Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-11-27
NO. $50.
miscellaneous.
now STAGE DRESSES ARE PACKED.

In the new play of "A Million" Mrs.
Florence was to wear four new Parisian
costumes. As in this play she is leader
OF fashion. her toilets must be examples
of richness and style. In the first act she
has black satin. with an overdress ofex-
quisitely brilliant needlework. This work
is done upon black Grape foundation. II
was ordered from Brussels by Worth who
made the dress. The embroidery was
six months in working. A vest front,
sleeves bretelies, and high Directoire col
lars of the embroidery adorn the cors&ge.
The second dress is also black satin. 1T
is trimmed lavishly with a beautiful lace
of point applique. which forms panicrs on
the side and the entire sleeves. These
latter alone cost SOC. while the value OF all
the lace upon the dress is $4,000. The
entire front is trimmed with plating of
maize satin. SO arranged ON the bodice as
TO completely disguise the manner of.fas-
tening. Upon the train this maize satin Is
gathered into a rosette-like trimming shat
resembles buttcrcups, set in y fluting OF
black satin. This dress was made by the
Russian modiste, Muschowitz. So also
was the third costume. dinner dress of
crepe de Chine, trimmed with $500 worth
OF Nalenciennes lace. The corsage
is square filled with lace. and with the
lace sleeves.is finished with gilt and pearl
fringe. lacing of gilt cord, with itas-
sells of gilt and pearls. adorns the front OF
the dress. This dress is worn in the third
act, and. rs "A Million is only three
act play, it follows that Mrs. Florence
must make a change OF toilet in the last
act. in order to present the four dresses,
as above stated. This is the case. and the
transformation is made within three min
utes, during a dialogue, and is probably
one of the quickest changes on record.
This last costume is n reception dress.
made of an indiscribably beautiful mater
ial, called fountain foam.n on account of
its changeable tints and intangible misty
look. The color seems in onclight to be blue
and in another light pink. Upon the
sides are panels of beautiful hand en-
broidery, and in front is perfect pyra-
md of fringe. The low corsage is filed
with silk illusion, and embroidered leaves
confne the shoulder bands Pink tipped
feathers with pearls tor the hair. n dia-
mond neckl lace with emerald and diamond
cross, and pink and wife satin fan. are
the ornaments accompanying this costume.
One naturally begins to wonder how all
these elacorate structures of lace, satin,
velvet. etc, are carried about over the
country to look on presentation as fresh
as ii never worn before.
With view to getting a little useful
information. anticipatory of summer Jour-
neys and corrective of much destructive
packing, Mrs. Florence was questioned
on this particular point. Her system of
packing. she says is a most thorough one.
BY method she overcomes all the Difficult
ties attending travelling with, and the
wearing of such wardrobe With the
dresses for mighty Dollar" which are
no less elaborate than those described,
and for "a Million" she carries two
trunks. They are immense wooded al
fairs They were made to order for her
in New York. As the maker himself
said, he could not afford TO construct such
ones for private persons. because they
would last a lifetime. One of these trunks
contains nine trays. Each tray holds a
single dress, and the whole trunk has
nothing in it besides these nine dresses
1t is the duty of Mrs. Florcnce's French
maid to pack this trunk. and every dress
is put in its place after each performance.
This is done according TO the manner in
use at the Partisan dressmaker's, where
professional packers are employed The
dress is taken, and, il it is separated from
the cOrsage. il can be laid in the tray with
only slight fold at the top of the skirt
The train is spread out first then every
puff or fold is kept up by soft wads of
yellow tissue paper, white having been
found to darken white and delicately tint
ed satins, This il to prevent the creasing
or crushing to which velvet and satin are
particularly liable. Large sheets Of the
paper are then placed over the whole.
| The bodice is next taken, and laid out fiat
like bat on the paper-covered skirt. The
sleeves are filled with paper so as 10 re-
tain the shape made by the arms every
button is covered with paper. and under
bead fringes. etc. are laid pieces of paper
to prevent discoloratIon or cutting. Over
| the whole is then placed final layer
When the top tray is reached, and per-
| haps the next one also. besides the paper
sheet of the finest cotton batting such
as florists use. is placed over it, and, in
turn, over this layer Of oil silk. This is
precaution against the penetration of
dampness or dust. The second trunk is
divided into compartments for boxes. One
box contains collection Of parasols, an
other fans, another stockings, another jew
elry. etc. These are each labelled. For
instance. on the boot-box may be read,
"Black embroidered bosts, worn with
black costume in Mighty Dollar" BY
this careful arrangement there is no con-
fusion or tossing over of things during the
necessarily hurried dressings. These
trunks. Notwithstanding their valuable
contents. are necessarily kept at the thea
ire The costumes are of course more
valuable to their owner than to any one
else. Some idea Of their estimated value
to her. is indicated by the fact that they
are insured for s25,O0O The diamonds
and other precious stones, it will naturally
be inferred. are not included with the
iewelry. They are deposited IN q place
of safety each night after the performance.
London Era.