Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-04

"u'p'aofc anu convenient. anu an example which
gives them courage to adopt it. We shall this
coming summer find London repeating itself in
New York. and the young girls especially wear
ing prints and muslins and cambrics. with
shirred waists gathered into wide BELTS puffed
OF modined icg-0f-muttOn sleeves. and straight
skirts trimmed with one or more fiounces
The large straw hat, the gypsy and poke or
cottege straw bonnet the mittens and the muslin
f1chu, will oil be represented; and the Nile lly
and pond lily, the daisy and da1y dOwndilly will
flourish In mlliners' windows in loving proX-
unity. All this is inevitable because there is
nothing else to fall back upon. There is dearth
OF IDEAS. The irruption Of novelty which fol-
lowed the revival Of color and design in fabrics
ana OF Opuient splendOr In beaded trimmings
though still capable OF surprising effects have
no longer the advantage Of o reactfOnary influ-
ence. Color tires. Glitter soon looses it's power
to charm. There must be the elements of true
beauty in that which holds us with permanent
bond Mere fashion is not based on that true
beauty. 1t never can be so long as its essential
element Is change and admiration tomorrow
for the opposite of what are approved to-day
Esthet,c ideas set fashion at naught They
90 not ask what is fashion. but what is beauti-
fui IN form and color; and they set form before
color. as they should. This one feature of cour-
spect to conventional demands, is the greatest
merit OF the new departure. For women can
never dress well, never work well, never act
effectively: until they learn to think and work
oh~ eCS ioi themselves. AS mere D0pOetS.
maflOnettes, blocks upon which any absurdity
can be hung, which interested makers and
dealers chose TO call fashionable they cannot
fail to render themselves liable to contempt and
ridicule, besides dwarfing their powers Of mind
and body; but If they will treat the subject of
dress as they do any other, get all the informa-
ZION they can upon it. using only that which is
suitable and convenient for them to USE they
VIII ind themselves relieved from thraldom,
the effects of which can only be estimated
when 1t has been gotten rid Of
Or course II is no better to be mere imitators
or one school than another-an echo is only an
echo, whether the sound be q note higher or a
note lower on the musical scale. To be ones
self IL the thing, and then il others follow it
Will be sign that there was something good In
what yon originated. Yet there is no harm in
eOpylng'a good model. Not to be able to do so
Is still to be in bonds, and 1t is the release from
them and the work and waste they entail that
is one OF the principal objects to be attained.
For women OF time and means, however, there
Is another, and that Is toreaiiZe for themselves,
and in their own persons, something of that
world OF beauty which they have heretofore
seen only In pictures, works of art in galleries
and museums, or the choice haunts of nature.
II has been the habit to look upon these as en-
tirely set apart from common life and as the
opportunities Of the majority are limited art and
It's meaning have been unknown to the masses
or considered foreign and fantastic.
This 10 sad and greatly 10 be regretted, be-