TIIE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
183 
land and Italy, having everything essential to comfort, 
and spending only six hundred dollars, exclusive of their 
steamer tickets. The writer knows whereof she affirms, 
for she was herself one of four ladies who made the trip 
a year or two ago. Four is the best number, easily 
managed, easily accommodated in one carriage, in two 
rooms; four divide the expense nicely—more make a 
« crowd ’’—fewer are likely to be lonely. It is well if 
one be a “madame,” but if all are single, the party 
should not be too youthful. Each lady must be intelli¬ 
gent, good-natured, quick-witted and healthy. Some of 
the party should be able to speak French and German, 
and to understand both tlie.se languages when spoken. 
Women unaccustomed to travel, to human nature, to 
using money judiciously and to keeping an account of 
the samo, ought not to join in the undertaking. When 
four suitable persons are agreed, it is best to map out a 
route, to study distances, dividing up the time to the 
places. Changes can be made later; forethought saves 
money and prevents vexatious mistakes. Read a little 
on art, architecture and what you expect to see of his¬ 
torical interest. Don't cram an excited mind all at' 
once with that which you can learn in travel with 
keener enjoyment. 
Now, the outfit. A steamer-chair for each jierson, 
and two moderately large trunks for the four. Arriving 
in Liverpool, you will leave your trunks there with 
your heavy wraps and everything carried merely for 
steamer use. Wear on the voyage a very warm dress. 
Leave it with your wraps, and start from Liverpool in 
a fresh traveling suit, plain, dark and handsomely fitted. 
If you can get along with but one heavy garment, an 
ulster is enough from May to October; in warm days it 
is easily strapped—everything superfluous causes sinful 
emotions. Shut up your bonnet from the dampness 
during the voyage. Let it be neat, close, pretty, but 
not large or wild in style, or you will hate it later. 
Have soft, warm head-gear for deck wear. Carry in a 
small compass remedies for ordinary ailments—for that 
particular one to which you are subject. It may be 
neuralgia. You will have an attack forty miles from a 
drug-store if you do not take precautions. Now comes a 
test of common sense; but rest assured if you follow the 
advice here given, you need never look travel-stained or 
untidy, but always can be well-dressed. Let each lady 
buy a strong, good-looking leather bag, such as is sold 
for about six to eight dollars. It has two compartments 
and a sort of portfolio between. It holds all one need 
carry for the trip, goes everywhere with one, and costs 
next to nothing as luggage. It is always seized by 
the omnipresent porter, who lifts it off and on cars 
or runs with it to carriages for a few pennies. Times 
without number one man has snatched up our four, 
stowed them under car-seats or over our heads, and been 
off helping bewildered tourists hunt lost trunks—to find 
them after every good seat was taken. Our clean collars 
were admired, arid our ease-taking envied by many a wor¬ 
ried countrywoman. Each of these bags will hold four 
changes of under-clothing (washing is done everywhere 
at short notice), one nice black silk dress (with few ruf¬ 
fles to be tumbled), and one stylish all-wool dress—you 
start with a new dress, so these, beside the one left for 
the steamer, will prove all sufficient; slippers, an extra 
pair of walking-shoes, pretty breakfast sacque, and all 
other small articles required. For the steamer you 
want a loose flannel wrapper to wear at night, and if ill 
in the day-time. A light canvas school-bag carried on 
the arm is a fine catch-all. It holds guide-books, gossa¬ 
mer cape, and "tag ends,” which refuse to go into the 
big bag as you journey; but for the sake of looks as well 
as convenience don’t get four just alike. Have a light 
umbrella, as small as it is reasonable.” 
GRASSES. 
Just a bank of flowering grasses, 
Lightly swaying to and fro, 
As the summer south-wind passes 
In the noon-tide glow. 
In their diverse beauty fashioned, 
Turning often to the sky, 
Whence a glare of light impassioned 
Answers to their sigh. 
Ah, the quaintly flowering grasses 
As again we pass them by, 
Lie in brown and drooping masses, 
Gathered but to die ! 
I 
Is their murmer of complaining 
For their day so quickly passed ? 
Do they mourn its fleetness—claiming 
It should ever last ? 
Gaily greeting each wayfarer, 
Shyly bending to the breeze, 
Surely earth’s great Burden-Bearer 
Caroth much for these. 
Such a wealth of sweetness granted, 
As had never graced their bloom, 
Fills the air till we are haunted 
By the rich perfume. 
In their"fragrant’stillness lying, 
Where so late they counselled “faith,” 
They in very act of dying 
Whisper “ love in death.” 
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