Helena weekly herald., 1878-10-24

,av New York ladies are not so handsome as

are the ladies of the Southern citiee, but they
out Caesar Cesar in their makeup" to use
the parlance of the theatre. No women in
the world dress so richly and in such good
taste as do the New Workers, be their beauty
what it may. ], too, joined in the march of
Vanity Fair, more in the capacity of locker
on in Venice, than as one of the fashionables,
and went with the rest to the openings.
A stranger going over to brooklyn to hear
Mr. Beecher preach on Sundays, if be en-
quire the way, is laconically directed to ''fol-
low the crowd" So, if you follow the crowd
of women you see on Broadway, you are sure
to bring up at the right place and find your
self face to face with the latest Paris impor-
tation in the dry goods line.
This season l found some novelties OF
course, but no very great changes in the
styles of the past year. Satins and brocades
are more stylish than velvet, although velvet
is largely used, embossed velvet being in
especial demand. Plaids are the rage just
now for street demi-toilets. These are made
short, with the real Scotch plated skirt, sash
drapery and plated waists. If the plaid is
mixed with plain goods, vest and jacket are
substituted for the plated waists. Plaid rib
bons and plaid hose appear. Circulars, fur
or flannel lined, are the most fashionable
wraps, but there are elegant satin, silk, velvet
and beaver-cloth dolmans and sacques for
those who prefer them. These are long and
of exquisite fit. Fur, heavy fringe, mara
bout trimming, and wide passementeries are
the favorite ornamentations for these wraps.
Garnet is the fashionable color, but old-gold,
Van Dyck blue, prune, gray, and dark green
are all worn. Gilt braid or cord appears on
all hats or bonnets of whatever description.
Felt bonnets in the close-ftting cottage shapes
are the chief attractions, although prodigously
large Gainsborough hats, decked with long
plumes, are worn by young ladies, and the
English walking hat still holds its own. Per-
sian ribbons are much used for trimming
autumn hats. The princess dress is still the
favorite, and next comes the vest and jacket,
then the tight-ftting cuirass and overskirt.
Very long court trains are the prevailing style
for evening dresses: Short street dresses are
an established fact. In hosiery there is an
infinite variety of styles. All colors and
shades of colors prevail, and some of the
prices are as fancy as the tints, embroidered
or beaded silk stockings selling for as much
as $15, 1913 and 500 a pair. There is not
much that is new in lingerie. The standing
collar and plain linen cuffs are the most
recherche for street wear, and old laces and
feecy ruchings are in demand for more dressy
occasions Walking boots have brocaded
uppers and patent leather facings. Dress
slippers are of the Toltain style, and are
trimmed with flowers or jeweled clasps, in
stead of bows, and must be made of the dress
fabric
The theatres opened for the regular winter
season about the first of September, and since
then we have had various attractions offered
US, but most of them have proved doubtful
successes, if not absolute failures. Bouci-
caults latest adaptation was produced at Wal
lacks, but was withdrawn after short run
a most decided fasco, since when ''School for
Scandal" and s'The Road to Ruin" have held
the boards at this favorite house. At the
Union square Theatre, Sardou's ''Mother and
Son" has proved the one success of the sea-
son. It is his chef daiurre and is put upon
the stage in superb manner, and will proba-
bly, run one or two hundred nights. Mary
Anderson has been playing an engagement at
the Fifth Avenue Theatre, but the critics
have dealt hard with her this year and seemed
not all disposed to overlook her glaring faults
this time, which last season were considered
pardonable in dSbutant. She has been fol-
lowed by the charming Modjeska, before
whom all hearts bow, and who has not one
dissenting voice raised against her. How can
give you an idea of her acting, smooth,
easy, finished, graceful? Well, it is perfec-
ton. And her dressing! That too, is above
criticism. She is by all odds the best dressed
woman on the stage. A lady who has re-
Gently seen her entire wardrobe, says it would
take six columns of newspaper to describe
even one-half of her robes, with their accom-
paniment of laces, jewels, ribbons, shoes,
gloves, fringes, etc., etc., and each garment
is a poem of beauty in itself. This reminds
me of full length portrait of her which is
now on exhibition at Goupil's-one of the
most exquisite things have ever seen. Her
lovely form is clad in gray clinging princess
robe of gray velvet, trimmed with fur. The
only bit of color in the picture being pale
pink rose, which she holds in her hand. 1t
is finely painted, the texture of the velvet
being marvel of art, and the f1esh-tints soft,
delicate and tender. 1t is worthy painting
of worthy subject.