Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-12-23


For some years it has been rumored that
the old fashioned boa would be brought out
but the prediction remains uniulfllcd. But
there is some approach TO it in the narrow
boa that ties in one knot, with long ends reach
ing to the waist The small boa is made NJ
of single skin, with head remaining as az
ornament, The boa does not gain favor rap.
I idly, most ladies preerring the collar, but
those made Of white are much used for opera
wear, and the mink, with its glittering eyes
is much admired for the completion Of a skat.
ing costume, aud matches the pocket muff.
Ermine sets are the most fashionable for
opera or evening wear, and the only fur suit
able to be worn with a costly velvet cloak
Sable is made in mufTs, bows and collars
Mink is the most generally worn Of dark fur,
the price being lower than sable The price
Of a mink set is less than last year. ,he prin.
cipal cause Of this being the increasing popu-
larity Of Persian and Astrachan
Gray squirrel is still much worn, and is
durable, looking well until nearly worn out.
The coarse common furs. which were often
seen during the past few years, now find no
purchasers, and should not be worm
Sealskin was introduced last year, and will
be much worn for skating costume the COM
ing season. 1t is made in loose sack, lined
with quilted silk, muif to match, aud 4
jaunty cap Of glossy sealskin, with droop-
ing feather Occasionally sealskin sack
is noticed for its oddity, having vein Of the
natural color Of the seal which is yellow
-. s.s,.y i4st. s-.t.t- geaea ti-e ft17i IL
the form Of vine with tendris.
Russian lamb is made up in sacks with
muf and collar, or boa. Gray Persian is
worn in sets Of cloak, muf and collar there
are two kinds of this gray, one with fine
round carl about the size Of a small shot, and
another with larger curl and more glossy.
Persian is more costly than squirrel, but prob
ably not as durable, and is made from the
skin of sheep found in Persia and the south
of Russia.
Asiraehan, both black and gray is much
used for coaks, muifs and collars, and costs
much less than Persian. The Astrachan is
of two qualities: the prime has a fine, thick
curl, is soft, firm aud durable, and Is the skin
of a lamb killed when from one year to eigh-
/ teen months old. The inferior quality i,
taken when the lamb \ very young, is more
glossy than the prime, and having larger cur
resembles moire silk 1t is more sought af
/ ter than the other, though less durable, per
haps on account of its brightness and gloss
The Astrachan is worn in mourning and j
used in bands for trimming the cloaks ar,
usually finished with Angola fringe.
Sets of furs can be purchased Of every va
riety at reasonable prices this season. A
mink muff, according to the dark shade an,
quality, from twenty-five to seyenty-hye dol
lars, and a collar from twenty to forty dol
! lars. Persian and Astrachan sets sack in
cuded, the smallest, of inferior quality, a
sixty-fve dollars the better for one hundred
and thirty-fve dollars.
Something new aud effective and which
will be an attractive skating costume, is sacl
of Iceland lamb skin, with cap and muf o
the same it is of snowy whiteness, and th'
sack is trimmed with Angola fringe. The
sack is made loose, and has belt Of th'
same with loops at the back ends as lont
as the cloak, and tipped with fringe Th
cap of this Iceland lamb is made the toQu
shape which is round crown and marrow
brim, the only trimming band of white vel
vet and long white ostrich feather.
There is a novelty in the trimming 0
mufs instead of the silk tassels are the fu
tips to correspond with those on the collar
this is more elegant than the tassels, an
wears handsomer. Many Of the ermine col
lars are lined with soft, snowy down, whic
is an improvement on the silk quilted lin
ings.
-s'Foot mulfs are muelf- ip vogue s6r oarriaty
use and sleighing, but there is nothing neN
in form or material q handsome one is mad
of tiger skin.
Carriage robes are very snowy, those line
ed and bordered with scarlet being the hand
somest They are made of the skins of tn
Polar bear, the leopard and tiger.