Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-27

scent bottles and ''pungents" of the exagger-
ated Sizes which is the latest craze. the end
forming an elongated point lady who has
recently returned from Paris brought with her
bottle eighteen inches long and rejoiced In
possession which she believed could not be
matched In New York. Her disgust can be i'm
aeIned when her sister triumphantly displayed
one of GOrham manufacture that was tace'aty
inches from end to end and with an etched top
much finer than her own. The cut glass bottles
with silver tops range from IS for the small
sizes up to S25 and even more when the silver
top is wrought. But cut glass does not
compare 10 beauty In my opinion with the cameo
glass In which the designs are executed In
cream white in relief. upon tinted grounds.
green or deeper yellow. Some of tfese have
solid gold tops and are sold as high as ESQ.
Small and very dainty gifts consist of long slen-
der Ieaf-shaped f1acon of hammered silver which
are slipped in the gloves aud are a delightful ac-
compartment to a box OF these ever welcome
articles. The cost is only IS. Gentlemen as
well as ladies have been made happy by being
presented with hair aud clothes brushes with
solid silver backs. some hammered. some elab-
orately wrought in repousse. Whisk broom
handles are also made In solid silver artisticaly
wrought, the top of course being removable. as
are also the backs of the brushes. SO that they
are good for a life time. A feature introduced
by the silver house alluded to. some years ago
and since adopted by others, is to inclose all
ing size and Of shape which makes them suit
able for ladies to carry as receptacles for fan.
purse, opera glass or handkerchief. The finest
art shades are selected-a rich India stuff in
small pattern and blended cOOrs used as lining.
and silk cord in two colors-one, that of the
plush employed as drawing string. It may be
imagined that the bag is sometimes as much
priced as the gift
COSTUMES AND COLoRs AT RECENT ENTERTAIN
MENTS.
Quite a sensation in some circles has been
created recently by the appearance of ladies,
we'll known in English society as the wives Of
artists or as poets aud authors, on their own
account. In Independent, more or less pic
turesQue, but perfectly unconventional cos
TUNES Mrs. Pfeiffer's stay here was brief, and
her state of health prevented the acceptance of
Invitations. but at the few entertainments where
she was seen she attracted great attention by
the graceful adaptation of her costume from the
Greek idea, which she attempted to revive by
letter and by illustrations in the English Queen
some years ago. Unlike most physicians she
has strictly taken and adhered to her own med
icine and has certainly obtained dress which
is at once convenient and becoming. The basis
OF it is the Chiffon a perfectly plain. simple and
straight underdress. high at the neck (where it
is finished by q narrow standing band) and with
long sleeves. The upper dress is a square of
any soft material, which forms pIincesse over
skirt This is drawn plain across the front, is
draped up at the side, falls in Arab folds at the
back from the waist and is clasped with stone
canoes on the shoulders. The round neck half
low and the edge all around is braided i'm the
Greek KEY pattern. The underdress in this case
was of white brown velvet, the upper dress of
wool in q lighter shade. Another dress worn by
the same lady was Of Liberty silk, a combina-
ton Of Rumchunder and MysOre, the latter gold
embroidered. The draping and style OF making
txral thnc o.r,n "A in thn 1irr ar,I ~
feet not unlike that of an ordinary closely draped
gold embroidered dinner dress.
On the same occasion dress was worn BY
lady past middle age-at least her brown hair
begins TO show gray and white lights in it
which deserves to be noted, because it was so
exactly suited to her years and style. 1t was of
a rich wood-brown velvet very deep. and with
white lights in it. which seemed to reproduce
those in her hair. 1t was softly draped at the
neck and upon the sleeves with cream (Burans)
lace. and her ornamentS-delcate stones cut
intaglo and framed in the lghtest knife-settng
OF gold-made her a charming study in soft
half-tints that suited well the brown eyes, the
pale, clear complexion. and thoughtful, express
sive face
1t is often difficult thing for ladies' who must
90 into society, yet have passed into what is
usually considered an uninteresting age TO dress
so to fulfill all the requirements. Two dresses
worn recently seemed TO do this. One was a
very fine dark shade OF prune-cOlOred satin-de-
lyon. ruff1ed and draped at the V-shaped neck
and upon the sleeves with fine gold embrOid-
cred. cream-tinted lace and dark ine-colored
satin merveileuX. trimmed with beautifully
beaded lace in irridescent cOlOrs-garnet, ruby
bronze, amber and sapphire. Some old lace
softened by age to the required tint-was worn
with this; but nothing looks worse with mod
ern art color in fabric than hard. crude white
lace. This is fully understood by French mo-
dstes. who use this season what are known as
art colors almost exclusively, and always put
cream. gold embroidered, or coffee tinted laces
In conjunction with them. Among others NAV
be mentioned in this connection dinner dress
Of shrimp-pink satin, brOcaded with cream,
lined with pale gold satin. and draped with deep
point at the back of the throat with hand-run
Spanish lace, the front open and arranged as
hchu. The leaf-shaped basque Of this dress was
cut in huge rings surrounded with thick cords
in the two cOlOrs of the satin and draped sash
ends. finished with pale gold tassels drawn
through. Another elegant dress was brOcaded
in small clOver-leaf pattern in dull Guaranteed
velvet 0rise) upon a bottle-green ground of
satn-de-lyon. The skirt was straight, the front
plain. the back full; both of plain velvet in q
still darker shade of red. The sides were COM
posed OF the brOcade. The upper dress was
long gown with basque effect at the back. form
ing double gown, exactly like the style have
mentioned In previous letters as worn by Ellen
Terry.
prune colOred satin and velvet exhibited
decoration which has never been seen before
the present season. 1t tS 3 silver embroidery
upon the velvet which has all the effect of etch-
ing and is used Tor the panels, the collar cut in
points. and vest. The pretty curved design,
the incised effect, were very artistic and would
look as well on some leaf shades of brown and
green as on prune. A velvet Walking suit
worn at "tea," with bonnet to match. was
trimmed with feather bordering In all the
shades of the dark smoke shade Of the velvet
This color Is talked about great deal, but it is
impossible almost to find it. Dealers sell iron
grays and blue grays tor "smoke." but even
these are scarce, while the new stone shades
mushroom browns, smoke aud mouse colors,
which possess depth and sOftness quite unlike
the GOODNESS OF ordinary grays or the dizziness
OF ordinary browns are not to be obtained ex-
cept In small quantities and as an incidental
piece OF good fortune. They have however
come to stay. Manufacturers are experiment.
ing with them. They are more becoming than
| the thin. crude shades, which preceded them
and they can be worn by women upon whom
the usual gray makes q tombstone erected
over the grave of their lost beauty.
DRESS FOR AFTERNOON RECEPTIONS
1t is quite common for ladies who give 'tea"
to receive their friends In an elegant evening
| toilet Of white or light satin and brocade with
long train and sleeves of lace or no sleeves at
all. There is nothing homogeneous in this with
her own surroundings. Darkness is closing in
upon the early winter afternoon The rooms are
brilliantly lighted with lamps and gas or candles,
shaded with yellow or rose coored screens
i