Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-03-01
SPRING FASHIONS.
All abou, the New Fabrics and Cos
tumes-Lyons NOSeities-Sifks-O
Probabilities
LFron oar o,,n O0rreS,5ael,yI.,

NEW YoEK, February. 1875.
Nothing could suit business less than the
weather which has been vouchsafed 10 US
through "Old Probabilities" since last au-
tumD; the extension of the warmth and the
beauty of our second summer into December
cut off trade in winter furs and fabrics Just
when it should have reached its height, nor
did the severity of January and February
renew IL, except TO a limited extent. The
cold weather in February and the contrary
brought business 10 dead stand-still. Winter
supplies were not needed, or could be got
along without, while no one felt like pur-
chasing for spring. Lent, moreover. coming
unusually early, put stop 10 balls and fes-
1ivItles OF all sorts requiring particularly
which depend on ladies' dress stra 1dei for
the time on barren and inhoSpitable shore.
The prospect is Frightening now, however;
there is more healthful feeling throughout
mercantile circles. Spring industries are
becoming green and promise 10 flourish like
spring grass, and spring fashions are begin
ming to make theiTappeara nee here and there
in such glimpSeS as one obtains OF the crOcus
or the trailing arbutus under the dead leaves
of the fall and winter. What they are TO be
Is an all-important question with thousands
OF women from whom fashion is really as re
mote as China. and who would be just as
well of, and better following all their own
ideas and working up the subject OF dress
from their own point OF view. al never
look at fashion plate" said one OF
the most successful dTessmakers in New
York the other day; II design for
my clientel. and I will undertake TO make
an outfit for Saratoga in February that
shall surpass in style, distinction and orlgi-
nality (and these are fashionl anything made
in this country or brought from Paris in
May" l believed her Quick, bright, active.
with genius for dress, she was master OF
the situation. l could not help Comparing
her position at the head of the dTcss-making
department OF large and fashionable house
with that OF many helpless women, wives OF
rich husbands, perhaps, but dependent as
children, and hardly able TO perform the
simplest act without royal permission. This
was no French madame, but a young. fresh
looking woman of Irish parentage, lifted out
of her life Of hard hand-labor by the indus
trious cultivation OF naturally quick per-
ception and mother wit. Ii was a treat TO
see her step from her coupe TO the door OF her
place OF business, walk with her quiet, as
sured manner TO her own special department,
lay aside her wrapping, which were silently
received and taken charge OF by young lady
attendant, and proceed to an inspection OF
the workroom on an upper floor. Here the
sight was one that would be curious enough
to an unaccustomed eye; pink, blue, green.
white and black silks and satins lay about
in endless profusion; long tables for cutting
occupied part OF the seeming miles Of space,
and upon others-cut low for the purpose
stood girls who were acting as lay figures for
the arrangement of trimmings. fouaces.
trains, draping OF overskirts and the like
The presiding genius OF this busy scene took
in all the details at glance; her orders were
given with the rapidity, minuteness and &C
c0racy oil a general commanding an army:
nothing escaped her, and nothing seemed TO
have been forgotten. i cannot express the
feeling OF delight and pleasure with which
saw the exhibition OF unconscious power and
the air Of command. Here was working
woman, sprung from the ranks, making no
vulgar pretense, but actually queening IL i'm
her own right as few of her fashionable Gus
toners would ever dare TO do. "On" /
thought. sif women could only see this and
recognize it-learn how to obtain power by
the exercise of their own faculties-the world
would no longer echo to the sound of their
meanings and complainings"
SPRING FABRICS.
IL is prints, cambrics and percales that
always strike the first notes of approaching
spring. After st. Valentines day they begin
10 make their appearance in the shop win
dows, and upon bright, sunny February
mornings peep delicately and attractiveiy
forth upon the passers by and tempt ladies
TO purchase, which though not always what
they want, is neither important enough nor
unwise enough to regret. It is only this, that
the earliest fabrics shown usually belong to
last wears styles. and are superseded later by
Something which everyone recognizes as
something newer and fresher. The stripes
and the dots for example look pretty enough
until YOU have seen the Imitation Of diagonais
with checked borders, the invisible checks
with borders In distinct colors, and the
perfect imitation OF the mesh Of a fish net
with lace-like border, In black or white
These are so new they cannot be mistaken
and they are bound TO "take.- They are ac-
companied by plates showing the style OF