The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-08-13
THE CURIOSTTIES OF DRESS.
COSTUMES WHOSE CHIEF MERIT
LIES IN THEIR COST.
Live butterflies on BOnuets of Rcnl
F1Ovcrs-SOme Tricks in a He-
markable Trade,


"Dont sit there; there's big beetle
on the chair. Here, I'll get you seat.
What, something there alsol Oh, that's
only my big spider. Here-pll soon flip
him off" SO spoke a worker in feathers
to a New York Sun reporter he had in
vited to look at what he called new
folly in dress. He took from a band-box
a diminutive bundle of roses, from which
the possessor was willing to take oath
was a bonnet. Gas it appears now there
is nothing remarkable about it. but it is
not ready yet. One moment and I'll
show you, and from box on a shelf he
took out magnificent butterfly and by a
dexterous movement attached it to the
flowers on the bonnet, that now looked
like an ordinary bonnet with the butter
fly on the flowers.
81 am only experimenting, continued
the man, but when this bonnet goes
home it will be ready for use, not with
dead insects, but with live ones. Under
the petals of the roses have a very deli
cate set Of claspers, each lined with a
soft wax, into which the feet of the in
sects fit, so that the animal is not hurt in
the slightest. When the bonnet is used
the insect is put in, and during the ride
rests naturally, raising its wings as in
nature. In fact, the bonnet, when ready,
will be made of fresh flowers, set in and
caught by the springs of the frame Oh,
yes, they are extremely fashionable. You
see every lady can have her bonnet of
violets entirely, and have a butterfly
from South America that will cost $50 to
go with it as an exact match.
"AliveQ Of course. l have the
cocoons of almost every kind you can
think of, and can bring them out when
ever I wish by increasing the temperature
of the Matching box. A rich spring bon
net is made of daisies, and l have seen
one made of buttercups. 1t had two
sulphur butterflies upon it of the
genus Colias. You see the bonnets are
for either a single drive or for an evening
entertainment where the head dress is to
be worn. Some cost more than 800,
just for one night, and you can make
them cost as much as you wish. Yes,
animals of one kind or another are al
ways in fashion, and the more they cost
the better they suit. You know, among
the people who make money suddenly
the majority judge everything by this
standard, and when l get one as Gus
bSAhSA oANoJ manu- dAA Ntshs
"a lady of this sort called on me
some time ago. knew she was little
fresh with her money; so when she asked
me what would make such and such a
garment fol, Il bowed, and said $500. This
was $3.50 more than it was worth. AS
expected, she demurred and immediate
ly begged her to pay what she wished.
made the garment, sent it home, and re-
ceived check for $400. / made, as you
see, $3.50. There are thousands like her.
They won't wear anything unless it is eX-
pensive. Last winter lady came to me
and said: Mr. R, there is going to be
masquerade in Cleveland next month,
and / wish to have the handsomest and
most original dress there Can you
promise to supply itY Il can, said /.
what will be the character you would
suggeSt2 said she. Il think, said I, that
Ma6ame-would-loo well in bird of
paradise costume She gave me the order,
and | made a train dress of the feathers
of the red, superb, king, and other fa-
nous birds of paradise that cost $500.
That is, it cost her that l had bought
the skins the day before from a man who
got them from Mr.. Holland at a loss.
Between you and me- they cost me $3.50.
But after all l came near losing her
as a customer. She had friend who
imagined was something of rival, and
several days after l received the
first order she came in and told me about
the same story, and also wanted the best
costume. 'You know what some of the
costumes are to be, don't your she ask
ed, looking me in the eye. l confessed
that did. Well" and here she hand
ed me bill, and big one, this is a re
tainer that l am not outshined. You car
wager she was not"
"What was the costume2n the re.
porter asked.
" "ltwas made up entirely of the breasts
of humming birds, was rich metal pur
pie, and | don't know how many skins
used in it. But it was considered tn,
prize costume. OF course the other lad,
came to me in rage, and the only way
l saved my hair was by telling her tina
her dress cost the most and was the rich
est and IN the best taste. Feather dresses
of course, are not common, as the cost i
excessive. The emperor of Brazil has
robe of state that cost nearly $40, 900, 81
/ have been told. On one side it is mad
up of the selected feathers of the cock 0
the rock, and on the other of feather
from hummer, so rare that there ar
hardly ten specimens in the United
States.
81 occasionally get an order for tro
gon feathers. They are found in Soutl
America and Mexico, and are of a nag
nihcent green. 1 made an opera cloal
of them for a Mexican lady last winter
We have found new use for the Eng
lish sparrows. They are sold for abou
cent apiece. The body sells as rec,
bird, and we take the wings, dye ther
red, yellow and sell them as Sout
American birds. No one would kno,
the difference.
The Nile Dixie at Cairo.