Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 39, Number 23, 6 December 1913 — Page 13

THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM AND SUN -TELEGRAM, SATURDAY, DEC. 6, 1913

HAR8 mar come and yrt

Y may go but the despot I Goddess of Fashion always

reigns supreme, inougn bd may change her fickle mind many times within a year.;

Let us take a peep at the modes off yesteryear, and try to picture bowj the ladies were gowned at Christmas Qme one hundred years ago. The empire gowns were the moet prominent feature of the time. In the empire gown there was so little of the waist that the skirt formed nearly the whole dress. The dancing frocks were always short, nearly above the ankles. Indian muslins, Canton crepes, gauze, and nets were the most popular materials. Great trees was laid on the draping of a gown. A lady was not spoken of as being well dressed but as being "beautifully draped." The skirts were very scant fitting, never measuring over three yards around the bottom, and were so tight clinging that very few undergarments were worn. There was a great irregularity in dress, Just as we are partial to the one-sided effects at present. The gowns were often slashed or looped up on one side they most had a certain similarity to the

gowns we see in the cabaret shows. In a description of a bride's gown we read, "All the clothes worn by the bride might have been put in my pocket. Her dress was of muslin richly embroidered, of extremely fine texture. Beneath her dress ohe wore but a single garment." All the dresses worn at the Christmas season were of the sheerest materials, even for street wear. The ladles most have felt considerably chilled, dressed in muslins in December. In the year 1811 many of the fashion plates show full ball gowns with pantalettes. Horrors! Are we. going to revJve that old style? Only the other day I read an advertisement of "The New Pantaletted Dresses." An evening dress described in a fashion magazine of 1813 has long pink satin trousers to the ankle edged with three ruches of pink and white. Over these is a scant pink satin chemise dress Bkirt, edged with

tne same ruches. Another fashionable evening dress a few years later is described as follows: "A blue silk petticoat sufficiently short to display a pair of white satij trousers, finished at the bottom with blue silk fringe and made very loose. The corsage of white satin was cut as low as possible around the bust and ornamented with narrow lace trimming." As late as 1821 the Lady's Magazine gave the information that "female children all wore, in winter,

pantaloons of merino with short petticoats and in summer they wore pantaloons of white dimity or calico." Here it a description of a gown worn by a young girl in New York. "The dress is of salmon pink lutestring, made with a very short waist. Sea green silk edged with blonde Jace and trimmed with salmon pink and white ribbons form the hat to ear with this. The slippers are of salmon pink kid. With this gown are worn white silk stockings and a salmon pink gauze shawl with a black and white border." Every fashion bulletin of the time made special mention rrf spencers. They were worn on eve occasion. Purple and orango was a favorite combination, also black with bottle green, or Jonquille and amber. White velvet spencers were trimmed with swan's down. The hair was arranged very simply in carls, often with one curl falling

over tne rorehead. Sometimes a silk i handkerchief was knotted in the hair, i or a narrow band was worn. High

;back comb, belped keep the stray locks in place. The corsets under the empire gowns were not as comfortable as thy are today. In fact much less so. The stays were of brass or iron and sieel with the tons sHfriv

steeled so that the shoulder straps ' Ti ! r. V- V ,. Ji , . . . I

""bin ub uispensea witn and yet the pictures of that age show the ladies with smiling countenances!

The hats for evpmnfr -manr tmara

often of white satin trimmed with 3carlet feathers. Straw hats also were worn at Christmas time as well as in July and were generally tied down with a crimson silk handkerchief. Imagine a green willow bonnet trimmed with orange colored gauze ribbon and black and white feathers tied down with a crimson silk handkerchief. The poke bonnet appeared in 1804 and was much ridiculed. Then sunbonnets and Quaker bonnets were very popular. It was quite the fashion to wear

hats at tiiuour affairs and even to carry muffs. As for fans, they were an indispensable adjunct to the toilette and much study was given to the way to carry a tan. Artificial flowers were used in clusters to trim the skirts and bodices. If natural flowers were worn, the camella was much favored. Flowers were also worn la the hair arranged In loose ringlets. Rouge and pearl powder was ased by maids and matrons. In fact the matrons of fifty years of age moet

certainly dressed as youthfully as I thy do today. Old picture show them decked with lac and ribbons and wreath of roses with gold leaves In their false hair. ! Heavy gold chains were a novelty . of the time and are among the most 1 treasured of heirlooms of today. Necklaces set in amber, topax. sapphire, or pearls, with Ioijr drop earrinjts to match, were much in vogue. The beaded bags, so fashionable now, are but an old style rovlred. Then as now there were no pockets in the dresses, so a reticule, or beaded bag. was carried which contained a handkerchief, a fan. small change and an essence bottle. The average price paid for knitting a bag was five dollars. Some quaiut old bags were designed with pictures of horses, barns, houses, cl urches, trea and flowers. The 6 hoes for evening wear were ! little fiat slippers of the white or j rose colored kid with very pointed ; toes. The rijtht and left" !n shoes I were only introduced in 1800. and shoe polish a little later. Previous j to this a mixture was used on shoes j which invariably ruined the bottom

of the frock. Shawls played an important part 1n the scheme of decoration: one possessing a valuable shawl was envied by all others. As the dresses were of such sheer materials and cut very low, these became an absolute necessity to the wardrobe. There was a certain art in the weartng of them, and much personal taste was exerted in studying which was the most elegant and becoming way to drape the shawl. Indian shawls were beautiful as well as expensive. Canton crepe, soft silk with borders which were very bold in colors and design, were much sought after. The sleeves of the dresses were very short, a mere aoology for sleeve, and whn long loves were

