Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-05-05
FROM BOSTON,
Spring styles in millinery.

BosroN, April II, 1882.
There is no use trying to wear ones new
bonnet on Easter day in our climate the east
winds arc all against it. Why should The mil
liners hurry up to have their semi. annual
opening before the close Of Lent? II only
distracts ones mind, and there is nothing
gained. The last two weeks of Lent are usu-
ally given over to studying the fashions that
are to be, and in Passion Week the excite
ment is apt to run the highest. Going to the
openings this spring has been really pleas
ure, for there has been so much that is very
beautiful to see. Fashion has set her seal of
approval on bright colors, and the millinery
makes perfect garden Of gaiety and bloom.
The latest opening was given by the house Of
Henry NJ. Burr & Co., on Washington street,
aud several very novel styles were shown,
that were newer than anything that had been
seen at previous openings. The newest fea-
lures are, after all, but a revival of some old
fashions. For instance, crepe bonnets are
very much worn again, and they certainly
make very light and comfortable summer bon
nets; they are usually combined in some fash.
ion with beaded lace, and are made pretty by
the addition of feathers or flowers, and in
some cases both are used. In shape they usu-
ally take some form of the capote or small
cottage, as the peculiar Aufliness Of the mate
rial seems better suited to these styles than to
any other. Very few chips arc seen; now
and again blcached or milk-whte chip is
seen, but straw has almost entirely taken its
place. The Florence and the pretty French
satin and fancy brads are the most fashiona
BILE for bonnets while MANILA is tho proper
thing for hat. Such picturesque hats as
they do have this year, for coaching, riding
aEd lawn parties-all large with profusion
of trimming and a jaunty arrangement for
the brim. Fancy garden hat of white Flor
ence, with high crown and wide brim, larger
in the front than at the back. This brim is
faced with cream-tinted crepe arranged in a
profusion of tiny tucks that give quite the
effect Of shirring. On the front of the brim,
quite near to the edge, is a wreath of pale
yellow daisies with rich brown velyety CEN
tres Back of the wreath is a series of ro
settes of buff gros grain ribbon. and falling
back from each side a long pale-yellow os-
trich plume. Now haven't given you half
an idea of this stylish and lovely hat. Tho
truth is, one can't describe the bonnets and
hats of the present time so that readers can
picture them. Words don't express the pret-
tness and stylishness at ALL While the hats
as a rule are large, the bonnets vary in size
from tho tiny, close capote to the haring poke
of the most exaggerated size But / put it
down to the credit of Boston women that they
take more kindly to smaller bonnets and quiet
gNv 4 ha,, 10 ha inns Iopvata tphtnh
are in somo cases almost caricatures Of them
selves. The shapes most sold are tho cottage,
the capote, and the small poke, which to some
faces is the most becoming shape in the world.
Feathers are lovelier than ever this season,
and are much more varied. l saw q long
plume on one of Burr's hats that shaded from
cream to the deepest brown, up through eve
ry intermediate shade. Another was shaded
from dark olive to pale blue, and so gradually
and perfectly was this done that one could not
tell where the blue began. Flowers are often
shaded in quite the same way. It is no un-
common thing to see n poppy with blue cen
tire shading to olive in the petals, OF with q
pink centre shading to brown. Nature doesn't
count in making and coloring the artificial
flowers Of to-day; the thing is to have pretty
combinations and gorgeous coloring. Black
and yelow-a pure yellow, such as is seen in
the butlorcup aud dandolion-are wOrn much
together Jetted lace bonnets are almost in
vnriably trimmed with bunch of one or the
other of these flowers The effect is beaut
full and very Spanish. Lace is a good deal
used, especially the Spanish and guipure.
Beads are used without stint, and are seen on
everything A dainty little bonnet for class
day (there's nothing like taking time by the
forelock , was of pink crepe in the capoto
shape. About the crown aud falling over the
edge of tho brim was a Golf of pink and pearl
beads; the crown was of soft puifs of crepe,
and in the middle was huge butterfly of the
beads tho ties were beaded with pink beads,
and on the left side was a cluster of pink mar
| about feathers. 1t was delight Of a bonnet,
and was TO be duplicated in pale blue for a
friend Of the girl who had bought it. Gros
grain ribbons are coming in again, and for
the summer there are moiro ribbons with
grenGdine edge-quite an old-fashioned rib
bon. I could not, in the space allowed for
one letter, begin to tell you all the gossip
there is about bonnets; but have given you
the leading points-enough, possibly, to guide
a little to a choice in case it is not already
made. SALLIE JOY WHITE.