Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1887 — A Column or Two of Chat About the Fair Daughters of Eve. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A Column or Two of Chat About the Fair Daughters of Eve.

Together with a Few Notes on the Latest Styles in Feminine Attire. Let us consider the well-dressed woman in her home. If she is a careful and considerate dresser she will take as much pains with her house toilets as she will with those designed for the street. Not the earliest of breakfasts will bring her frowzy or shabby to the table; and just now, indeed, fashion prescribes a special corsage for breakfast gowns. The material may be almost anything of a simple nature, though wash goods are best, and of such material is the example shown in the first picture. The distinctive feature, as can be seen, is a semblance of the crossed handkerchief, something like those of our greatgrandmothers’ days. These may be of muslin and lace, as in the first figure, or of soft colored stuff, as convenient. The wedge of neck is left bare, the sleeves are above the wrists, the hair is dressed high from the neck, and it requires only a fresh, healthy, amiable wearer to be positively irresistible. The cut of itself should dedend considerably on the individuality of the woman.

An exceedingly slender woman can wear what may be called fat clothes. A neglige for her room can be effectively made, for instance, of creamwhite woolen canvas, with rows of silk ribbon run into “pulled” places wherever any trimming can be used. Now that it is going to be cooler she can have a wrapper of surah silk and white nun’s veiling. The lining is of thin delaine, the outer surface of blue surah, and between the two there is a layer of cotton wadding basted securely to the lining all over. Then up and down the front and about the loose sleeves and collar it is tacked through and through, at intervals of three inches, just as a comfortable is made. A coarse needle threaded with stout linen is passed through the whole thing, and a bunch of fine pearl-edged satin ribbon, for running into lace, is tied securely in tufting to the front in rows and going around the neck and sleeves several times. It is an exquisite thing, so soft, and so sweet, for an ounce or so of violet sachet powder scattered upon the cotton perfumes the robe like a spring morning. Of course, none but the Sarah Bernhardts of women can indulge in such wadded gowns. The unfortunate possessors of avoirdupois can not have tufted dresses unless they wish to look stuffed. But there are plenty of slim women who can be perfect loves of comfort and beauty in this charming kind of gown. When the fashionable woman garbs herself for the reception of afternoon or evening callers, she also sees to it that her maid-servant is not less faultlessly attired. Caps and aprons are in vogue, and the dresses are oftenest calico or gingham, woolen being generally forbidden and silk not to be thought of. A neat thing in servants is shown in the next picture. The costume of the lady is a model in India silk and embossed satin. Of the wearer a friend said to the writer:

“The way she gets her dresses is this: She goes to her dressmaker now and then, I should say about every two months, and tells her what she wants. She requires a ball dress, a street costume, a morning gown for the house, and a dress for church. She has no idea what she wants in a single instance when she goes there—l mean as to goods, or cut, or what not She looks over the dresses then on hand, those under way, or those ready to send out to customers. She likes the goods in one, the front drapery of

another, and the back of a third, and she has all these things combined. To my taste she always improves on anything the dressmaker has or suggests; in fact, she is a born dressma er herself, and the dressmakers here and abroad know it, and never fail to profit in their business by one of her visits.

She is apt to spend a day over each dress, and thus she gives up the better part of one week in eight at her dressmaker’s. She figures closely on every item in the make-up of a dress —far more closely than I, who have to be careful, and. yet she makes no appearance of haggling over prices. When I ask her what site wants of a fourth walking dress or a third ball dress, she replies: ‘What else have I to do with myself or my money ? ’ I pity her from the bottom of my heart, for she would be happ er if she had a family or a specialty; but, ah! that’s a chapter by itself, and not half so interesting as this one either. She has saved me a great deal of money in buying, and can shop for me better than I can myself. This is an instinct with her. She does not seem to care how much she spends, but wants the worth of her money every time. She buys hats unceasingly, all the time. She sees a pretty hat in a horse-car or the theater, and it gives her a hint for a prettier one, or she will combine two hats that she sees in the street” Girls are nowhere lovelier than in the simple, neat, pretty gowns now worn

by them at home. Oddities of drapery are indulged in, and decorations that are as gay as the flowers that have become so popular in the boudoirs of the human bud. But all the posies are not what they seem. So perfect do artificial flowers come this season, that the stores have them bewilderingly on sale. Shoppers can’t get away from the counter where .they can buy splendid bunches of “jack” roses, and tlie perfection of pinks, if not the pinks of perfection. A huge, splendid bouquet can be bought for a dollar that will last all winter. Ten ladies were gathered in one store recently, selecting spray after spray for home decorations. Halls covered with these flowers are certainly prettier than those decorated with gaudy fans or Japanese trappings. This winter will be one of triumph for artificial flowers. Two better home costumes for young girls than those here illustrated cannot be found in town. They contain a variety of good suggestions which any dressmaker, professional or amateur,

can readily utilize. Novelty ia aimed at in some house dresses. A Boston woman, lately returned from Europe, brings a reception gown that must have two hundred little brown birds fastening a rose-colored crepe upon a skirt of white silk. A circlet of these little feathered creatures is intended for the head. j “I believe it would be a good dress for a character to wear at a costume ball,” said its owner; “only I wouldn’t know what to call it. What would yoil say for a name?” “Cruelty to animals,” replied the friend. Certainly the first thought 'that crosses one’s mind at seeing this dress is one of horror at the slaughter of those poor little creatures, that a gown might be trimmed with their bodies. Almost every year some such costume turns up, and it fires the inventive genius of many a silly girl.— Chicago Ledger.

Gloves. Excellent qualities of English walking gloves of fine dogskin, to wear with street dressss this winter, are fastened smoothly over the wrists with four large gilt buttons. There are black kid bands at the top of the glove. They are made with piquestiched seams, and embroidered on the backs with heavy chain-stitching. Dark mahogany, terra-cotta, tan, dark laurel-moss, olive green, and golden brown are the most fashionable shades. Warm winter gloves are manufactured of finest Saxony cashmere, with very long Jersey wrists that cling closely to the arms. These are shown in dark cloth shades, in jix and eight button lengths.

EARLY MORNING.

MISTRESS AND MAID.

BUDS AND BLOSSOMS.