Letter, Kate Gleason to James Gleason

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William Gleason,
Manufacturer of Machinists Tools,
Office, Brown’s Race,

Rochester, N.Y., Jan’y 12th. 1889
Dear Jim,-
I went over to Kuhlmann’s this noon and hired a costume
for you. It is’nt strikingly original but I guess if you want an
original costume, a regular costumer’s is a bad place to go for it.
There did’nt seem to be anything there but Mexican cow-boys, French
dukes and Spanish caviliers and yours is a Spanish cavalier. It is
black velvet with blue satin puffs down the outside of the trousers, I
mean knee breeches and lace at the knees. There is a lot of blue
satin puffs scattered promiscuously over the whole dress and any
quantity of silver fringe and trimming. The great advantage of
this costume is that it is bran new so that the satin and silver
fringe does not look as tawdry as it generally does on masquerade
gowns rigs. There is also a hat with an elegant white plume and
boot tops that you can wear on your legs below the knee if you don’t
want to let them be seen but I would advise you to dispense with the
boot tops and will put in a pair of long stockings. You are to
wear your regular dancing pumps with the suit. It is the best
suit in the place, principally because it is new and it costs $2. so
that the cost counting expressage both ways will be about $2.50.
The most high-priced suit Kuhlman showed me was a $4 one, red plush

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and gold but it had evidently been through several campaigns, besides
it would’nt be becoming to your style of beauty, -too red.
Most of the girls made up their suits at home in the vacation, I
think. Some of them have written me what they intend to wear and
the description sounds real pretty. Will send your rig by ex-
press on Thursday so that it ought to reach you on Friday in time to
take in any seams, if necessary.
You hav’nt told me yet whether you
and Ide want a table cover or not. If you are badly in need of
one, it might be as well to mention it.
Very lovingly,
Kate.