Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1893 — FOR THE LADIES. [ARTICLE]

FOR THE LADIES.

NAMES OF JAPANESE GIKIA Many of the pretty and suggestive little words that servo ns names for Japanese girls are as charming in English as in Japanese. It is not uncommon for a Japanese girl to bear the name of a flower. On the other baud, however, many girls in Japan bear the names of some domestic utensil, as frying pan or dust brush. Doubtless this results from the custom common among some jreoples of naming a child for the first object that strikes the eye after the little one has come iuto the world.—[Chicago Herald. THE DINNER WOMAN. “The born hostess,” writes Helen Barrett Bridgman in the Brooklyn StandardUnion, “knows that the good dinner woman is a verv rare bird. She must not bo too olcl, she must not be too youug; she must not bo unpleasant to look upon, neither must she be a beautiful automaton; she must be quick, responsive, interesting and vivacious, but sne must not monopolize tho conversation and cause others to fight for their rights; she must have in her the spirit of the bohemienue, yet she must be the epitome of good breeding and refinement —in fine, she must be the most fascinating flower of a complex civilization."

PROTECT! NO A WRAPPER. A good way to protect the bottom of a delicate wrapper is to edge it with black ribbon. The same idea holds in putting an edge of velvet under the bottom of the street skirt, or any other skirt, for that mutter. Tho line of dark color not only makes tho delicate shades übovo them seem more delicate, but soiling is avoided. In bull dresses, too, put a puff—not a full ouo—of mull or muslin about the edge of the skirt, matching it in color exactly. The puff is really not noticed, and it does, save the edge of tho gown. When it is renewed the gown is as fresh as ever, whereas, had it been the edge of the dress itself tlmt had been soiled, there would havo becu uo renewing.—[Oneo A Week. PRACTICAL HOME TRAINING. One summer a lady had 2GO girls from offices, stores and factories to board during two weeks’ vacation. At the end of the summer she found that but nine of the number knew how to make abed, and many of them made it a boast that they “had never made a bed in their livos^’ Sffßie did not oven know whether a shoot or blanket should bo put ot> first. And those wero uot destitute girls, tint such as represent our self-respecting wage-earners—girls who were boarders, paying a fair price, and yet who were expected to make their own beds. Mothers had not trained them. There are hundreds of bright, intelligent girls of fiftceu, sixteen, eighteen, and even older, who have never sewed and do not know whether a thimble should go on their thumbs or forefinger. What kind of wives and mothers aro they to make? —[New York World.

CAME PREPARED TO SUED TEARS. A correspondent of the Pittsburg Dispatch tells of a young woman who wout to tho matinee prepared for the affecting parts of the play. She carried lightly sewed to the conter of a second handkerchief a tiny powder puff, which she proceeded to dust with powder from a little enameled box into which it fitted. With the puff concealed in the handkerchief she calmly watched the scene, progress to the agony point, ignoring the tears that, sure enough, began presently to stream down her checks. When the curtain fell, liowover, she took instant advantage of tho momentary reaction of the audience, and wiping her face with one handkerchief, with the second she cleverly dusted her too red nose and cheeks with the toning-down powder, and triumphantly beamed upon the women about her who were not so cleverly forearmed. HINTS FOII SPRING. Plumetis, a French dotted Swiss, with tinted designs, is one of the dainty things sure to form at least one gown in the wardrobe of the real summer girl. Slippers laced with ribbon to imitate a sandal effect are worn with Empire gowns. Most of the dresses that are uow being made have no darts at the top of the skirt, the fullness being gathered into the waistband. The return of tho shawl is prophesied. A suggestion of it has appeared in long scarfs of lace or velvet that encircle the shoulders aud hang to the foot of the gown. What is known as “shadow” velvet promises to be more, fashionable than ever the coming season. Recent importations show those that are a vision of splendor, with their superb rainbow hues, of which one only obtains a glimpse through the dark surface pile. Women wear as many rings on their fingers os they can. Rings are a perfect frenzy. It may be observed that, as a general rule, skirts have widened at the top. Plaits and gathers contribute to this effect. In some very stylish examples there are ns many as six or seven breadths in a bell skirt Five straight breadths ore seen in round skirts made full.—[St. Louis Republic.

ENGLISH OIHLS WALK ALONE. The independence of action characteristic of the day as regards the feminine world in England exercises a marked effect upon the attitude taken up by young girls belonging to the upper classes. Formerly they were hedged' round by many restraints; they were not allowed to go here or there without being guarded by one of their own sex, either by mother or maid, says the Queen. Did they go shopping, a maid must gos too, and sit in the strop side by side with them; did they go out to afternoon tea, or to make a call the maid must go, too, and wait in the hall. It is now considered quite permissible and quite conventional lor a young girl to walk by herself through the streets of London. She may walk alone when shopping, when visiting, when attending classes or lectures, to early and late church services, to study art at South Kensington and other museums, or travel by train on district, main or suburban lines, or wherever engagements lead. The line is cortainly drawn at walking in Hyde Park alone, although some few independent maidons considet their pet dogs quite sufficient protection even there, but there is no r3strictiou as to the length of time a young lady may look in at snop windows.—[Boston Record. A SLEEPING ROOM. In the sleeping apartment of a young New York woman, the daughter of a man many times a millionaire, the wail paper is pale gold, or faint slate color. The

