Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1878 — Scotch Plaids in Renewed Favor-Other Fashion Items. [ARTICLE]

Scotch Plaids in Renewed FavorOther Fashion Items.

Scotch plaids have again appeared. Blue and green, with threads of dark red and old gold colors, are the handsomest. Suits of this material are made in skirts without trains and long polonaises, and also in Princess dresses with the veston and apron taken in with the side seams. The trimming consists of ruchings bordered with faille cordings in the bright color of the suit, and falling below the goods. One important rule to be observed in making these suits is to have as few seamsas possible. A seam down the middle of the back and another under the arm are sufficient. As the checked goods now in use have larger checks than usual, they only make dresses suited to slender figures.- Plaid stockings, which have up to the present time only been worn by children, are used with these suits, and the trimmings and sash are generally in the same colors, to prevent the effect from being too glaring. Cloth suits have become very popular. They have the peculiar “ tailleur” cut, which is something like the riding habit. They generally consist of a train skirt, plaited in the back. The front and siae pieces are tight-fitting toward the top, while the lower part is raised in several draperies and fastened down in the middle under a faille bow. The waist is a half cuirass with “ Directoire” revere and a postilion basque. It closes down the front by means of tiny metal buttons. These same buttons also trim the basque and the rather flat sleeves. The borders of the dress are generally finished with several rows of stitching. Cloth suits are also made in Princess shape and trimmed with cordelieres. If these suits have a square, low neck, and an aumoniere depending from the side they are very similar to the dress worn by Marguerite in “ Faust.” Narrow flounces are again coming into fashion. For Princess dresses they are only used to cover the supplementary train. These flounces are from two tothreeinchesdeep. They are gathered, and the lower part is pinked out or trimmed with “frange mousse” or lace. Either nine, eleven, fifteen, or twentyone of these flounces arc placed upon the skirt. This full trimming forms a striking and effective contrast to the flat Princess back. The Princess must be, as it were, independent of the train, and the train may be of different material, such as faille or taffetas, the latter being most suitable for narrow flounces. A striking contrast of color is observable in some of the new toilets, as, for instance, in dresses of cardinal satin with polonaises of purple velvet with inserted satin puffings. This ensemble of warm colors is admirable. Handsome evening toilets can, however, be made in the same style with more subdued tints, such as pale blue satin for the body of the dress, and a navy blue velvet polonaise with red pipings and sky-blue inserted puffings. Yellowish greens are still very fashionable for evening wear. Lyons pompadour grenadines are the newest styles. A Parisian novelty in bracelets consists of gold and silver serpents, which are twisted as many as eleven times around the arm. Serpent designs are very much used for all articles of jewelry. Handsome pins are again in use to fasten coiffures and bonnets.

The fashion of wearing ornamental caps is now established. It is rather difficult to describe what these coiffures consist of. Many shapes are resorted to, among others the Charlotte Corday and baby shapes. The Catalano is a genuine Italian style; its form is a long square surrounded by lace. It is fastened down to the front of the head by means of a gilded Japanese pin. The coiffure includes lace, ribbon, crape, flowers, beads and jewels. There are two kinds of puffs. One is made of gauze, tulle or fulled lace, trimmed with a bouquet, a hummingbird, or any ornament in this style, and the other of flowers or feathers. The garland of flowers is a little out of fashion, flowers arranged as sprays being now preferred, as being more generally becoming. Coiffures for the evening are fastened down with pins, with diamonds and different jewels. For very young ladies it is better not to cover the head. Elegant parures are made of diadems of velvet enriched with pearls and diamonds. Combs are also made with pearls. A corresponding necklace is a great addition to the general effect. A Decoming puff for brunettes is of yellow roses, moss and small red seeds. All these things form a trimming placed upon a very small round piece or white lace. This lace is worked with mossgreen and clair de lune beads. The back part is formed of a shell-shaped trimming of the same kind of lace, with green ribbon moss and red seeds. A wreath of tea roses has the flowers larger in front than on the sides; they are mingled with bronze-colored plush and satin loops. In front of the coiffure, falling over the hair, is a fringe of yellowish leaves. Down the back are long ends. A lace mantle for the head for evening wear is made of white Spanish lace mounted upon a stiff tulle form. The lace falls flat over the front of the head, and is taken back on the side under a bunch of roses. One of the pointed ends form a scarf, fastened under the chin with another bunch of roses. The other point falls over the shoulders. Two gilded pins, joined by a chain, fasten the coiffure down in the middle of the head. On top, in the back, is a ribbon bow with longends. The Spanish lace covers the back of the head and neck.— N. Y. flinies.

—Last wpek we traveled fifteen miles over rough roads, to see a friend on business. His wife informed us that as he had nothing to do, he had gone to town, and would not probably be back till dark. And yet when we went to his barn we found no hinges on his stable-door, no feed trough in his manger, no hay nearer than eighty rods ff, in a stack by the slough; the calves; colts and hogs in his young orchard, around his- door and well. His corncrib had no roof, his front-gate was nailed up, pigs sleeping In the manurepile, chickens roosting on the harjiess in the stable, etc., etc. And yet he had nothing to do. In the house we found, a smart wife, a sweet baby and everything neat, clean and tidy. Cati it be possible for any animal to be more petverse, careles and slovenly than man when he tries to be?—Zowa Stale Reg.isler. ....... There were more miles of railway constructed in lowa in 1877 than in any of the other States, except California and Minnesota. The figures are: lowa, 136; California, 190; Minnesota, 182. A multitude of laws in a country is like a great number of physicians —a sign of weakress and malady.— Vol* laire.