Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-20
STOCKINGS IND TIDES.

Miss Arabella was mortified yesterday. This
Is not unusual, for her neice and namesake, who
transforms her good Old-faShioned name into
Ar1fe, hOrrifes her about once an hour regu-
larry, but she generally suppresses her feelings,
ana says nothing, and this time she opened her
mouth and spoke.
Il won't, she said; 81 won't, Arrie Hopkins!
Before my sister married your father. she bought
one pair OF silk stockings to wear at her we'd
the dozen, like sensible girl; and II you think
that at my age an going to aid and abet you
In extravaganza by going to see you buy six or
eight pairs of stockings of all the colOrS of the
rainbow, you are mistaken"
Ordered her stockings by the do1en!" cried
the representative OF modern civilization, pre-
quite too awful. Aunt Arabella, to think of your
allowing such extravaganza She must have
been Obliged to throw them away long before
they We're worn out, Oh account OF their going
out Of fashion,"
..Out OF fashion," gasped Miss Arabella
There was no fashion in stockings then. Every
body wore neat, clean-looking white hose week
days and Sundays, and silk for ones very best,
and nobody ever threw hose away until they
were worn out don't believe you know how to
cut down stockings, with all your KensingtOn
stitch and water-color painting"
.'How funny you i" cried the younger
lady. giving the sweet little laugh that supplies
the place of ideas in her conversation. and is
needed at the end Of each sentence. "You are
quite too wicked. Now you shall come down
with me-" and Miss Arabella went for the sake
1.-The newest things said Miss Arrie, loftily.
dropping her eyeldS as II trying to look at her
upper lip, and apparently addressing somebody
stationed behind the right shoulder Of the sales
man before whom she cOndeScended to pause.
g If were that young man, " f1ercely whispered
Miss Arabella, 81 wouldn't hear you, until you
looked at me-"
"Don't be severe, aunt" replied Arrie. at is
bad style to be civil Now what do you think
OF these7"
"These " were silk stockings in pale blue,
garnet old gold cardinal with the 1nsteps
WI. illQnt in ODpnwOrk fine lace and with
the tops and the embroidery of a contrasting
color. Miss Arabellas thoughts were appar-
emily too deep for speech, but the announce
ment that the price was 50 gave her voice, and
she cried Extravaganza!
''Not at ALL" said Arrie. "One pair will last
at least until the silk they match Is worn out.
and probably outwear several other gowns of
the same color. They are strong as well as
pretty, aunt1e, and don't propose to put cow
hide boots over them and go out to milk"
"For the best of good reasons said Miss
Arabella, grimly, frowniEg as pair Of garnet
and old-gold stockings was laid aside for her
niece.
Next in order came woollen stockings encir-
cled by bands composed Of four narrow silk
stripes, the stockings being very dark and the
stripes being of lighter tint mixed with white.
These were pronounced reasonably sensible by
Miss Arabella, but she objected to the stripes as
unnecessary. whereupon the salesman produced
some ribbed stockings of fancy yarn in as del
icate coorS as those OF silk, and of these she ap
proved so highly that her niece bought her a
pair, and vowed VOW to make her wear them
1.-The colors are excellent" said the sales
man, looking at the purchase, approvingly.
NOW In these cotton stockings, you see. the
tints are not quite so clear and bright, but they
are eighty-fiye cents pair, while the wOOllen
begin as low as seventy-five cents. How do you
like these?"
"They look" answered Miss Arabella, ''as If
they were cut out of a Roman scarf Perhaps
they were designed by some young woman who
was stranded on desert island with all of the
luXur1cS and none of the necessities of life. May
i ask for what these are?"
'.These are to be worn with cashmere bro
cadeS, replied the salesman, unfolding several
pairs OF pale-colored stockings with narrow
stripes in two bright hueS. 81 don't think" he
added, THAT they are quite so pretty as those
little embroidered stars In two bright colors.
You seem to be a judge of stockings, maam," he
added, with the slightest possible glance at Ar
RE, perhaps you will approve of these which
have clocks in pale contrasting colors and only
cost 81. There are very pretty stockings In
clouded mer1no and plain merino, and here are
some stout strong stockings in strong cotton
that are just the thing for boys
'BoyS!" said Miss Arabella, zone girl is all
that can manage. DO up her stockings for her
while 60 and look at some chair backs and sofa
backs one girl will keep house so full of com
pany as to wear out all the furniture. No. /
don't want thick things to smother chairs. l
want want, something n delicate and airy, through
Antique lace, think you call it."
The required tides were produced and as she
looked over them Miss Arabella mentally con-
she used to make for her own chairs and Won
Cered how anybody could afford to work these
airy trifies without charging eXorbitant prices
fer them. All have foundation of light, strong
neSheS border more or less elaborate, and a
center In which there many fine lace stitches.
Sometimes a flower piece and sometimes
medallion occupies the place Of honor and
sometimes 1T Is surrounded by what seems
like an insertion OF lace-wOrk Several
medallionS are set together to make sofa backs
ard bordered with edging in many different
styles according with furniture Of different pat
terms. Sofa backs in Cluny lace are even
stronger. and better adapted to very rich furnf-
ture; but Miss Arabella satisfied herself with the
antique lace, and then, while Arrie still toyed
with the stockings, slyly bought some toilet sets
Of Breton lace ana old-gold satin. Some OF these
sets have foundation about as big as the frag-
ment of lawn in the center of a fine han1ker-
chief, and borders OF Breton edging and tnSer-
ton finger deep, and others have large central
squares. When the former style is used the
eGgtng Is separated from the insertion by satin
bands with cashmere figures. The small side
mats are straight on one side and curved ON the
other or round or square, as one pleaSeS-
"She Is a bad child" said Miss Arabella to
herself as she paid the bill, ''and If l don't buy
these for her she will never get them, for she
viii spend all her money on stockings" -[BJs:on
Transcript.
Educating a Wife.