| Show old time a N new I 1 ew year s tl I 1 SEEMS strange stra n ge to remember r that i before the civil war there was no real conversation among casual acquaintances quain men alen and young women of prot promise nise spent the several hours playing silly games and new years calling was hailed balled with delight as the time for making new friends and in ci dentally but highly important tor for making matches there was little tor for girla to do out side the home and as a matter of course they were supported mothers saw the point and persuaded the fathers to furnish means that they and the girls could alit the few stores in quest of suitable adorning for the great event A half dozen girls here and there met at houses most convenient tor far the group and the young men of the I 1 i what a pretty friendly custom that wasi wasl town clubbed and hired what were then known as hacks and there were private tandems which lent a dashing effect ahe happy day having ar rived what hat bliss there was in dis cussing the beaux and belles and the tinsel fixings I 1 the party dresses of that day were of swiss muslin with a double skirt and also of a material called tarlatans of varying degrees ot of quality often displaying long trains trimmed with satin r ribbon and braids whether the material was white ot 01 some of the reds pinks or blues the were lovely creations the men were busy making a living and the days pleasure often emptied their pocketbooks but it was conald ered well worth while now and then a pair of shoulder straps loomed among the callers and filled to the climax a day long to be remembered these recurring na gave the country village so something to talk about and there was a demand for better raiment for men and women information concerning it was well met by peterson petersons s and godey s maga with colored plates and fine sug gest ions which had never before been shown and on which the imagination might rely indianapolis |
