The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1884-10-25
Color in Dress.

Some of the printed delaines now so
much worn are very brilliant IN color
ING. One of these, covered with de-
yign of rings in the brightest possible
nasturtium tints, was worn lately by q
brunette with clear complexion and
scarlet lips. Nothing could have BEEN
better; but beware of these bright
shades, oh blondesi Some sad Mistakes
are made by those destitute OF the sensei
Of color. Apallid, sallow face is encircledl
by a mahogany-col bonnet and
strinrs to match. The effect Is depress-
mo. At a recent concert one OF the
singers wore emerald-green velvet over
A siate-colored silk skirt. Her gloves
matched the skirt. Such dress ought
10 be punishable by law. An artist who
was present was heard to remark that
| IL one looked long enough at that gown
It would drive one crazy. When the
| science of color comes to be properly
understood, such combinations will DO
fimpossible. We want some one to pre-
mare 4 grammar and dictionary OF tints,
| or rather a johannesburg" or Ion
letter. a "Guide to the Gamut OF
Colors and Tints.'' Not this is done
shall we be able to do justice TO the mar
yelous number of hues that modern
manufacturers have placed ready to our
hands. We shall have tints and semi
tints ranged in order, as tones and semi
tones in music. We shall delight in
the composition of cadences, OF SYM
phonies, and comprehend the value OF
intervals and the intricacies OF moduia-
ton.
The theory of color is as yet un-
known. and we are but on the thresh-
old of a delightful science. Though
there are many to whom the study
would offer no attractions, yet these
would scarcely outnumber those who
have ''no earl for music, and who, not
withstanding that fact, attend con-
|. certs, are taught to ''play the piano, :"
and are even given instructions In sing
, ing until the tortured ears of the teach.
! err and of the martyrized household lead
+ to their own release from pain. But 70
: those gifted with the capacity 1t Will
be an immense boon to have the science
/, of color recognized as such, and laid
I open to the willing student. The char
acterization of colors has yet TO %
: studied. A French writer says: "Yol
!. NAV laugh in sky-blue bonnet, bu
> you must not weep in rose-coloret
,sl one." In the same way no one woult
. willingly put on yellow gown Il sh
. felt dull or in peevish mood. Their
= is a cheerful good-nature about the col
or, as seen in pansies, in laburnum, o
' in buttercups, that insults it for darke
moods. Violet is sentimental, but tn
paIer mauve laughs with good natur
and light heart There is somethln
= solemn about the splendor Of the NOR
y brilliant tints of red and much OF pre-
y tentiousness in the decided shades
~ blue. Musicians recognize similar qua
% tiles in the various keys in which the
4 write. Some are chosen for interpret
Is ing q querulous ditty, and others 10
10 words of melancholy drift. All thes
81 possibilities are to be found in colors Q
y. in sounds, In tints as in tones. Man
VI of us now seize these harmOnies by
q sort of intuition, but our interpretatio
I'll of them must be rs lame and inad'
~ quate us was Jubal's harp to render IL
Nv Nv music of the spheres, perhaps mol
nv audible to mortals in those early da.
y, of the world s youth. Will no one. q
10 complish for sight what musicians hay
-, ~ done for soundp We have not eve
nc words wherewth to write of colors, b.
~ have to borrow from the language
~ ~ music. Should any hereafter make q
u rough places smooth and the crook
'u- ways straight, it win be a matter
Ia gratitude, not only to the possessor.
Ig artistic perceptions, but to the world
= large, since the science OF dress mt
~, thereby become greatly simpliiied, q
ms an Infinite variety be rendered possiI
-. without further resources than those
w now possess. London Net0s.