The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-07-17 00:00:00

GREEK GIPSIES IN LONDON.

At the Thames I olice-court on Tuesday an appli-
eation was made to the magistrate with reference to
a band of Greek gipsies. Mr. ...trooper, part owner of
the land upon which the gipsies have encamped, said
that there were no arrangements for sanitary pur-
poses, and the gipsies were breaking down his fences
and burning them. These people were a great
nuisance in the neighbourhood: They begged about
the streets and in the shops, and always refused to
leave a house without being relieved. The magis-
trate (Mr. Lushington) observed that the people
could be given into custody for begging, or for wander-
ing about without any visible means of subsistence.
Inspector Dunstan said it was supposed that the
gipsies had plenty of money. On Thursday
98 adults and children were landed, and not one of
them was able to speak the English language, and
there was no interpreter. From a police point of
view they could not have selected a better spot for
their encampment, as no obstruction was caused at
that spot. At one time on Sunday no less than 4000
persons surrounded the encampment, and the pressure
became so great that a number of the tents was
knocked down. The sanitary inspector said he had
seen the Greek Consul, who said he believed that the
gipsies had between £4OO and £5OO amongst them.
Mr. Lushington told Inspector Dunstan that he had
better write to the Commissioner of Police on the
subject and ask what could be done. If any of the
people were brought before him he should be prepared
to deal with their cases, although he would much
rather tot do so.- -

GOSSIP ON DRESS.

NOTWITHSTANDING the political excitement, sass the
Queen, prevalent among all classes, and the un-
certainty of coming events, the season is gliding
merrily by. London is just as full as it can well he --
as the state of the streets and parks testify. Dinners,
dances, and reception" follow each other in quick suc-
cession, while bazaars, charity entertainments of all
kinds, political meetings, teas, and many other enter-
tainments, interspersed with a smart wedding now
and then, fill up the hours of the day. Dressmakers,
and all those engaged in catering for fashionable
humanity, have a busy time of it, preparing for pre-
sent requirements and coming fetes. Henley has
been paramount of late, but now the thoughts travel
on to Goodwood, then on to the Cowes regatta week,
and afterwards to moors and fens, travelling and
German baths.

TUE hot weather broke in upon us suddenly, and
there was a rush for white gowns of all kinds, varied
by delicate shades of pale pink, mauve, and grey.
Endless are the cool fabrics, and beautiful the fancy
canvases and muslins, the thin silks, and dainty mix-
tures of lace and embroidery. Ginghams striped with
broad and narrow lines of coloured plush are new this
season, and greatly in vogue for afternoon as well as
morning wear. Tussore silk is also much worn,
trimmed with insertions of the same coloured Mau-
resque lace. Tho tunics in some cases are composed
of alternate bands of tussore silk and lace insertion,
drawn back gracefully from the front, while the back
hangs in folds, and is untrimmed with lace, but orna-
mented with rows of small tucks at the end. Tussore
petticoats, with two flounces of the material, or of
coarse lace, are much worn under day dresses, and
are cool and light. The tussore dust cloaks, in several
forms, are quite popular.

IN a very short time the reign of cloaks will begin.
Hitherto little striking novelty has appeared. At As-
cot the weather was not altogether satisfactory, and
the leaders of fashion displayed serviceable wraps,
rather than novel ones. As afternoon or evening
wraps, the mantle rather than the cloak is in the
ascendant. Even at the so-called Colonies dinners
(which is one of the fashions of the day), when sitting
out in the grounds, listening to an enchanting band,
renders a wrap necessary, it is a short rather than a
long one.

THERE is another fashion which has grown and
gathered strength since last season and that is the
bachelors' teas—by no means bachelor entertainments
in the real sense of the word, but pleasant little
gatherings, to which favoured fair ones are invited,
and in which the giver takes great pride. There is
quite a competition among fashionable bachelors,
especially young men, about their parties and their
friends, and they are aware that the success or non-
success of each is known and canvassed among the
members of their set. Some teas aspire to be enter-
tainments with music or some fashionable amusement
of the day, and all are not given in the bachelor's
rooms, but at some popular rendezvous. In each
case the thing is thoroughly well done, and the host
provides the best he can, and the guests do him honour
by wearing their most becoming "confections."

BLIT to return to the subject of cloaks, from which
we have strayed, Among the novelties may be
reckoned the white or cream blanket cloth ulster,
lined with white or cream silk, with the hood to match.
It is light and becoming, and will probably be a great
favourite for yachting, or for chilly drives to and from
Goodwood. White bone buttons adorn the front.
There is an attempt to revive the once popular Colleen
Bawn cloak, in the original colour, but in rather a
darker shade, and with the addition of a hood. The
cape is gathered into the waist at the back, with a
rosette of the cloth, and the facings and linings of
cape and hood are of white silk. This idea has been
carried out in a brown cloth, with lining of shot gold "
and red silk. Some cloaks, used as real wraps, are
made over five yards wide, to throw around the figure.
A few are arranged with numerous flat small plaits
round the throat underneath the hood. Last year,
the Irish peasant-cloak was all the fashion, and this
season there seems some wish to affect the picturesque
cloak worn by the Bruges women; Some small
" sling " sleened mantles of colored cloth are edged
with a thick silken cord, very often of gold, and have
epaulettes to correspond, and an ornament in front;
They are much used for evening wear.

