The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-07-14
FOR THE FAIR SEX,
An Historical Gown.

FOR THE FAIR SEX.
An Historical Gown.
A modiste in Fourteenth street, New
York, has on exhibition an elaborate
satin gown. whose history can be traced
without q break, it is claimed, to its
original owner and wearer, Queen Marie
Antoinette. 1t is of pale yellow, OF
rather it was, for age has mellowed il
to an old gold hue; it is richly en-
broidered in clusters of flowers of natu.
raj color, which still retain their first
brilliancy. The unfortunate queens
fondness for flowers is we'll known, and
the models of the pansies and roses and
carnations on this gown might have
been chosen by her from the gardens OF
her favorite Petit Trianon. Its asserted
genuineness is thus made out: During
the spring following the execution OF
Louis XVI, January2l, 1893, the revo-
lutionary tribunal decreed that the
furniture and entire contents Of the
| Tuileries should be disposed of. The
sale continued six months, and would
have continued much longer had it not
been legally stopped. Pierre de la
Rivere, minister of for ign affairs, then
bought three gowns belonging to Marie
Antoinette, which passed to his son,
who went to San Domingo, and fled,
during the last insurrection on the
sland to Philadelphia. The gowns de-
scended to his daughter. Nine. Remi,
Mignot, of Charleston, S. c., (grand-
daughter of Pierre de la Rivlere), who
was afterward married to NJ. Ruties, of
that city. Through her the pale yellow
satin came into posses ION Of her eldest
daughter, now Mrs. Churchill, and
from her the modiste pu' chased it some
months ago. 1t has been ~ carefully
vamped and newly put togt tir;, 50 that
at preserves, under the circumstances,
in astonishing freshness. A. NAV h..
uppos ed, it is the object of the 81, pest
interest to many women, not on ae-
count of its associations. but of its hay
ing belonged to a sovereign famous for
her elegant toilets. If history could be
studied by and through clothes, how
many enthusiastic students there would
be among the other sex, and how won
deriully proficient they would become.
One of the two remaining gowns, blue
one, was given to another daughter of
Nine. Mignot, who, after marriage, re-
moved to Holland, and it was used as
covering for some handsome pieces of
furniture now in possession of her hus-
band, living at the little town of Einho-
ven, North Brahant. The third, purple
gown, having been owned by sister of
Nine. Mignot, returned to madame
after her sisters death, and was burned
during the great fire at Charleston in
1861. The authenticity Of the sole sur
viving gown appears to be pretty well
established.
Fashion Fancies.
Satin is in general demand for many
articles of the toilet for summer wear.
Soft and light materials are used
more than ever this summer.
Skirts are still drawn as much back
as ever. Very small puffings are over
the hips, and rather larger ones are in
the back, on the lower part OF the skirt
and bust. All walking dresses are
short, or just clear the ground. Petit
coats are trimmed with plated founces,
which are not starched; even those on
the trains for evening dresses are left
unstifened.
For morning wear at ihe seaside, and
for travelling purposes, alpaca with
black dots is popular. This is an agreea.
BILE change from the long-worn plain
gray suits. -. .,--..---.-,- --------..---.-
Wash dresses are shown this season
in infinite variety, from calico wrap
pers at ninety cents to satteens elabor-
ately made and trimmed with real lace,
costing sometimes as much as sixty
dollars.
Old English patterns are revived in
embroidery, wheels, stars, etc., and a
very popular design has a groundwork
of lace-like stitches in the eld-fashioned
cut work, with heavier figures of leaves,
flowers. etc.. in bold relief upon it. An
other old fashion isrevived in the pretty
revering 80 dea- to our grandmothers,
and bands wide enough for houncing
come with inch-wide borders of rever-
ing, forming q trimming as pretty as lace
and as durable as heavy embroidery. A
great deal of torchon and woven Valen-
ciennes is used upon thesed esses.
Dotted and embroidered muslins,
white and ecru, come in quantities this
season, and are among the novelties
which promise TO endure.
Languedoc lace in cream color is the
favorite lace for white muslins, and is
used in many plaitings, trills and jabots.
The insertings, set between full, soft
puffs OF muslin, are much liked, and one
wonders that modistes were 80 long in
discovering the happy effect of creamy
ints upon pure white.
An American twilled silk, closely re-
sem mbling that of which ladies' ties are
made, is used as a substitute for surah.
Some very pretty white short CO.'S
tunes arc made for country wear, COM
posed of skirt of lawn or nainsook
trimmed with two deep hounces edged
with Italian lace and headed with in
sertions of the same, and long half
fitting sack adorned with similar ruffie
at the bottom and trimmed with tucks
and lace insertion.
Some of the new poke bonnets are al
most Quakerish in shape, but their
coloring suggests peacocks and butter
flies.
All the trimmings OF bridal dresses
are massed upon the side breaths.
Train, waist and front are left quite
nloin