Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1893 — FOR THE FAIR SEX. [ARTICLE]

FOR THE FAIR SEX.

feminine nosiEBY. Shot effects have been introduced in hosiery as well as into all fabrics for feminine attire, and may be found to match or contrast harmoniously with the gowns of many colors now popular. The prettiest evening stockings have lace insertion over the top of the foot and the instep. Some have pieces of colored baby ribbon to match the dress run in and out of the lace, but the Erettiest, as well as the most costly, ave medallions or insertions of real lace over the instep.—[New York Advertiser. mhs. Cleveland's boudoir. Speaking of the recent improvements and refurnishing which has been goiDg on in the White House, a correspondent says: “One particular improvement upstairs is the arrangement of Mrs. Cleveland’s boudoir. She hua selected the front corner room and has had it fitted up in her own charming taste. The walls are hung in light blue and all the hangings, carpets and furniture are in this and other dainty shades. Across the hall, the room which was oocupied by President Harrison last year, has been fitted up for a nursery, and here Baby Ruth will hold forth.”

THE PAPER WEDDING. The paper wedding, %hich may be observed on the second anniversary of one’s marriage, can now be made a very charm ing fete. At one not long ago the bride and guests wore dresses and flowers of paper, the house was decorated with marvelous paper flowers, and the plates and napkins were of paper. The guests were requested to come without gifts, hut if one will it otherwise so many beautiful things can be fashioned out of a little crepe paper that it is no grevious tax on one’s friends. Lamp shades, articles for the dressing table and table spreads are pretty gifts. Choice photographs, etohings, books and a subscription for a magazine would give a more enduring pleasure at no very great outlay.—[Philadelphia Times.

INFLAMMABLE DRESS MATERIAL. A certain dress material manufactured in France under the name of pilou, or American flannel, made of cotton, but soft and pliable as wool, is said by several hygienic journals to be of a highly inflammable nature on account of the chemicals used in its manufacture. M. Alber cites the instance of a lady at whose house he dined. She wore a gown made of pilou. In the act of saturating an omelette with rum, to which she set fire with a match, a drop of the burning liquid was spilled on her dress, which in an instant was ablaze from top to bottom, as if it had been made of gun-cotton. The lady had the presence of mind to throw herself on the floor, thus putting out the fire with the aid of those present, who smothered the flames with covers, etc. An examination of the dress after the fire had been put out showed that its aspect had changed but little, except that the velvety softness peculiar to the material was gone from every spot that had been burned. The weft was intact. It is possible that under less favorable circumstances, lack of aid and self-possession on the part of the victim, the dress might have been burned entirely.—[St. Louis Post-Dis-patch.

ARTFUL hairdressers. There is in Washington a professional hairdresser who makes a comfortable living while Congress is in session. It is an easy matter to get the name of the politician. A note is sent to his wife asking permission to show her a more becoming way of arranging her hair. Some comprehensive hint is volunteered, with a mild compliment The letter is marked “personal,” a verbal answer is requested, and in eight out of ten attempts the hairdresser gets an answer to call. Oddly enough, it is the husband who urges her claim. He wants his wife to look lik-e other women. At home she is all right, but in cosmopolitan life she is something of a fright, and, although he despises Himself for the thought, he is oahamed of her. In an hour’s time the hairdresser puts a new face on the woman. She may not use an inch of false hair, but she wields a crimping iron in a way that takes years of farm life from her appearance. The troubled, shy old face is not made ridiculous; instead of curls, the iron-gray hair is cleaned, brushed until it is fluffy, crimped enough to ripple and look three times its own quantity, and then it is dressed. Instead ot the long iion wire hairpins litcle shell pins are used, and the coils are so lightly caught that the wondering wife reckons it will not be long before they all drop out. Women who refuse to have their hair cut into a bang are provided with a false front, but in every instance, the transformation is admirable. The bill is sent to the Congressman and it is cheerfully paid.—[New York Commercial Advertiser.

NEW FIELD FOR WOMEN’S CLUBS.

