Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-06-04
Satfns and MuSlins.

S0t1nS ana MuSltnSs
II want seven yards of the sateen," said the
customer to the salesman.
"six is all tnat you need for the skirt" an
swered be-
"But want two or three little rutfles. she
demonstrated, or may be four.
You must have either three or i've" cried
her companion. as one who says, 'Destiny Ii
fnexorable," and then they discussed the uues
ton for quarter of an hour, and made the
salesman wish that he had kept silence and
wonder why odd numbers should be considered
more proper than even In ladies' ruff1es. Oh
course he did not know exactly what a ruff.
was, but supposed it to be the same as plating
cascade. flounce and q frill but he puzzled
over the trthlng question with foolish earnest
EesS. and at night, when he saw the pretty
dressmakeT safely home through the awful
dangers OF the street at six O'Clock, he asked
her about 1t.
"Why, you silly she said, with little laugh.
''that rule is OF no use nowadays We put on
as many Iuffles as we please; as many as We
think are needed"
The salesman ventured to say that ruff, a.
were never actually needed. but was so ridi.
culed by the little dressmaker that ne fell into
silence, While she described the beautiful tea
gown upon which she was at work. The mate.
rial was dark brown satin, she said, and lt was
made up with long princess train plated into
q small space just below the waist, and headed
by bow Of blue satin ribbon: across the fro ;, +
from left to right, and down the left side was a
eand OF blue satin covered With white Spanish
lace, AID with cascade OF lace running down
the side. The cuffs were TO be OF satin coger.d
with lace and lace quilting was to be satunder
the edge Of the train.
And how much are you to have for plttlng
al thls prettlness together" asked the sales
man.
How should I know?' replied the dress
maker. "When the gown is done, and b as ben
examined and approved, l shall be paid. That
Is The way at our shop One Of the girls worked
fortnight on gown last month, and elrned
eight dollars; another worked eight days and
re cetved eighteen, There is no SET rate sO far
we can TELL" A''- 90
"a man would not work on such terms you
well, our forewoman does not employ men:
especially men who do not know anything
ABOUT ruilles, SO you need have no anxiety
a apad the ,o terms 9as9 the dressmaker re-
dinner dress OF pale pink satin, with a finely
plated underskirt and smooth princess over
skirt, falling perfectly plain ali around, and
bands wrought with pearls In oval figures. A
wide scarf OF plain pink satin fell about half.
way down the skirt IN front, but was drawn up
nigh az the back, with the ends dropping low
at the back and khotted in large bow with
short ends. The waist and sleeves were per-
fectly smooth, the latter having white satin
GUNS and the former having strips of pearl
'front.'
Did it look pretty?" asked the tradesman,
as sympathetically as he could.
"D,d Il Lock p.re,tty?,' asked the other,
wore 1t looked pretty, too: She was about 10
years Old and had the complexion OF butter
nut. Her daughter had pretty dress few
shaded garnet Pekin, and the skirt of pink satin
surah changing to garnet, and embroidered
down the front IN flower designs, and orna-
mented In the center by cascade OF narrow
satin ribbon. All OF this was not especially
peculiar. but the whole thing was changed into
Charlotte Corday costume by deep cuffs and a
kerchief OF White linen, OF which the ends
crossed on the chest were paaae1. under the
has que and then brought around Under the
train In graceful curve She looked nice,
white muslin suits are the prettiest things
for summer" remarked the salesman, recover
Ing the use OF his tongue.
And you should see the new white gowns
That we make to order! Not the kind that
ind their way into the salesro0m, but those
designed for especial customers. One OF them
had the whole skirt cut into narrow tabs, each
one frilled with Breton lace. and with a plait.
Ing of white silk underlying all. The over
skirt look ed like two aprons In front, each one
drawn back by double box plait at the sides,
ard behind there was mass OF drapery. The
sleeves were two puffs with shirrlng between
them and ruffles at the wrist and the under
waist was shirred around the throat
and TT the ,a outside waist cut away in from.
there was little plated ruffiing OF lace In the
opening and at the throat. That was for 8
young married lady. For girls we make gowns
With sh1lred unkerskirts and absolutely plalf
overskirts bordered by a plating and looped W
On the sides to show the shirring. We put big
rosettes with long ends on these gowns. an6
belts that are not placed at the waist line pu
just below 1t and are pointed In front 80 as Il
give slenderne3s to the waist
THAT would be OF no use to some persons
you know" said the salesman, 1nnocently.
'1hdeed!" the lItsle dressmaker cried, as sht
mounted her own doorSlep3, and looked dow
at him severely. Indeed" and she went tutt
the house and the salesman walked away won
dering II she could have been silly enough Il