The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-08-25
Tho Latest American Sllks.

1t Is not generally known, certainly
not among the wearers Of silk fabrics
how the manufactured product of this
country has advanced of late years OF
how closely it completes in everything
but price with the finest production OF
the looms of France. Many still asso
ciate the idea of American silk with the
| woolly black spun silk as it was present
Ell to the public years before capital
skill and enterprise had developed the
present magnificent result The largest
silk manufact0ry in tbs country is in
New York city, and an examination OF
it's fabrics is sufficient to demonstrate its
possession of knowledge and skill equal
to any achievement or any demand that
may be made uponstlem within indus
! trial possibilities. The fabrics in vogue
at the present time are damasks, bro
caued silks in two tones and solid black
and III combinations of armlire with
satin Ottoman and armure, the latter
forming the figure upon All Ottoman
ground, or INTERCHANGEABLE the satin
forming the figure upon an armure
ground, with fiat outlines which form
the shading to what is often as complete
q composition as if made for Il picture.
These are as rich in texture and true in
workmanship as any silk made abroad
and are perfectly pure. The wear there
iore, can be guaranteed. Nothing can
De imagined more suitable foran elegant
dress than these handsome fabrics with
the armure figure woven through and
through the soft, thick, close satin sur
race, so that fraying or "rubbing upn is
an impossibility, and the silk must re-
m n Il f,.,.
When it is considered that these beauti-
ttll fabrics can be purchased at retail for
S2.5op per yard, and that a large quantity
IS not needed, for they are so complete in
themselves that trimming or overlayinQ
reduces rather than heightens their dis
tinction and general effect, it will be
seen that this is really obtaining beauty
and elegance at minimum cost, com
pared with the prices of some yearsa ago, ,
before we had a really handsome Amer
lean silk in the market.
In plain silks the newest and most
fashionable, as well as the most etfcc-
tive, is the Ottoman Supreme, which,
us every one knows, is a thick, ribbed
satin-linished silk, which can be used
equally we'll alone or in combination.
I'hlS has the fast woven back and will
not pull or slip. 1t has very largely TAX
EN- the place of gros-grain and almost
entirely or plain satin, as it ho.ds light
and shade and proves 50 much more be-
coming than plain, smooth surface.
The Surahs, which are very fine and
soft in texture, with a satin twill woven
INTO the body of the fabric, which rem
ders them very serviceable, have now an
enduring place in the list of inexpensive
q ~ hnt, Il ,1>;1:
many pretty and graceful purposes.
ing dresses for young girls who cannot
properly wear heavy lowered and da-
mask silks. One of the specialties is a
surah of heavy and extra quality, which
works up beautifully i'll conjunction
with fine cashmere or camel's-hair cloth,
and is particularly well adapted for
summer silk suits, black (gathered)
clOaks and other purposes where Il soft,
silken, graceful and easily draping ma
terial is required. Heavy black is a
speciality, but there is,an infinite variety
Of lovely colOrings in Surah, the newest
being apricot, three different shades of
strawberry, electric blue, new shade
of gendarme, the gray blue, known as
cadet, 'and the bronze shades. Terra
Coc1" 10 oDiA booi, ohb SOICloCucl lulSo~
ly by the strawberry shades.
Colors and combinations of colors in
the silks of American manufacture are
considered superior, if anything, to the
imported. We do not yet SEQ any in
which so many colors are put into one
pattern as are found in some foreign
silks, but in purity of color and skill
and taste in grading, shading and COM
bination American silks cannot be sur
passed. Among the most recent COM
binaticns are olive and strawberry,
electric blue and terra. Gotta, strawberry
in two tones, one forming the satin
ground, the other an armure design
upon it. A brown armure design upon
black is quiet but very rich, and there
are very striking effects in black and
gold, and black and cardinal.
The white brocadcs Of this manufac-
ture are bcautiful-as rich as could he
desired for the finest evening and bri-
dial dresses, yet forming a comparative.
~ modest, and certainly not extrava.
CANT, toilet for an important OCCASION
All that is necessary to complete it ii
lace at the neck and upon the sleeves.
EnfI trlfn