! worn they were wrinkled so as to

cover very little of the arm below the elbow. About this time short gloves were worn as a novelty of the season. Home made glovea were made of linen or "prekale." Often long detached sleevea were finished at the hand in a sort of mitt. We talk of the extravagances of

the present age. bat when we reatf the description of the materials worn j by the ladies who lived in the early part of the last century, we must i admit that they also must have had extravagant notions, for they seemed ; to have liked nearly the same ttinss that interest us. When It comes to items of fashion, well, "there really . is nothing new under the sun but

;hat which has grown old eaougiu"

CURIOUS DUELS.

Combats In Which tb Weapons Selected Were Avalanches. An exir:ior'.inary duel was fouit war Mont H":in- in France. Tj rviur. nsou who hr.d fallen iu love itb the saii:e srl arranged to flsht a d.iet, w;th nature as decider of the result. SvNvtitiK a part of that mountainous district, many thousand feet up. wbers avalanche are known to fall at fre-Quet-.t Intervals, the loer agreed to take it in turn to tai:l for a gtvea time in the m st tlaueroas sKt that .on'.il be found T!".e idea wan that when one va killed by an avalanchs Ihe other thouM be free to props to the slri whom they Nnh loved. 1b th! c.Ke the iiea Ns-ame a fact. This is i:nt the nl instance on record of a duel by avalanche. A fe Tears ao two 1 at Hans, named t.,irtta and Sorato. devitled to ttt fate In this n;ainer. and also for the loxe of a woman. l-"or three mornings they tempted nature, but nothing serlou happened. On the fourth day Ouetta was knocked down by a falling avalanche, hut not much hurt. Then It wai that their TchmX supply pave out. and they returned home to get some more. By this time the poli.-e hid come to hear of their strange duel, and threatened thera lvth with imprisonment. So the un daunted rivals scttb-d their differences In another and less adventumun tray. They drew lots for their lady lve. Sorato won. and after Ouetta had left the village he wj married to the girl sf his choice. I,ondnn Answers.

Palladium Want Ada Paj

Here you have a selection that is unique in its completeness. As most people know, this store sells for less than other dealers the same values for less money. As jewelry is the most appropriate gift of all, we ask that you see our stock before deciding what to buy. A visit to our store will help you in deciding what to buy.

Specials for Next Week Cut Glass Punch Bowl, large and elegantly cut, $18 value for. . . .$12.00 Cut Glass Electrolier, just the thing for center table, $8.50 value for. .$6.50 One lot of Cut Glass Tumblers these are of good quality, 65c value for 45c Ladies' Fine Silk Umbrellas, gold filled and pearl handles at a discount of 15V One Westminster Chime Clock, mahogany case, $25 value for $18.75

WATCHES You will find the kind you want at the right price For Watches we are the jewelers for you to see. As gifts there is nothing to equal it. Now what we will show you is the kind you will want because we have a stock comprising the cheapest, moderate and highest grade Watches. The very best makes in the world all style cases, both open face and closed. It will pay you to see us as our prices will make you buy if it's Watches and Jewelry you want.

Specials for Next Week One Coffee Percolator, large size, nickle finish, $10 value for $8.50 Copper and silver plated Baking Dishes large and small size at discount of 20 V One copper Alcohol Stove, $6.00 value for $4.75 One Ramekin Set 6 Dishes on Copper Tray, $10 value for . $8.00 Two and three piece Carving Sets, silver plated and stag horn handles, at discount of 20

RINGS MAKE EXCELLENT GIFTS You won't be able to find a better selection of Rings than we have in our stock they are just the kind you would want for a gift to a friend, brother, sister or relative. We ask you to see them before buying. Special prices given.

SILVERWARE IS MUCH APPRECIATED As a family gift, nothing will be appreciated by her more than Silverware. It is a useful present and will always be remembered by the recipient. We carry an exceptionally large stock to select from you will find all of the well advertised patterns.

Just a Suggestion in

WATCHES SIGNET RING SET RING WATCH FOB UMBRELLA

SMOKING STAND MILITARY BRUSHES FRATERNITY RING FRATERNITY BUTTON WATCH CHAIN COAT CHAIN

SCARF PIN CUFF LINKS DIAMONDS SHAVING MUG TIE PIN

So Fo toffi

12 North Ninth Street

THE JEWELER

ID)farracls Any Size Best Quality At Prices That Make Them Bargains

These Suggestions IFW Iffleir (Bilrt

DIAMOND RING UMBRELLA CUFF LINKS WATCH LAVALLIERS BEAUTY PINS WATCH CHAIN BRACELET BREAST PINS NECKLACE SET RING COMBS TOILET SET SIGNET RING CUT GLASS SILVERWARE CHAFING DISH LOCKETS SPOONS

dJo IF

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12 North Ninth Street

THE JEWELER