The sun., 1884-02-17
m<sxs AND COSTUMES.
Styles ana Representations tAat are Added
To nnd Changed Yearly.

Styles and Represeutsfsons nat are ADDED
To ana Changed Yearly.
"The use Of MASKS for balls and various
social festivities" o dnaler in masks and coz
tunes said. has steadily increased during tho
past few rcars. Not many years ago 1t was
confined In this country b fow German eoei-
esios In largo cities and towns. Now. howover.
there is scarcely vilh,ge making any pruten-
sions to molern social customs which does not
havo ono on mora masquerade balls during tho
winter eeason. The masquerade ball season
bsgins lust after tho holidays. and Is kept up
Tho greater part OF tho winter.
"Whero do masks come from9 A few are
madc In this country. but tho largest number
arc imported from Frunce and Germany. Tho
production is so cheap In those countries that
they have practically the monopoly, for oven
with duty Of fcrty-fve per cent. added no.
body in this country has ever been able sue
cessfully 10 compete with France and Ger
many in making masks. You soc, there's no
monev in them. and they can be made profit
ably only where labor Is worry cheap. Atolcraby
good mask can be bought for ono cent. To be
sure. spectators frequently buy the privilege
Of selling masks at balls. and charge AZ high
- seventy-fve cents for an ordinary paper
mask. but the same mask could be bought Of
dealer for TWENTY-FIVE cents.
The making OF mask Is not such a simple
nlattor rs Il seems to be. OF course. the prin-
cinal things used In Its construction are ordi-
tion. mould. In making half masks--that is
masks which simply cover the face-the labor
tSo mG hss nn W,in the sn s6n
fsce and hend OF the wcarer and rest on the
shoulders. The paper is placed on the mould
tanned The mou!ds arc made by class OF
artists who make specially OF this work:
hs so Sn mhs 5S
dealer when he orlcrs from tho manufacturer:
The large full head masks require n series Of
%hsn all tfsn the parts o! mssf ars . compstea
they are joined together in such way rs to
MASKS H have 1ies not S chsnsed in eharac-
ter for the pnst fifty years. Each season the
sss ssrsts as. sbsMS M as
csricature of some prominent person. or q trne
likeness Of some foreign or American notabili-
masks representing P2pe Leo NIL. Napoleon.
eecher BEN MasSt Ssf.T Gen Grant @ blaine con
ling. President Arthur. Carl schurz and 9TH
tEs s5 AMONG the newest masks Ii TBS season are
masks representing old women, young women.
English. negro. ana Chinese characters. kings.
| a9eens. hnrle9nins. clowns. SANTA Claus. Se
Thsn nav" masks osts with moy1bs
bears. wolves. monkeys. cats. doss. frogs, and
| almost every other kind OF animal. Many
masks are nfads to order for the wearers. A
| large demand for masks arises from their use
for amateur theatrical purposes. Costumes
| GUS characters in Shakcspcarcan and Other
plays of n historical or Scriplural character
| We have make ups of Booth. Jefferson. Ray.
lnond. Emmet. Sarah Bernhardt. and other
| famous actors and actresses as they appear II
| their respective master pieces. Masquerade
costumes wary greatly according TO the tastes
Of each particular indiyidna and tho prevail
ing fashion in dress; Frequently. when his
| toricai cos tune s chosen, It Is used ns sor
Of groundwork. and modified or elaborated
| by us in any way tho fancy OF the wearel
| may dictate. In choosing historical costumes
| ia Il general rule. gentlemen adhere closely tt
| the style OF tho original. Ladies' on the con
| trary. want the costume inodih fled according 4
the prevailing fashion. For Instance, IL 1t it
| sushes arc worn. the gentle sex want the STYLE
| In their masquerade costumes. II a gentleman
| however. orders u costume worn 300 yenrS ngo
he sticks to it. 1t is funny. but 1t Is So Mos
costumes are simply fantastic. witt rexa r.
to any OF tho historical styles shown in til,
made to order. but generally they are hired 70
special occasions from regular costu ners, VIII,
| keep great variety OF STYLES on hand. Otter
| costumes are mado to order for u special oeca
sion, and taken back By the coetumer after
| ward and hired by less fashionable people fo
| other occasions. Formerly masquerade suit
were trimmed with fancy brnids and ribbons
s!ve manner: There is scarcely any limit t
their cost That depends on the richness O
tho material. styic. and the character OF ornu
| mentation. / have known a wealthy Societ
ady to pay as high rs $500 for a masuuerad
suit. Even that figure is often exceeded"