CLOAKS are almost always worn by foreigners, for
travelling, and becoming ones they usually are; but
jackets are decidedly more general with our own
countrywomen. Those made of the same cream or
white blanket cloth as the cloaks are popular, and can
be worn, with good taste, over any light costume, even
of white muslin and lace., Some, specially made, are
braided with gold braid. One style of braiding is
done on bands of coloured silk, which are carried
down the back and front of the jacket. For
instance one in navy blue serge would have three bands
down the back, drawn towards each other at the
waist, and then spreading out again of red silk, with
close-set rings of gold braid all the way down; and
the cuffs and collar would correspond, and also the
front, if there was not a red waistcoat. In white, the
same style is carried out in :black braid on grey, red,
or white silk. The hat to be worn with the jacket
would be of cloth, with three straps braided to match
the pocket, placed up the right side, but slanting
towards the front, and finished off with loops of the
two colours in ribbon. The white and coloured flan-
nels in narrow stripes are already very popular for
tennis and cool country wear. Pink and white and
pale blue and white seem rather the favourites. They
are made without any trimming, fitting perfectly but
not closely to the figure. Black, cream, white, or
coloured stockingnette jackets, trimmed military
fashion with silk braid, are fashionable, and also black
curly stockingnette.

IF anyone possesses a set of handsome buttons I,ano
the collecting of quaint buttons from Russia, Norway,
Damascus, Malta, or Spain is so fashionable now,
with those who can procure them in their own travels,
or through friends), they can display them to full
advantage by sewing them down on one side of a
jacket front which fastens across, or by placing a few
on the turned back velvet lappel on the right side of
the bodice of a gown. If in large numbers, they are
fastened to silver chains and sewn round the throat as
a necklet, or down the edge of the bodice opening in
front, and also in two or even three rows, going a
little distance up the sleeve, partially hanging over
each other. Long brooches are composed of a bar,
with buttons depending from it by chains, set close
together and hanging loose. 1 allude to the ball
buttons. Military buttons from off a mess jacket are
often utilised in this way. Handsome large fancy
buttons are to be seen on the flat, turned back brims
at the back of the new hats, with narrow straps of
velvet or ribbon attached, and fastened to the top of
the crown. Double shawl pins, attached by a chain,
, are also used for this purpose, and so arc any fancy
I ones, such as swords, oars, arrows, Szc. Some
1 new lawn tennis belts for girls, in gilt chainwork,
I laced with coloured silk cord, are novel.
'The two lengths of chainwork are apparently
' lated together to form the requisite width, in pink,
blue, ruby, &c., and there is a clasp with a miniature
' tennis bat engraved on it. Soft Sarah scarves ia
cram or colour, measuring from 23 to 3 yards, are
of en worn for tennis, tied loosely round the waist,
al3 d hanging down at one side. They are also greatly
in vogue for young children to tie over little frocks
, or,pinafores. Muslin sashes, embroidered in coloured
wishing cotton, to some depth up each end, are also
fashionable and very handsome. The ground is
I usually a deep cream, and the colours brown, red, or
cream. Bib fronts, made from an ordinary large.
sized white pocket handkerchief, or coloured silk
ones, considerably smarten, and vary a simple morn-
inc, gown. They are made most easily, gathered up
1 at tife throat and again just above the waist, and
tucked into the band or bodice. There is always a
narrow tie in white or colour (an ordinary man's tie)
at , the throat, not always passed round, but just
placed on the gathered fulness in front.
* * * •
BEADED tulle for veils, powdered with tiny beads
of the same colour, is to be seen now, such as white,
with minute pearls, grey, with dull grey beads, and so
on, Boas of gathered silk, with frayed-out edges, are
slowly gaining favour, but are not so pretty or be-
coming as the lace ones. They look as if the long
narrow le.igth of coloured frayed silk had been rolled
up, and then drawn out just to show half of it. They
have a piece of stiff net as a background, and the
silk measures about four inches in width. The fashion
of turning up the brim of the sailor hat at the back,
with straps or a bow, is smart-looking and becoming
to a youthful head blessed with a wealth of hair.
White ribbon or velvet is very general this year for
trimmiir- ii-abi hats. The crowns are higher than
they wlre, aIV, a broad ribbon is passed round,
and ei` be sinDly finished off in double flat loops,
Or pa
kered u? iito a cluster of upstanding bows.
Fronl ec
L._three t) four yards of ribbon can be
1, used ~. ,ta2is The Robin Hood hats, with
high crowns, proievting brim in front, and curled up
shortened brim at the back, are equally popular, and
they are trimmed up one side, usually the left, with
ribbon, dowers, or lace, with an end of lace or ribbon
curled round the base of the crown to the other side.
Sometimes a scarf of lace or gauze is placed half way
up the crown on the right side, secured by a small
bow of ribbon, then carried down to the base in front,
and then as high as possible up the left side. A spray
of flowers is occasionally put quite on the top of the
crown. Veiling hats and flowers with coloured tulle
is a pretty fashion. The tulle is secured to the top
of the crown and drawn down.
* * *

THERE is no particular fashion of real flowers now,
for everything is fashionable in wild or cultivated
growth that this summer weather produces. Roses
are, of course, prime favourites.

A patent medicine manufacturer, having sent to the
wife of a prominent man in Newport, Ky., a bottle of
his medicine for trial, after a suitable length of time
had passed, wrote to him as to wit: "Dear sir,—
Please write over your own signature what effect the
medicine had on your wife." The reply was as to
wit: "She only took one dose of it, and it nearly
killed her. Another would have had the desired
effect, but I couldn't get her to take any more."
Although the man signed his name in full to his
reply, for some reason or other it was never printed
in any paper by the ratent medicine man.