246 THE HOME, FAEM AND BUSINESS CYCLOPAEDIA, 



from an absurd fashion, than to appear for three parts of the evening in a 

 torn and pinned-up skirt ? 



Well-made shoes, whatever their colour or material, and faultless gloves, 

 are indispensable to the effect of a ball-room toilette. 



Much jewellery is out of place ina ball-room. Beau tifulflowers, whether 

 natural or artificial, are the loveliest ornaments that a lady can wear on 

 these occasions. 



At small dinner parties, low dresses are not so indispensable as they 

 were held to be some years since. High dresses of transparent materials, 

 and low bodices with capes of black lace, are considered sufficiently full 

 dress on these occasions. At large dinners only the fullest dress is appro- 

 priate. 



Very young ladies should wear but little jewellery. Pearls are deemed 

 most appropriate for the young and unmarried. 



Let your jewellery be always the best of its kind. Nothing is so vulgar, 

 either in youth or in age, as the use of false ornaments. 



There is as much propriety to be observed in the wearing of jewellery as 

 in the wearing of dresses. Diamonds, pearls, rubies, and all transparent 

 precious stones, belong to evening dress, and should on no account be worn 

 before dinner. In the morning let your rings be of the more simple and 

 massive kind ; wear no bracelets; and limit your jewellery to a good brooch, 

 gold chain, and watch. Your diamonds and pearls would be as much out 

 of place during the morning as a low dress, or a wreath. 



It is well to remember in the choice of jewellery that mere costliness is 

 not always the test of value ; and that an exquisite work of art, such as 

 a fine cameo, or a natural rarity, such as black pearl, is a more distingufa 

 possession than a large brilliant which any rich and tasteless vulgarian can 

 buy as easily as yourself. Of all precious stones, the opal is one of the 

 most lovely and least common-place. No vulgar woman purchases an opal. 

 She invariably prefers the more showy ruby, emerald, or sapphire. 



A true gentlewoman is always faultlessly neat. No richness of toilette 

 in the afternoon, no diamonds in the evening, can atone for unbrushed 

 hair, a soiled collar, or untidy slippers at breakfast. 



Never be seen in the street without gloves. Your gloves should fit to 

 the last degree of perfection. 



In these days of public baths and universal progress, we trust that it is 

 unnecessary to do more than hint at the necessity of the most fastidious 

 personal cleanliness. The hair, the teeth, the nails, should be faultlessly 

 kept ; and a muslin dress that has been worn once too often, a dingy 

 pocket-handkerchief, or a soiled pair of light gloves, are things to be scru- 



