Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 June 1896 — WOMEN HOME [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WOMEN HOME

RIVALRY IN CYCLING SUITS. QUITE a trade is being built up by the fashionable tailors and habit-makers in the line of cycle costumes for ladies, and the trend of style is nearly altogether toward the skirt. Women themselves (ire giving the movement for the ultra-bloomer and the knickerbocker costumes the go-by, and any man who has persuaded his wife to ride the bicycle with the Idea pf educating her up to. a simpler and less expensive, if less attractive, way of dressing fs getting most wofully fooled. Society liavifig taken up the sport, women who lead the cotillon in the winter have to make a decent appearance in the cycle paths of the ■ town. That means rivalries as bad as those which spring up in the season of Easter hats. Whereby the man with the slim purse is made sad and the ladies’ tailor waxes opulent. The simple bloomer costume and the more pronounced kniekerbocker rig have taken a sad drop. According to all the authorities no woman wishing to be in the cycling upper ten can afford to discard the short skirt. Knickerbockers of the same material are worn under the skirt, but bloomers are quite “outre.” Women Who like the diamond frames may appear to wear the skirt by adopting the latest thing in “divided garments,’’ a skirt fallings in kilted folds behind to conceal the bifurcation, but undivided in front. On foot the skirt seems to be of thei regulation kind and on the diamond frame wheel only expert observers would know that the garment really is divided. Cycling offers, or will offer, as much or more chance for the display of taste and differences in fashion, as far as dress is concerned, as horseback riding

or any other sport or creation, and the tailors and costumers are not slow to take note of the fact.

World’s Greatest Heiress The Baroni ss Hirst h, who is nominally the legatee of the Hirsch millions, was instructed by her late husband to make this grandchild, Lucieune, her heiress. Lucieune is the "daughter of the Baroness’ only son. She is a handsome - gi rl. inher teens. The future heiress is being educated in Belgium in royal state. She has her own chapel, a private chaplain and all the appur-

tenauces of a prjncess, and a very rich princess at that Lucienne will be the greatest heiress in the world when she Is in possession ..of the late Baron Hirscb’s millions.

Society Woman and Author. Mrs. Van Rensselaer Cruger is the home name of the brilliant authoress, Julian Bordon, whose novels and es-

says created such a furor some four or five years ago. Mrs.Cruger is one of the leaders of New York society, but while discharging her so-' cial obligations punctiliously she has never forgot-

ten that life is made for more serious things than routs, balls and other functions. Building for the New Woman, The new woman in New York has secured a large lot on Broadway, New York, on which to erect an immense Building. The lower stories will be used for business, while above It will be set apart for the accommodation of women, and include banquet hall, parlors, clubrooms, music-rooms, gymnasium, tennis court, bicycle stable, and studios. The women’s clubs and societies of the city originated the enterprise and will carry it through. Li Hang Cbanst’a Wife, Of the wife of Li Hung Chang, millionaire of millionaires, a writer says: “Marchioness Li is very beautiful, and compared with her fellow countrywomen, an exceedingly learned lady. Her age is nMjre—possibly a great deal more—than 50, yet she looks 30, or even

less. The wife of the richest pan in the world, she spends royally, although not without keeping a detailed account of her expenditures. In her magnificent home on the banks of the Pel-Ho she lives in great splendor, surrounded by song birds, peacocks, aquaria, pottery, gems and botanical collections. One thousand attendants and servants answer her beck and call. In her wardrobe are guarded 2,000 coats, 1,200 pairs of “trouserettes,” and 500 fur robes, made from the finest skins. Her feet have been compressed until they are quite inefficient for the original purpose, and |he Marchioness is unable to walk more than a few yards at a time. Four Varieties of Stitching. Buttonholing, feather, satin, and cross stitches are called in requisition for this useful edging on white or col-

ored flannel, linen or cambric, wrought with colored silks, shetland wool, or embroidery cotton, and suitable for undeflinen, flannel petticoats, knickerbockers, children’s pinafores and slips. Women Stick to the Cities. Excess of females seems to go with demsity of population. Of twelve States which have an excess of females, eight are States that have the densest population. It is, in fact, found that the seven States having the greatest excess of females have also the’ largest proportionate city folk. The

last census shows that seven-tenths of the 1,252 cities in ftie United States having over 2,500 inhabitants show an excess of females over males. In other words, native males are more numerous in the country than in the cities. The rural population embraces 29,708,894 males and 19,180,961 females, giving an excess of 1,527,963 males, while the cities, numbering 11,358,286 males am 1 11.3T3.439 females, show an excess of 14,453 females. The disproportion of women in the cities would be much greater but for the excess of male immigrants. In all the States save North Carolina the males are the more numerous in the rural districts, nd In about half the States the city population is predominantly feminine.

Laughter Adds to Beatify. Laughing is said to produce small wrinkles about the mouth, but no one need have any anxiety about wrinkles .lius formed, for they are rather pleasing than not, and often add to the at-' tractiveness of facej for they show a light and merry heart. “With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come/’ as Shakspeare says. Cheerfulness and bright,- happy looks always add to beauty, so laughter should certainly be encouraged, even at the expense of a wrinkle or two. It is the lines that come from a peevish, discontented frame of mind that disfigure the face, and have to be fought against Hints of All Sorts. A good remedy for damp walls is to make a strong solution of alum and wash the walls down with it. Do not soak fresh fish in water before cooking, as this treatment only ruins the flavor and makes it soft. To clean oilcloths wash always with warm milk. Once In six months Scrub with hot soapsuds, dry thoroughly and apply a coat of varnish. They will last as long again. Oranges should be eaten freely as long as they are in season, for, besides being a delicious fruit, they contain a large quantity of citric acid, so valuable for its medicinal qualities. For stopping leaks in a cask beat up some whiting with common yellow soap. If this mixture is well rubbed Into a leak It will be found to stop It, after everything else has failed. Rice flour paste makes a delicate cement, suitable for use on satin, silk or thin paper. To make it stir rice flour into a smooth paste with cold water and then gently boll over the fire, stirring all the while. To shrink woolen goods, such as Jerseys, is not difficult. The knotty point generally is bow to prevent flannels shrinking. If you wash the Jersey in a hot lather you will And it shrinks to any extent, according to the heat of the water.® Rain water is by far the best for washing the face in, as it has a softening effect, if possible never, use hard water, but when you are obliged to do so throw a handful of oatmeal into It, or a little pure borax. If your face is inclined to be hard and dry, wash it in hot water before going to bed and then mb In some emollient cream, or glycerin and'rosewater.

USEFUL VANDYKED EDGING.

HEIRESS OF THE HIRSCH MILLIONS.

MRS. CRUGER.