-colored ground. Among the lighter textures, adapted for both day and evening wear, are some very pretty mousselines de soie, and grenadines. The new bareges are in every variety of color and pattern.

Transcriber's Notes:

Words surrounded by _ are italicized.

Obvious printer's errors have been repaired, other inconsistent spellings have been kept, including: - use of accent (e.g. "Notre" and "Nôtre"); - use of hyphen (e.g. "bed-room" and "bedroom").

Pg 198, word "was" removed from sentence "He was [was] the first..."

Pg 248, sentence "(TO BE CONTINUED.)" added to the end of article.

Pg 279, word "or" changed into "of" in sentence "...election of my successor..."