Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 40, Number 239, 18 September 1915 — Page 11

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i. Republican France is revived in this new evening coat for which Drecoll stands sponsor. The tragically-ended splendor of Louis XV is reproduced in the rich Nattier blue velvet - and gold grosgrain silk with facings of antique gold brocade. Cuffs and collar are of black velvet and the coat has a sumptuous sweep from the low, unaccented waistline.

BECAUSE Paris is not gay just now, and almost all social life has been abandoned at the Capital, few elaborate costumes are being turned out by the couturiers. Evening gowns are built only on special order and at the big houses where one goes to observe authoritative new styles,, tailored modes for afternoon wear in the street are the first consideration and interest. Many of these costumes are in the form of one-piece dresses of wool weave, and serges and gabardines promise to have a new lease of life this year, in smart frocks for general wear. Sometimes silk or chiffon is combined with the worsted woven stuff in bodice or sleeve for the sake of softness and grace of line, and there are many dresses of the mohair and worsted mixture of which Paris is particularly fond. Martial et Armand stand spon

Miss Eugenie Besserer Arrived in New York City With Just 25 Cents Now a Star in Pictures

Miss Eugenie Besserer, the French emotional actress, had a long experie n c e in tne spoken drama before she became a star in motion pictures. She has appeared In the support of Nance O'Neil, Wilton L a c k a y e and Frank Keenan. Miss Besserer is perhaps the most versatile of motion picture stars, and her appearance In the leading role in Selig Diamond Specials "The Smoldering" and "The Melody of Doom," created worldwide attention. In .the following article Miss Besserer tells over her own signature her experiences as an actress. Editorial Note. ' By EUGENIE BESSERER. You may talk all you please about the "dignity of the stage," but do not forget the "dignity of the motion pictures.' Not so long ago it was considered undignified to leave the spoken stage for the silent stage. Those having the temerity to leave the stage for the movies were cause for commiseration. "Miss Jenkins, I see, has gone to the movies, well, well!" Now the shoe is bn the other foot. The exclamation may soon be heard: "Miss Jenkins, the well-known movie actress, has returned to the stage, well, well!" To paraphrase an old song:. "It shows what a difference just , a few years make!" I was born in Paris, but was taken by my parents to Ottawa, . Canada, early in life and I spent my girlhood In Canada. Unfortunately I was left an orphan and later, at the age of 12 years. I escaped from my guardr

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a. Nothing is more fashionable than white taffeta, untrimmed save by self cordings and puffings, as instanced by. this enchanting dance frock from Lanvin which follows closely the 1830 style.. In the rounded dccoUetage is a tucker of white net edged with rhinestones and rhinestones fall over the arm above the quaint little puffed sleeves. ;

sor for a costume of this material a light weight rep, combining mohair and wool threads in a most delightful color scheme: two shades of bluish violet with black braiding and. touches of silver embroidery. :There is a dashing coat in the Louis style and the frock beneath has a - most interesting skirt, gathered around side and back of hips between narrow box pleats. Under the box pleats and over the gathers runs a wide strip of black military braid which keeps the line of the skirt fiat and trim -over the hip while at the front there is a broad box pleated panel. ; The little coat-bodice of this frock is of chiffon velvet with ball buttons in sjlver. SURAH AND FAILLE THE FAVORITE SILKS Frocks V for indoor and restaurant wear are of soft silk and ' of chiffon lanS aridlduilcf Vmyffelt an absolute stranger, in the great city of New York, in the Grand Central Station, with 25 cents in Canadian money in my pocket. Through the kindly aid of a street car conductor and a directory, I succeeded in locating a former Governess whose name I happily remembered." This kindly lady was ' delighted to see me and with her aid, I discovered the residence of an uncle, with whom I took up my abode. "I continued my studies and became quite proficient in athletics. I took lessons in fencing and became rather proficient. I shall always remember that I held my own with no less an accomplished swordsman than the late Alexander Salvini. I had always an ambition to go on , the stage, and my first theatrical experience was with McKee Rankin, when he was; starring Nance O'Neil. Following this I played engagements with Wilton Lackaye and Frank Keenan, and then came a season in stock at Pike's Opera House, In Cincinnati. Another season I played in drama opposite Henry J. Kolker. I became wearied of stage life, with Its hardships, traveling and hotel life, and again took up the art of fencing at the Berkley Lyceum in New York City. Alice Roosevelt Longworthwas one of my pupils. I then again returned to emotional roles on the stage, was fortunate enough to attract' the attention of Margaret Anglin and was taken by her as an understudy to Australia. -. , . When 1 was eighteen years of age I tried my hand at play writing and wrote a drama which was success fully produced. I am also the author of -a number of vaudeville successes, : notably a fencing playlet, called "An Accident." . . The illness of my sister brought me to-California. There I became interested as a professional in the artistic possibilities of the motion pictures . and concluded to locate in the Golden State, naturally, rejecting the jjelig

THE KICHMOND PALLADIUM AND SUNmEGRAiATURbAY,5EErl8, 1915. . J

One-Picce Frocks of Wool Material in Tailored Style All-White and All-Black Taffeta Frocks for the Evening Blade Tulle Veiling Arms and Shoulders Suggests. French Sentiment in Evening Costumes A Tendency Toward Well-Rounded Figures Shown in

