Any preponderances ot bright color, or any glaring or
improper combination of colors, is always to he avoided.
There are certain colors, as you know, which are always
beautiful — as scarlet and brown, or pink and gray — while
again there are colors which, to use an expressive word,
u kill" each other, as purple and blue, green and yellow. No
mere directions can guide you here ; you must simply train
your own taste by watching the dress of people whom you
know you can trust in this particular, and in this way you
will soon learn to judge for yourselves ; but, in the meantime,
I advise you to err on the side of too little color rather than
too much.
For dress materials choose as much as possible solid
colors — that is, do not indulge too often in plaids, stripes or
figures, and be careful never to overtrim, for the first care of
a lady is to avoid attracting attention by the gaudiness or
fussiness of her dress. Dark colors for winter and light
tor summer is a very safe rule, though, of course, it may
often be safely broken. For jackets and cloaks, black or
any very dark color is proper, and the hat or bonnet should
be made to match or contrast with the suit with which it
will be principally worn, while gloves must never be of any
ON HABITS AND MANNERS.
27
bright color — grays, drabs, browns, and black, being the
most useful, with white and light shades for full dress.
Jewelry, lace, artificial ffowers, etc., should not be worn,
excep on special occasions, as evening parties, weddings, etc.,
and only at such times, too, are low necked or short sleeved
dresses suitable, for it is safe to say that the ordinary every
day toilette of a lady, is remarkable chiefly for its simplici-
ty of color, fashion and material.
Boots should be thick and strong for common wear,
must be kept in good order and neatly blacked. Never, on
any account, be so foolish as to wear tight shoes, for, as I
fear many of you have already found, they are the cause of
infinite discomfort and pain. Slippers are proper for the
house at all times, but be careful that they do not entice you
into slipshod habits ; do your best to keep your stockings
and your shoes clean, whole and neat.
In respect to petticoats, I think you will see for your-
selves, that for winter you need those which are light, warm
and not easily soiled, while in summer you want those that
are light, cool, and easily washed. The colored woolens
for one season and the colored cottons for the other, are, if
wisely chosen, neat, comfortable and cheap, while petticoats
of white cotton, prettily trimmed, should always be worn
for your best, or when you have on a thin dress.
28
ON HABITS AND MANNERS.
Page 10
Presented as published in 1888. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Any preponderances of bright color, or any glaring or improper combination of colors, is always to he avoided. There are certain colors, as you know, which are always beautiful — as scarlet and brown, or pink and gray — while again there are colors which, to use an expressive word, "kill" each other, as purple and blue, green and yellow. No mere directions can guide you here ; you must simply train your own taste by watching the dress of people whom you know you can trust in this particular, and in this way you will soon learn to judge for yourselves ; but, in the meantime, I advise you to err on the side of too little color rather than too much.
For dress materials choose as much as possible solid colors — that is, do not indulge too often in plaids, stripes or figures, and be careful never to overtrim, for the first care of a lady is to avoid attracting attention by the gaudiness or fussiness of her dress. Dark colors for winter and light tor summer is a very safe rule, though, of course, it may often be safely broken. For jackets and cloaks, black or any very dark color is proper, and the hat or bonnet should be made to match or contrast with the suit with which it will be principally worn, while gloves must never be of any
bright color — grays, drabs, browns, and black, being the most useful, with white and light shades for full dress.
Jewelry, lace, artificial flowers, etc., should not be worn, excep on special occasions, as evening parties, weddings, etc., and only at such times, too, are low necked or short sleeved dresses suitable, for it is safe to say that the ordinary every day toilette of a lady, is remarkable chiefly for its simplicity of color, fashion and material.
Boots should be thick and strong for common wear, must be kept in good order and neatly blacked. Never, on any account, be so foolish as to wear tight shoes, for, as I fear many of you have already found, they are the cause of infinite discomfort and pain. Slippers are proper for the house at all times, but be careful that they do not entice you into slipshod habits ; do your best to keep your stockings and your shoes clean, whole and neat.
In respect to petticoats, I think you will see for yourselves, that for winter you need those which are light, warm and not easily soiled, while in summer you want those that are light, cool, and easily washed. The colored woolens for one season and the colored cottons for the other, are, if wisely chosen, neat, comfortable and cheap, while petticoats of white cotton, prettily trimmed, should always be worn for your best, or when you have on a thin dress.