, 1874-02-08
METROPOLITAN MODES,
The Coming Shadow Of Lcnt---Tho
hettielrum Waning Favor.
A Few Noticeable Costumes--Ele-
CANT Visiting Dresses.
Beautiful Imported Gowns-.-Blue
to Continue the Vogue.

! Beautiful Imported Gowns-.-Blue
to Continue the Vogue.
] Fron, oAr O.fn Correspondent
| NEW Yonk, Feb. 1, 1874
| As the shadow Of Lent ia looming up before
| merry Metropolta1s, tho two weeks botween
now and then will be crowded fuller Of entertain
! meats than any fortnight OF tho. season. 1t is
| nor thai everybody il SO pious in Manhattan %
! to be willing to devote twelfth OF the year to
spiritual matters.-having eagerly giyen the re-
! naming eleyen-twelftns to matters most un-
spir1tual,-b that everybody is glad Of little
| rest. Therefore. those who DO not keep the
forty days for theological, keep them for
1ygienic reasons; and the good they thus derive
ID, perhaps, u great rs that gained by their de-
voutez neighbors. Ba1ls. parties, receptions
socal literary, artistic, and political breakfasts,
lunches, dinners, and tho recent importation,
the kcttlcdrum, arc crowding these pre-Lental
days to oyeraowing,
THE KETTLEpnuM
is steadily winning favor in New York. Laat
season it WIS new, and it WAS thought that only
its novelty made it popular. Nobody could be-
levo that an entertainment, given between the
rather nondescript hours Of aud 7, where the ro-
tea and cake, or tea and sandwiches,
would Last second season. But this
"British institution" promises to bo na:uralizcd
before the end Of winter, III the first place, its
cost ncco.ds we'll With the supposed state Of our
finances. 4 few flowers, an extra waiter OF two,
and unlim tea and cake, represent tho itoms
OF expense. Secondly, street or carrioge-cos-
tune alono is worn by the ladies' and this rem
ders it not only possible but quite the thing, to
appear in tho same dress agan and agaln. As
gentlamen are now invited, though this ia a de-
parture from the original custom, ,-thoy come in
morning suits, even in business garb since they
not infrequently drop in for q cup Of tea on their
WY home to dinner.
From IN intellectual point OF Wow, the Kettle
drum is not 8 success. Each guest rarely re-
mains over hall an hour, and the constant COM
Ing xEd going is anything but inspiring to COIL
versation. Conversation, however, in any strict
sense, never having been distinguishing char
aeteristic Of fashionable society," it may not mt
ter il Eatle-drummers haVo to do without it.
STRIKING COSTUMES.
At one of these recent tea-reunlons, there
we're somo strikinsy- pretty costumes; 8 carriage
dress Of grare-blue gros grain being one OF the
prottiest< The demi-traisl is silk, with alternate
two-inch stripes of silk and yelvet,-the latter
two shades darker than tho gros-graiu stripes
The skirt is entirely without trimmlng,-a velvet
cord the size OF ones finger tnahing 1t round the
edge To look at it, one would fancy there werenot
more than three breadths ia the train, SO closely
does it sling to the figure. though without un-
gracefulness. Let me remark, IN paranshesls,
that sIr.s OF oil lengths are tending toward less
fullncss even t. an they have had OF lato, which
certainly has boen as littlo as wo should havo
supposed grace would admit-) Tho jncket-pol-
onalEa IS velvet. the shade Of the stripe in the
skirt; quite long behind; hangs without looping,
excep= on tho hips and in front is open turning
buck with wide reyers OF plain sill, tho tint Of
tho silk stripe. The revers, held down By |
wrought velvet buttons aud simulated velvet |
button-holes, continue up tho waist to the reck.
1aring collar Of slk, insl6c OF which q
high, full 1uche Of lace ia worn. The coat
sleeves rather broador at tho hand than has
been the mode. and have deep Louis XIV: cuffs
required. This suit ia severely simple,-hard1y
worth describing, perhaps, except that its ez-
quiaite elegance ls noticeable beside the extraor-
dinary combination Of nl-:aste and sheer
exhibit.
a PRETTY VISITING DRESS.
Another visiting dress is Of black silk, finished
with three shades OF blue, the lightest being
train is foarteen-inch bias iounco Of black,
bordared by three pipings Of tho three shades OF
blue. Tho top of the dource is finished in tho
Same way,-the ightest blue coming on the !
frin formed by tho plating of the aoun:e> The |
Aounco IS laid in box-plats, two inches vide, !
with IN equal space between. On the right /
side, the aouuce widens till it reaches hn,t way !
up tho skirt,-she finish and plating bei1,S tho |
same in the narrower part. This bold de*vice !
Is prevented from appearing awkward by ssash |
overskirt. This is edged similarly to the 1lou.ce,
and is drawn On tho right side. aboro the wide
portion Of the tlornce, through three long 10 ops
shades Of blue. After passing through tho
loops, it is carried round the skht,
tying once, loosely, low on the l.ft.
The waist is cut in throo deep points behind, un-
dor which is caught triple friil of the sha les
ping f1ills, tho iGhtes. tint uppermost. In
front, the waist il in double points over simiaar
f1ills,-the thEee passing entirely round Tho
middle points up the front, aad round tht,v
The sleeves nre coat-shape, and trimmed ab out
the hand with three fr1lls Of tho different b, sea
turning each way; folded band of black n; Cl-
ing tho division. aud end!ng III a cunning Ii tile
to this costume 1s OF black velvet, with pipi ngs
OF tho three shades OF blue, and ostrich. Ups
shaded to match. It is hardly necessnry to re-
mark thai this dress ia tho property Of blonde,
since few even Of tho clearcst-tinted brupettee |
would choose to rtBk 80 many shades Of blue.
IMPORTED GOWNS.
lady just from Paris brings several gowns
IS plain and elegant AS have been promised for I
lilac gros-grMn Of the richest quality. The !
derni-trnin skirt ia guiltiegs OF ornamentatioa.
aud hangs closely to the figure in front and on
the sides. The waist Ii simple jockey bascpe, |
finished by q large cord OF black velvet and .
trimming Of ChAntilly lace The sleeves arc
coat-shc?e, and corded With velvet round the
hand End up the back seam,-a slightly y-sathered !
1uAle Of lace following the cord. Black volve.
buttons, Set in little rosettes Of lace, close the
waist This robe is an ideal creation IN point Of
beauty, and very real in point Of good taste and
practcabi!ity. It can be readily cut from four
teen yards Of sill1; and just 7efoat npon the
difference between that and thirtyi It's the
between one gown and two,-to say
nothing Of the relief to eyes and body to be
freed from the wretched conglonerates Ne have
dared 80 long to style artistic trimmings.
4 white gros-grain, while it is not SO 1oso-
lutely severe a. the lilac ia as b{.su.iful a. the