Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-01
EVENING STAR.
FASHIONS FOR DECEMBER.
Picturesque styles NJ vulxarly Low
Prices-WOfuen I'm Sea rles and Gold
Women fn Fur> and Feathers
Shopping for the n holidays.
ION Cl1 OlfT CoTTe9loadt1f.l

| From CJ1 OlrR CoTTeYDolfclr.l
NEW YORK. November, lSsS
| There is great deal OF pleasure in the
| bright days which come 10 US In the latter
half Of November in shopping, and seeing
| other people "shop" for the holidays. Men
make their purchase the night or day before
| Christmas or New Year, they know exactly
what they want to get, for IL is usually
| something about which they have received
| several unmistskable hints. a set OF furs
a seal skin jacket, pair of bracelets, a neck
chain with pendant attached, an opera glass
a book, an engraving, or perhaps q basket of
flowers, or box OF bon bons.
Whatever IL is, he Knows just where he is
L going to get IL, and is not troubled about
what il viii cost, he has not many presents
10 make and intends NJ shall be handsome"
So without troubling himself a moment be-
forehaDd, he rests in conscious mastery OF
the situation until the time for decisive az
ton arrives, then leisurely stops on his way
up or down town. at the costlIest slop he is
acquainted with. makes his purchase. orders
IL home and the DUTY performed, dismisSes 10
liom his mind. What he does not like about
the whole transaction is the hole il makes
IN his eNcbeQuer.
The ways OF women are very different from
this, partly from difference ia orgauiZa-
ZION, partly nom necessity. A woman never
has money enough TO buy ali she wants a.
once, and could not III she had, because her
purchases are so varied. aiapted TO 50 many
| family wants, and take in so great a diver
sity OF individualities, big aud little. Young
ana Old. IL is the woman who looks ogt Cpr
the children, who remembers about the slei A.,
| and tue skates, and the broken tea SCI, and
the dilapidatod doll, and the coveted writing
desk, and other small articles. all OF which
must be reinforced at Christmas. or Christ
mas Will hot he any Christmas at all. 1t il
| she, also, wL0 must hunt the repos tories for
| the worsteds or silks IN which TO work nil
Taculous slippers, which papa" is TO get ia
Acknowledgement Of his solitaire; who knows
| Just what The grandma Will like, and who
| has TO spread five dollars over agaily-figurCt
| dress, and numerous small articles OF use
| and ornament for the critical approval OF
servants. No wonder She begins shopping
| in November! The money. bless you. has
been slowly accommodating through the year
III has been saved out OF joints, and heads or
| when the husband dined at his club. IL va,
helped considerably by making over a win
ter dress, instead of buying a new one: by
refining the childrens furs at home. anl
by-well, am not going to tell any more OF
the shifts and sacrifices which collected to-
gether that precious money; but / will Just
remark that il ii was happiness TO have IL
| II is ten times greater happiness 10 spend IL.
II was saved TO spend, and she only wants to
| spread her comfort and enjoyment in the
uses 10 which she puts II, over as much
space as possible.
There have been quantities OF vIrtuously
indignant articles written about shopping
ABOUT women who occupied their time in
looking at articles which they did rot want,
and couldn't afford 10 buy. But how DO we
Know they did not want them? MiEnt IL
not have given them poor sort of consola-
ton TO look at articles, simply because they
could not afford to buy them? Won en- are
so poor: there are some who live in very fiDe
houses, who do not know what ii is TO have
q dollar in their purse, which they can spend
| freely. IL is this which very often ma kes
women seem mean, and, like children,
pleased with tribes. A very nice looking
old lady was made completely happy this
| morning by having two inches on a remnant
OF ribbon Thrown in" Thought then ilone
only could be benefcent fairy about this
time, how delightful il would be 10 touch
with wand the thin, scant looking pocket
book OF some women, and have them ind un-
expected treasures in the shape of bills, aud
Imaginable lengths, duplicate gloves, attach
the wished for ornament to the waist, or
clasp IL round the neck, and witness the JOY
OF discovery.
REDUCTION IN PRICES.
An agency not altogether beneicent has
very much reduced prices this season on all
at the same time has limited the means OF
purchase. Clothing, ornaments, objects of
art, and luxury have not been obtainable Al
So many are trying to sell beautiful things,
remnants OF better days, SO few compare
lively have the money TO buy.
Diamonds, camels' hair shawls, rich laces
are offered in quantities at private sale al
less than hall their original value, and not A
lew bargains" have been secured in this
way, which will make great and uneXpect-
ed show on Chris mas tables and in growa-
up Christmas stockings.
American manufacturing skill and enter
formerly costly fabrics, and articles en-
ploy ed for use and ornament We are max
ing our own camels' hair cloth, at a cost
which enables the merchant to sell IL at sl.50,
instead of $3.50. We are making our own
jewelry, real and imitation-that Is, some OF
ii; our own silks, our own japanned paper
ware. and some OF our finest fans.
In the more delicate branches of industry
We could do much more if workers were
trained, like the French, to habits of indus
try and economy. We cannot make fine
artificial flowers, not because the skill is
lack ing, but because the waste of infinites-
imal particles OF rich material is so great as
to more than absorb the profit. In French
artificial flowers and other manufactures of
the same sort, the utmost care and vigilance
is exercised; the flowers are waxed. the
clothing OF the workers is covered by great
aprons, which are taken of and shaken be-
fore leaving the room, and then the door it,
self is swept, and every particle of silk,
every grain Of gold leaf, every thread of vel
vet, or bit OF silver wire, collected and re-
served for future use. Here We lack tde d.
solute system, and order, and cleanliness,
and supervision necessary TO success in fine
branches of manufacture. We lack also the
trained labor. and we have 10 pay much
higher prices for such as we get. Many hard
lessons have got TO be learned before We ar
rive at point where we faithfully put or
selves. and that which is committed 10 US,
10 fullest and best uses.
PICTURESQUE FASHIONS.
One has to 60 back twenty years aud see
the fashion plates OF that date in order 10
realize the revolution which has taken place
since skirts covered with three hounces were
spread out over hoop four yards and a half
round, and crowned by a scoop-shaped bon
net. pitched back from the face, and rendered
still more hideous by deep, ugly curtain.
Certainly the styles now are picturesque, IL
nothing Else they are full of surprises well
carried out, they present a series OF enchant-
ing pictures, and are gay, gracious, lively or
severe, but never common place. They are
adapted to beautiful and cared for women.
The homely and uncared for can find refuge
in home spun and alpaca.
What can De more striking Or more grace
ful than visiting dress of to-day? The plain
demi-trained skirt of rich black velvet, coat
sleeves of velvet also, with princesse polon-
aise of soft, white wooden matelasse, or
matte cloth, caught up on one side only,
with cbatelaine bag of black velvet with
silver mountings. Add TO this costume long
ivory tinted kid gloves and ''Rubens" hat OF
unbleached felt, turned up high and trimmed
with black velvet and ivory feathers. aud
you have q dress which is perfection, SO far
as its effect is concerned, particularly il the
wearer be handsome. graceful and young.
There was a time when certain rigid OBJ
servances were necessary 10 constitute cor
rect visiting and church dress. An orthodox
bonnet was the first essential and a prnnar