n New York. It was
imported from Paris for the occasion, and was made of white satin, point
lace, and a profusion of flowers. The skirt had heavy flutings of satin
around the bottom, and the lace flounces were looped up at the sides with
bands of the most beautiful pinks, roses, lilies, forget-me-nots, and
other flowers.

"It is nothing uncommon to meet in New York society ladies who have on
dry-goods and jewelry to the value of from thirty to fifty thousand
dollars. Dress patterns of twilled satin, the ground pale green, pearl,
melon color, or white, scattered with sprays of flowers in raised velvet,
sell for $300 dollars each; violet poult de soie will sell for $12
dollars a yard; a figured moire will sell for $200 the pattern; a
pearl-colored silk, trimmed with point applique lace, sells for $1000;
and so we might go on to an almost indefinite length."

Those who think this an exaggerated picture have only to apply to the
proprietor of any first-class city dry-goods store, and he will confirm
its truthfulness. These gentlemen will tell you that while their sales
of staple goods are heavy, they are proportionately lighter than the
sales of articles of pure luxury. At Stewart's the average sales of
silks, laces, velvets, shawls, gloves, furs, and embroideries is about
$24,500 per diem. The sales of silks alone average about $15,000 per
diem.

A few years ago the dwelling of a wealthy citizen of New York was
consumed by fire. The owner of the mansion soon after applied to a
prominent Insurance Company for the payment of the sum of $21,000, the
amount of the risk they had taken on the wearing apparel of his daughter,
a young lady well known in society for the splendor of her attire. The
company refused to pay so large a sum, and protested that the lady in
question could not have possessed so costly a wardrobe. Suit was brought
by the claimant, and, as a matter of course, an enumeration of the
articles destroyed and their value was made to the court. The list was
as follows, and is interesting as showing the mysteries of a fashionable
lady's wardrobe:

6 silk robes--red, enamelled, $950
green, blue, yellow, pink,
black--with fringes, ruches,
velvets, lace trimmings, etc.
1 blue Marie Louise 300
gros-de-Naples, brocaded with
silver taken from the looms of
Lyons; cost, without a stitch in
it
Silver bullion fringe tassels and 200
real lace to match
1 rose-colored satin, brocaded i