The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-09-27
FALL FASHIONS.
BY MAY WEED.

| trcss of animated femineity, shocked some
of our sensibilities. too many instances,
with regard to Dress happiness and con-
tentment seem to depend upon the number
of ruffes and ruches that can be placed
upon the human form. Verify what beasts
of burden some of our fair sisters make of
themselves One can but reflect upon the
tendency of such unlimited indulgence,
aud wonder what is to become of the har-
mony of life in this grand rush and strug-
gle for costly fabric and its costlier adorn-
ment. However, we pass over the eXtrav-
agant multitude and discuss the general
items of a seasonabe toilet, the novelties,
new goods, their texture, and hues. The
modistes are already makings cissors work
of cashmere, camels' hair cloth, and pop
lin, which this season range entirely among
the darker shades and bid fair to reign
supreme in the realm of fashion. The
new tints are neutral, suggesting green,
stone, russell, drab, plum color, and dark
blue, gradating through a scale of six COM
/ binations, more or less intensified. They
blend charmingly in extreme contrast, and
are delicate and quiet in appearance
Then comes an endless assortment of old
and young Hyson, Seuchong, Japan, and
China shades, under the comprehensive
head of tea and coffee varieties. One in
stinctively says "prism " as the goods are
gathered into artistic folds for considera-
ton. When their euphonious names are
announced we almost imagine we are one
of select little coterie of ea-drinkers in
the country, and involuntarily turn to
Miss Dusenbury to ascertain if the tea is
agreeable.
The coffee shades pass from one tone to
another with such gradual step the transit
ton is scarcely peIceptible. This variety
includes the soft, warm bronzes, and gold
en- browns dark copper tints, touching
subdued bluffs, giving even tan color
doubtful benefit, and limiting mysteriously,
in the other extreme, Of the cloudy Missis-
sippi, whose muddy representative will
probably grace many fair form this sea
son. The Russian gray families are also
neticeable-almost transparent, without
decision, character, or color, and in some
goods Opaque, but gray and greenish, or
leaden in hue. These tints are all the
more desirable for being neutral, and are
more becoming than decided blue, green,
or purple. They range from the acier, or
steel colors, dark grays tinged which brown,
including the Swedish grays, with really
| approach dark blue rather than gray. In
olive, sage, lizard, and frog green, there is
an infusion of green with brown, or what
is called in water-colors brown pink, ap-
parently so-called, because it resembles
neither. All of these are pleasing and gen.
teel in appearance, and are capable of ex-
quisite combinations. The goods them
selves, with few exceptions, are the same
as those worn last Winter. Cashmere,
which, for durability, warmth, and beauty,
was such favorite, will be worn univer-
sally for street and home-wear. The same
colors range in all the Fall goods, and the
counters present very sombre appear
ance accordingly. In price cashmere varies
with the width, being 95 cents for twenty
seven inches, and for forty inches 1926.
Satteens are in disfavor and are suppressed
ed by camels' HAIR, thick, soft, and rather
coarse in appearance, but really very hand
some. In marine and navy blue they make
very stylish suits for the street, and trim
we'll In the double-wi dth it is $50 per
yard.
The diagonal camels' hair, 4 little newer
in point of STYLE but not an improvement
otherwise, comes at So per yard. These
of course, are very wide, and have grace
of their own which outlasts one season.
The bertz cloths are decidedly pretty,
somewhat resembling an Empress cloth,
with very fine ribbed threads. They come
in all the deep shades also, but are partic
ularly pretty in marine blue and plum
color. They are forty-tive inches wide,
and $1.75 per yard, making beautiful suits
for all ordinary occasions. For Fall and
Winter wear, drap etc appears again,
though much improved in looks and be-
havior. The old trouble with that mate
rial, to speak technically, was that there
was no hang to it, but this season we can
gather it into soft, graceful folds, and be
satisfied both mentally and ornamenta!ly
with the result. Like cloth, it wears tigura-
lively forever, and is very wide, being fifty
inches, for which we are expected to pay
1926 per yard, or S2.12 single width
Diagonal serge is great favorite this sea-
son, and many of the new suits are made
of this material. 1t is twenty-seven inches
wide, and comes to $1G0 per yard, having
the appearance of a much more expensive
material.
For richness and elegance, nothing is
more beautiful than the new Sicilian goods,
which resemble a ponson silk. Soft and
glossy, they make very stylish and lady
like costumes. For a brides travelling or
wedding-dress, or for evening wear in the
lighter tones, nothing could be more chaste
or appropriate. A rich chocolate brown or
mourning steel is always desirable and
handsome. They are fifty-four inches
wide, 81; equal to $3.50 for single width,
or twenty-seven inches, which is wider
than the widest silk.
Such a brilliant array of Lyons silks
appear, that one is almost distracted. The
selection of one of these dresses can rea-
sonably be said to try at least one mans
and one woman's soul. At these counters
we contemplate prices and purses with
apprehension, and find at last in our nerv-
GUS palms but banquet halls deserted,
crushed fiat by the elephAntine foot of a
Lyons loom. We can all, however, APP
preciate the sensible remark made by
lady who announced that she had a new
black silk, and felt accordingly as though
her closets were bursting with dresses. 1t
is the one thing needed in lady's ward
robe, as also black alpaca. The prices
of silks do not vary from one season to
another, but range as usual from So to Sc
per yard. American silks are gradually
creeping into favor, and ladies report that
! they wear admirably. They certainly