Italian Influence. velvet; taffeta in all-white or all-black with self trimmings of cording, puffing, and groups of tucks will be worn in the evening The tendency of Paris toward rather simple evening frocks is influencing dress the world round and little dance frocks of , black or white pussy willow taffeta are appearing now at Newport and Lenox fashioned in the 1830 styles put out by Lanvin and Christiane. The front of this tvoe is of white pussy willow taffeta with a gathered skirt putted between cordings al-

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fory scope Company as the most aeBirable association. It 1? not only good looks that count for success in motion picture work, one must have physical endurance, a capacity lor the hardest kind, of labor, and a willingness to follow the mandates of the Director. No matter how long an experience one may have had in dramatic work, no matter how versatile the artist may be, the Director's word in motion picture production is law. I remember one versatile actor in the cast of "The Circular Staircase," released in five acts as a Selig Red Seal Play.r This actor has had many years of experience in the spoken drama. He came to the screen with knowledge of his experience and with knowledge of his own importance. He was not inclined to observe the orders of the Director. The Director selects the types, he selects the costumes to be worn, he orders the entrances and the exits, and little is left to the artist. This particular actor could not understand this procedure. He had been acustomed to having his own way on the stage and there was many a tilt before he could appreciate that movie action must be done aa the Director orders, for the Director of Motion Picture production Is all responsible and all supreme. ' I was deliehtejd Jto be assigned the

4. Hoops reduced to the least dimensions are shown in this dance frock by Doeuillet, which has ... 15-in. wired extensions at the sides of the skirt-a skirt of lace, under a pleated apron tunic of white net. Gold- fringe on the girdle r gives the modish military touch, and the arms and neck are veiled by an airy bodice of white tulle.

most to the knee. The gathered bodice is cut out in rounded fashion to show neck and shoulders and the little puffed sleeves are outlined with corded puffing. NECKS AND SHOULDERS VEILED IN PARIS In respect for the national sentiment of seriousness in France, new evening gowns modestly veil neck and shoulders with black tulle. Very chic is a dance zrocic produced at the bouse 01 Uoeuilj'iaracter lead a3 "Aunt Ray InniS " in Mary Roberts Rinehart's great mystery story, "The Circular Staircase." I felt that I was fitted to such a part. As you will probably remember, "Aunt Ray" leases a banker's home. She is a woman with the courage of her own ' convictions, and when warned to remain away from the summer house she is more resolved to remain right ; there. . - "Aunt Ray" and her servant are aroused at 3 a. m. by the sound 6f a revolver shot. They venture forth, find the men folks have disappeared, and "Aunt Ray" is - horrified to discover a lifeless body huddled In the dark shadows at the foot of the circular staircase from which the five-part . production takes its name. The action starts right then and there 'and is never finished until the final scene where the lovers, are reunited. ! There is a scene in which I am supposed to do battle with a mysterious stranger in a secret room which I have discovered by means of a tape measure.. There is nothing supposi- , tious . about - this conflict, either. ."Put the pepper into this fight," ordered the Director. When it was fln-- - ished the unfortunate actor in the struggle had bis shirt artiallyv torn from his back. . v Baltimore has a factory to utilize tin scraps.

5. The princess frock has recaptivated feminine fancy and the new priacess models are coquettishly short, to show dainty, buttoned footwear. On princess lines is this exclusively smart frock of pussy willow taffeta in the new blue-violet shade and wide as the skirt is pleated taffeta edges its scallops all around. The manner of tieing the sash is notable.

let Skirt and low necked , bodice are of white embroidered chiffon and eold fringe ' edges a peplum-girdle and the hem of the skirt. A guimpe of thinnest black silk tulle with long sleeves and if you will believe it ! a sailor collar slips over the low-necked bodice of white embroidered chiffon. And the sailor collar has a tie of gold cord! An afternoon frock by Premet which also shows the military influence in a lacing of silver cord, has been copied for, a tall trousseau by a JMitn Ave-

Sketches from Life

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6. A

ning' frock in the Italian

style now To the nu dressmaker. The short,' circular gored skirt is of black goldenrod satin, and this black satin forms the back and high roll collar of the bodice, while fronts and sleeves are of flesh colored daphne silk as sheer as . chiffon. A. broad belt of the . .black. . satin crosses the front of the bodice and is laced to : the black satin back at the side seams with silver cord. This lacing runs down" the side of the skirt, also, as far as the knee. The separating of the bodice into two distinct sections, the back matching the skirt in material while the front is of chiffon or daphne silk, is an important style feature for autumn. PRINCESS FROCKS AND LOW WAISTLINES This fall the waistline is to be lower than it has been in some seasons, be 'Dogs an' Birds Don't Have t'

black satin and tulle eve

peasant fashion. coming into skirt of tucked black satin

nocturne is attached a tulle flounce distended by wires under jet banding. The peasant bodice is simulated in black velvet. Jet beads edge the floating tulle sleeves and, in keeping with Parisian sentiment now, the bare shoulders and neck are veiled with black.

cause of which the woman afflicted witf 'embonpoint will rejoice and be glad Little by little the Italian style-influence is beginning to make itself felt is Paris fashions and some couturien contend that this will mean mon rounded figure lines, especially the weft -rounded bust which has not been tolerated by Madame Mode for nearly 1 decade. At present, however, the slender, long-lined figure remains the idea.' one and the princess frocks as decreed by Paris are semi-fitting rather that . tight, though a model by Paquin in the princess style is definitely fitted in be -low the bust and about the waist under motifs of navy silk, the frock being of navy serge A graceful princess dress by CaUot. reproduced in black faille classique and chantilly lace, is so loose that it may be slipped over the head and has no ordinary opening. By Temple Gol"

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