gilt bedstead is pushed against * square' cf plaited silk of pale gold, with slatec. lured silk bows at the corner. A similar background of plaited silk rises to the ceiling above the toilet stnnd. On that are pitcher, bowl and soap dish, for you must know that running water is supposed to invite sewer gas. Theso pieces of crockery arc all of the finest ware. A beveled edge mirror six feet high swings on brass rods above the floor in one corner. She has also a folding glgss. wjiich reflects her ears, back hair and neck. There is an open fireplaeo, besides a hot-air register, a dressing stand laden with pretty toilet boxes aud bottles, an ivory dock like a bird cage, in which ivory canaries trill sweetly as each hour begius; easy chairs and rocking chairs to match tho wall paper and furniture; a pretty little prio dieu and a wealth of bric-a-brac, completing an effect that is exquisite, dainty and inviting beyond comparison. Connected with this room the young millionairess hns another apartment where she writes aud paints when she feels called upon to do so. This room was on inspection the other day. This may account for the succeeding remarks or it may not. Nowhere was there a hint of disorder—thero were uo shoes lying about or article of clothing on chairs or bed. Everything was as neatly ordered as the most critical visitor could wish. There were two tiny kid slippers peeping out from under tho bed, but they seemed part of the artistic finish of everything.—[Bt. Louis Post-Dispatch.

FASHION NOTES. The sick blouse waist is pretty and stylish to wear with skirts of old dresses. Lusterless enamel in floral desigus prevails lor mourning pins, aud a number of new forms havo been added. Gulloous aro especially effective, and they come in grenadine studded witli jet drops, and in net embroidered in metallic beads.. Butternut-brown of a decidedly reddish sliude appears amoug some of tho handsomest materials. Chiffon jabots in a variety of pretty coloriugs aro very dainty accessories, and make an otherwuys plain gown dressy and effective. Capes aro exceedingly popular, and tho cloth cape, with short frilled top edged with narrow fur, is very fashionablo. Sleeves continue to bo as dressy as ever, and in tho latest gowns from Paris tho puff droops slightly, though they grow in width accordingly. Necklaces are by no mentis fashionable. A tiny thread of gold with a goin at the end is all that is tolerated, oxeopt on occasions of magnificence. Cloth dresses, in princess stylo, lmvo vests of draped cl'<*h of a. contrasting color, and are tri .0.l with lengthwise rows of fur. A number of stylish wool toilets recently exhibited were combined with velours or velvet-striped beuguliue, flecked with gold or bronze. A corselet of the square Russian shape shows four rows of jeweled gimp and velvet, each row being held by a jeweled clasp. Skirts of cloth gowns have from three to five rows of blnok corded twilled or satin ribbon iu graduated widths as a foot trimming, euch row often surmounted by a narrow gilt braid. Tho Anne of Austria collar, which turns away at tho neck, leaving tho throat exposed, is popularly used lor dinner gowns. Venetian point, Honiton, and duchess lace are in vogue for those collars, which uro almost invariably becoming. The skirts of dresses for very little children, if not made like a long blouse, are trimmed with several tucks of another color and material, interrupted by rows of embroidery answering tho ground hue, and mounted with a double heading on a plaited chornisettc with a collar of the two stuffs. A very elegant and stylish now shoe is a walkiug boot of patent leather without the least adornment in the way of tips, but cut in long, elegant shape, *vith a thick English sole and heel. It has a cloth top, with a strap or buckle under the instep to imitate the neatest fitting gaiter. The popularity of bengaline and all silken wool effects is prominently shown in the large quantities of poplin weaves and of silk-figured woolens imported this season.

The very wide rovers, known as the “Empire,” are most effective on house dresses of scarlet, pink or blue crepou, and though made of black satin no other portion of tho gown needs to be of the sombre shade. The narrow block velvet ribbon with colored edges has como back looking just as it did in the early sixties. Even the baby ribbon has colored edges. The scarlet-edged black is pretty on children’s hats. Shoes grow more and more pointed, and foot doctors rejoice. Figures would fuil to compute the misery and suffering and bad temper that are caused by narrow-toed shoes. White petticoats of very thin, fine lawn are quite the rage. Some of the newest are several inches shorter thun the black silk petticoat. They are elaborately ruffled and puffed, and triinmod with lace und embroidery. The handsomest cloak for an elderly lady who does not wish black velvet is black peau-de-soie, the lustreless black satin. It is made in broad flat box plaits reaching to the floor, with some superb jet on the bodice, and, with its full sleeves, makes one of the quietest but most elegant garments imaginable. Very dark brown silk and gold braidings severally are used fordeeorations. Coats have full velvet sleeves with braided cuffs These wraps, at greatly reduced prices, arc copied and sold by expert American designers. Fashion has decreed that jewels need not necessarily be extravagant in kind and price, but they must be chic. The jeweler culls these .“secondary” stones. The chrysophrase is one of these; so is the aquamarine. Topazes are much used for lace and hairpins, and “chippings” of emeralds, sapphires and other precious gems are sometimes used to enhance the effect of ornaments for both the neck, arms and coiffure, the chippings being used to outline the various devices made of the “secondary" stones. Seamless bodices, flaring skirts and distended sleeves sum up the fashions of the present moment. Seamless bodices, while a pitfall to the amateur dressmaker, are remarkably effective on a graceful figure, in the hands of a high-class modiste.