An experiment is being tried which will be watched with unusual interest by those who are conversant with it. A year and a half ago a club was organized among the women living on the east side of New York City. The genesis of this club was due to the fact, borne with tremendous force into the mind of an observer, of the heavy monotony of the lives of the women in that region. With limited means it was impossible for them to have any diversion that cost money. Their rooms were so small and crowded that there was opportunity for no social life, even in the immediate family. It is no uncommon thing to find a woman who for weeks at a time does not go down to the street level, her nights and days being spent within the walls of the rooms that she calls home. Others are found who never own bonnets, because the extent of their migrations is to the front door step. Is it any wonder that some grow dull or stupid orirritable under these conditions?

Women’s dubs, it has been said over and over again, have been means of education and development to those who have every social opportunity, and who have had educational opportunities ai well. It was deemed wise to try the experiment of a woman’s club for such as had neither, and so one was organized. The dues were placed at ten cents per week. This paid for the cake and coffee, that were always part of the entertainment, and left a margin besides. At first no attempt was made beyond the purely social end for which the club was established. Quite frankly it was said: “This club is organized to try to get you out of your home once a week, because we believe that to break in on the monotony of your lives, to meet different people, to have this little diversion, will make you better wives and mothers. ’’ It is not necessary to go .into the history of the last year and a half, but certain it is that the results have justified the belief that a womau’s

olub of a social character, established among the wives of workingmen* would make happier homes. FASHION NOTES. A revival of the long mousquetaire gloves for afternoon wear is said to be threatened. Emerald green and rose color are the favorite combination in Paris at the present moment. There is a new and effective kind of coarse net in black or color, which is made up over a contrasting jslk. In black it looks remarkably well over vieux-rose or pure white. A novel veil is of accordion plaited black net'or gauze. Nothing looks more ladylike than white serge, and the girls one sees wearing it give one the impression that they feel the heat less than other folks. A charming costume of this material was made In the plain skirt and coat fashion and worn with a crossover waistcoat of white silk.

White duck dresses made simply with filaln skirts and ojfen jackets look deightfully cool and easy. They are usually worn with colored silk skirts. Heavy armure silks are much liked for jackets and wraps. Some of the new styles have full collars of lace aud any amount of lace garniture in front, over the shoulders and around the sleeves. A much admired hat for garden party wear is made of very wide luce stiffened with wires. This is plaited to a center, aud is trimmed with loops of ribbon and field flowers. It is said that crape, except for widows, is to go quite out of fashion. Veiling, grenadine and the like, are to supersede it. A stylish India silk has nine ruffles of satin ribbon around the skirt. The ruffles aro in groups of four, three and two. The combination of black and cream color is just now exceedingly popular, and deservedly so. It is quiet and ladylike, becoming also, and by no moans devoid of a certain air of refined elegance that is restful and charming when the prevailing tendency is towards excess of color.

A coarse make of net, which looks something like the Russian net of two or three seasons ago, is in vogue again for trimming. You see it on mantles, and a tea gown lately made was draped with it. In this case the net was white, so the effect was rather striking. Though stripes of lace insertion or foolish little frills are both fashionable adornments, many perfectly plain skirts are being made by first-rate modistes. Fashion doesn’t get it all her own way, as she did once upon a time. It’s a wonder that alpaca doesn’t become fashionable for outdoor dresses. If women knew what was good for them they would certainly wear it more than they do at present. There arc few stuffs that hold less dust. English modistes are making skirts narrower every day. They are scarcely more than half the width they were at the beginning of the season, and the best dressmakers are no longer using stiff materials for lining. Most of the dress bonnets are mere airy nothings of lace and flowers incapable of affording any protection against sun or wind. Were it not a matter of custom, one might dispense with summer bonnets altogether without being in the least inconvenienced by their absence. The new crepons are mostly shot and showered with silken spots to match one or the other of the component tints. Somo of the shot canvas fabrios are very beautiful, and satin canvas—quite a novelty—has a fancy shot ground scattered over with arabesque designs. These are trimmed with sleeve-puffs, girdle, and collar of “mirror” velvet.