MILLINERY AND MECHANICS.

In the window of a dressmaker’s shop in Bond Street there is a comical picture giving three views of a fine lady, in the elegant and simple costume of the period, exhibiting the use and application of an invention named “L’Impératrice,” by reason that it is said to be worn by the Empress of the French, otherwise and in the vulgar tongue called a Dress-Holder. It has the appearance of a small rake – the handle of which is held, or hooks on to the waist; the teeth, or whatever answers their purpose, being hitched in the skirts. Next to making dresses of a convenient length, this is perhaps the most commodious contrivance for keeping them up out of the dirt.

If, however, appearance were consulted without regard to a little additional expanse, the office of the Dress-Holder might be more splendidly accomplished by means of a small winch or windlass attached to a girdle or waist-ribbon, and carrying a silk line with a weight and a hook at the end of it, by means whereof the dress might be hoisted up or let down at pleasure. The winch being made of gold jewelled with a variety of precious stones, and the hook and weight also composed of the most valuable of the metals, would render the contrivance ornamental in some degree higher perhaps than that of its utility. Moreover a proper addition would be made to the present very moderate cost of ladies’ dresses, which is much too closely accommodated to the meanness of husbands and fathers. If one winch would not suffice, two might be employed; and the process of winding and unwinding them would constitute a new study for those who delight on giving their mind to the observation of feminine actions.

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