There is no doubt that dress is a very fair index of the mind of the wearer.  Who but a Widow Barnaby would wear a bright emerald green satin dress in the morning, and a bonnet profusely ornamented with large and brilliant scarlet flowers?  Yet we have ourselves seen a lady, of ample dimensions and advanced years, similarly attired, and could think of nothing but one of those large gaudy macaws which are to be met with in every zoological garden.  Who that had any regard for his own liberty would marry such a strong-minded, pretentious dame?  Who could endure for life the vulgarity of mind that suggested such a costume for a fete in the country on a hot summer’s day?  There are some persons who think to overpower their neighbours by the splendour of their attire.

It is much easier to point out what offends against good taste than to say in so many words in what it consists.

Harmony of colour is essential to being well dressed.  There are colours which “swear” so awfully, that no one with any pretension to good taste would wear them; yet we not unfrequently find instances of them.  A yellow gown has been worn with a bright green bonnet; red and green, like our friend a-la-macaw; salmon colour and blue; yellow and red; green and blue.  Two ill-assorted shades of the same colour, such as a dark and light blue; or a red lilac and a blue lilac; or a rose pink and a blue pink; or drab and yellow.  Instances might be multiplied without end of incongruous inharmonious blending of colours, the mere sight of which is enough to give any one a bilious fever.  There are colours which, in themselves, may be inoffensive, but of which only particular shades assort well together.  Blue and pink was a very favourite combination at one time; but in order to be both pleasing and effective, it must be one particular shade of each, and these softened and blended by the addition of white.  Again, shades of scarlet and blue harmonize well together.  Black has a wonderful power in softening down any intrusive brilliancy.  It tones down scarlet and pink, blue and yellow, and gives them an indescribable charm, suggesting all kinds of pleasant things—­the Cachuca and castanets, and the mantilla worn with such inimitable grace and coquetry by the Spanish ladies.  Black and white is also a pleasing combination.  White has generally the opposite effect of black.  It adds to the brilliancy of the colours, and smartens rather than subdues.  Many of those who aim at being well dressed, rarely give sufficient attention to this harmony of colour.  One little thing will upset the whole.  The choice of jewels or the head dress may destroy all the effect which has been admirably conceived by an experienced dressmaker.  It is on this account that some milliners prefer to supply all that is requisite for a particular costume.  The man-milliner at Paris is said to be very dictatorial on this subject, and to decide very peremptorily as to what shall or shall not be worn.  In morning