FANCY ARTICLES. 47 



The rich and jaunty bonnets exhibited by Mv Bodwell, and Mrs 

 Springer of Lawrence ; and hats and caps by the Messrs Clogston, 

 drew forth quite complimentary remarks from the committee. The 

 paintings, crayon sketches and worsted work, were highly credita- 

 ble to their authors. A set of chairs for parlor use was very 

 handsome. 



The great majority of the fancy articles consisted of wrought 

 skirts, handkerchiefs, collars, under-sleeves, &c. The committee 

 saw no article that did not display taste and skill, and few that 

 were not useful. They exhausted their funds before they had 

 awarded half the gratuities whicfi they would have gladly done, 

 had their funds allowed them to do so. 



This department certainly constitutes a very interesting and 

 prominent feature in the show. It is mostly the handiwork of young 

 ladies, done in snatches of time that otherwise probably would be 

 lost; and the articles themselves are of the more value, as they 

 are the products of their own skill and industry, serving to elevate 

 'the successful claimant in her own estimation, as well as that of the 

 public, and which may constitute a cJief-d^osuvre suitable to be 

 transmitted to their posterity as a memento of ancestral character. 



We have said that the articles were useful as well as ornamental. 

 If we should presume to make any exceptions, one would be the 

 worked under-sleeves of the present fashion. We should more 

 particularly object to the fasJiion of the sleeves. A young lady 

 may ornament her head and neck, skirts and other parts of her 

 dress as much as she pleases ; but for the sake of comfort and 

 gracefulness let her hands and feet be unincumbered, parts which 

 the Author of our nature meant should be free and agile. 



Nothing seems to us more incongruous, (it may be our want of 

 taste,) than the wearing of flowing sleeves in waiting upon 

 the table, or in working the very articles presented for our notice, 

 or indeed in any other household occupations. The distant imita- 

 tions which Irish washerwomen sometimes exhibit, arc somewhat 

 ludicrous. In our judgment, the fashion is more honored in the 

 bi-each than in the observance, and it is hardly desirable to per- 

 petuate specimens of it unless it be for its absurdity. 



Utility should always be joined with fancy, and then a happy 

 moral influence will be the legitimate eifect from works of this kind. 

 For we think it almost impossible for any one to be engaged in a 



