The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-06-09
Goods for Spring Wear.


What is the reason silk is the only
fabric in which a modern woman con-
siders herself dressedP 1t is often stiff,
awkward and difficult to manage; it is
also often thin, glossy and unbecoming
as glazed paper. Fine dark wool holds
color and light and shade better; it has
greater depth and softness; and some
inexpensive oottons have a modesty,
grace and freshness which may be cred
tied to the wearers, and are wonderful
iy cheap at the price. 1t is not long
since silk dress was rare acquisition
for the wives of comparatively rich men;
now, every woman and every young girl
must not only have q silk dress, but
many who cannot afford it must have
several, and have them frequently re-
placed, also, at any cost and any sacri-
hce-made by others; for the selfish
and inconsiderate are too apt to put the
best things to the worst uses, and de-
mand the best long before they have
learned the conditions of its being.
At the present time there is not the
least excuse for buying silk when it can
not be afforded, or when wool and cot
ton would do just as well. The cotton
manufactures. for dress purposes, have
been gradually improving for several
years past, or rather, they have revived
some of the styles that were known long
ago, before silks became SO common
as TO drive them for a time from the
market.
This spring they are daintier, prettier,
more varied and more attractive than
ever. The soft satins are fine as silk,
and there is a new ''cotton batiste,"
to which the name does great injustice,
for it is not so slazy as the linen batiste,
and will not wear "stringy" as does
the linen batiste, unless it is of the very
highest grade. and then it is too costly
for majority.
What is called cotton batiste is made
like linen dress lawns. 1t is "sheer,"
as ladies say, without being diaphonous,
and fine as we'll as firm. 1t comes in
small, charming designs-some Old En-
glish, and some a modification of the
Japanese. Some lovely patterns
| are in shaded blue, and others
| in very dull buff, with minutest leaves
and tiny brown berries in the delicate
| designs.
Last year the very large plaids had a
vogue in consequence of the sudden de-
velopment of the handkerchief
dresses which the plaid ginghams easily
represented. Plaids of enormous size
have also sold again this year, but the
more recent patterns show stripes on
| varied clusters of lines, some fine as
hairs and shaded from stripes that are
almost solid to distinct alternates which
form very wide stripe of a different
tone or color. The colors are gray,
pink, blue and brown in different com.
binations. and there are also some that
are very dark-wine. checked with old
gold, bottle-blue and black; but these
are moderate plaids-plain. Very new
combinations are shown in wine-coloreC
satine, and satine with wine-coloreG
ground well covered with figure ir
sh AIDED daffodils, the colors being differ
ent tints of olive, old blue and gold
The short skirt trimmed with plaitings
or gathered fiounces is of the plair
color; the princess polonaise, partly
open and draped away from the front
is of the figured fabric, and is finished
with deep round collar and cuffs o
the plain satine, bordered with palt
coffee-colored lace. Some of the flint
cottons are dotted and have plain ma
terial to match the ground others ar
in very small checks, and upon some o
these latter the trimming material i
, dotted also. The new trimming of bes
qualities can be selected to match fab
RIGS and are equally fast in color. Th
colored cotton embroideries wash an,
wear with the goods and are of uni
form fineness of texture that CORE
. spends exactly with the ginghams an,
the pretty, soft-fnished satines, percale
and cambrics. The trimmings nee
not be drawn by it's gathering threa,
into ruffiing, but may be laid fiat if pre-
o ferred, and thus form very pretty an
durable embroidery. The Madeira en-
broidery is manufactured in colors also
E but it cannot be relied upon for tn
preservation of its color, and it is nc
of uniform quality, so that texture an
pattern can rarely be found to suit
= new and fine cotton fabric, and when
is, the price is exceptionally high.
The short dress is still in the ascenG
4 ant, and it depends upon women then
g selves to keep it so, or at least so we
. sustained and protected that any woma
can wear it without feeling herself n
markable. At present, the short dres
as before remarked, is in the ascendan
The majority of evening dresses of sill
satin and brocade worn by young gir
are cut short, and spring walking an
visiting dresses of the richest materi
!, clear the ground so that they can /
q worn with comparative comfort. Vi
70 like the mode of some ten or fiftee
II years ago, which ran into all sorts
10 eccentricities and made those who il
dulged in it look like mountebanks, Il
> style of to-day is, or may be, modes
q sensible and convenient. 1t is not tt
10 short, and it is most fashionable when
10 is simple and free from overloadin
- Can we not keep it-that is in it's esse
y tialsP There ought to be women enoue
B. now of thought and intelligence to q
Q, here to a single idea which is undeni
d bly, good-even essential to healt
:. economy and cleanliness-and whit
= offers no restriction except where r
" striction Is necessary to save waste al
the attributes becoming every const
entious woman.-Je,anie June.
Protective Resemblances Of Insects.