LATEST NEWS FROM PARIS—DREADFUL REDUC- TION IN THE Sin OP
BONNETS.
A CORRESPONDENT of the Courier (of Friday), in describing the devastations of the cholera in Paris, has thrown in some melan- choly notes of lamentation on a subject of a serious kind, but still one which by no means so vita7ly affects the welfare of the nation, It is not improbable, however, that it may move even deeper sym- pathy on this side of the Channel. It appears that there is a most portentous diminution in the size of Bonnets! But the Parisian correspondent shall tell his own tale- " There is a complete dearth of novelty in the theatrical world at Paris. Sever& of the theatres are shut up, and there is but little doing at those which are open. Taglioni, the last remaining attraction, is about to leave us. She has quite recovered from her late accident. Every thing here appears to be depreciated, and change is apparent throughout the whole range of society. The Frenchman is no longer gay, the Frenchwoman no longer the arbitress of taste. The ladies' fashions are now more remarkable for being unbecoming and absurd than ele- gant and tasteful as formerly. They now wear bonnets which give them the most ridiculous appearance imaginable. This bonnet is something between the gips), and the cottage, if you can speak of shape in reference to that which 4 shape bath none," and is so small that it scarcely covers the head. The highest ambition of a Parisian belle appears to be to he able to say that no one has been seen in a smaller bonnet than her own. Every woman looks as if she had a baby's bonnet stuck at random over her forehead. Never was a fashion so general. There is a very fury for small bonnets—from the cuisinire to the Duchess—all ranks, figures, and degrees, invest themselves with the chapeau de riqueur. Let no Englishwoman think of coining to Paris without curtailing her bonnet of at least two-thirds of its fair proportion. As to the immense bon.- • nets which were formerly the fashion in London, and even in Paris, the very. sight of one would now create a sensation only to be equalled by the cholera morbus, or the graceful feats of the elephant Chuny."
The writer speaks of a dearth of novelty, in a letter full of news ! The theatres are shut up, it is true; but the hospitals are filled and the graves are opened. " Every thing here appears to be de- preciated."—Yes, human life is at a very low ebb ! " The French- man is no longer gay."—How should be ? Have not ten thousand people died in his capital within a few days? " The ladies fashions are unbecoming and absurd."—Aye, poor things ! like the ac- complished daughter of Comte MOLE, they are dressing in shrouds and cerecloth!
As to small bonnets-‘--it is true we have had large ones poked in our faces for a long time, but still have not learned the evil of small ones. We can fancy something very pretty between the " gips),. and the cottage ;" and if it be just stuck on the head, provided the • hair be fine, and the countenance expressive, what matter if it do , look like a " baby's bonnet stuck at random on the forehead?" Why should we care where the ladies stick it, or how small they make it ? If they please, they may adopt the fashion of Christ's Hospital, and carry them in their hands, the size of a crown-piece. Our eyes must be the larger ; and we must pray the wind to be gentle—and all may yet be well.
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