The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-04-04
House and Home Papers.
LITTLE aIRLs' pREssrs.


There is very little change in the fashions
for little girls this spring, and mothers can
make the summer dresses now any time, and
have them ready when the warm weather
comes 1t VIII be another task well out of the
way Very simple styles are preferred for the
dresses OF little girls, especially for those of
wash goods, such as bingham, chambery, or
Wnlte nainsook. Ginghams are made Into
gonmpe dresses for little girls up to seven or
eight, or II they are small Of their age, ten
years old; these are straight and full, usually
OF two breadths, and are simply finished with a
hem and three or four narrow tucks around the
bottom, when used for every day wear; but
for white nansook or lawn dresses there may
DO rufaes of embroidery, or the entire fabric
may have a design of embroidery CROWN
smaller toward the top. Plain blue or pink
cottons are made low across the neck, with
merely shirred frill of the same standing
erect, and there may be hemmed strings on
the back and front to tie as shoulder straps
over white tucked muslin; yoke and sleeves
Of muslin may be worn beneath. The high
pulled sleeve Of the colored stuff that gives
the effect Of the square neck is also worn with
white guimpe waist. Colored guimpes in
contrasting colors are used again, and are most
often regular Jokes, to which the little dress is
permanently sewed, but the preference is given
to the white guimpe with dress Of any color.
Tucks in clusters or in even lengthwise rows,
or open Hamburg work in star patterns or in
stripes, Or deep piece of scalloped muslin,
with the scallops forming the lower edges
may be used for these white guimpes Short
wasted peasant dresses are made with similar
guimpes for taller girls who are not too large
to look we'll in dress flowing loosely from the
shoulders; the belt inserted in the full waist
OF thess dresses must be of the white embroi-
derry used for the guimpe. For wool dresser
for spring plain shades of eoru, brown or blue
cashmere are made up in the simple ways des.
cribedkas guimpe and peasant dresses, and the
guimpe is of white muslin. Sailor suits for
country wear are made of plain flannel.
These sailor dresses will have a box plated
skirt of the plaid stuff, with a sailor blouse
waist Of plain color trimmed with a sailor
collar and cuffs of the plaid; these dresses made
of navy blue with red bows are very pretty.
Jersey wool waists viii also be made again for
plaid and plain wool skirts, but must tasten
behind instead of in front, and, are buttoned
instead of being laced They have standing
collar that curves in front; sash drapery of
bias wool like the skirt passes around the hips,
and has knotted loops behind. Blue, red, dark
brown or black Jerseys will be worn by little
girls over their white muslin or pique frocks
There are so few changes in the fashion that
all the gowns of last season can be.worn with |
out alteration.
BITS OF GOSSIP.
Short mantles are very GRACEFUL they fit
closely at the back, and have long ends in
front, reaching to the knee.
Butterflies are prominent among the novel;
ties in ornament. and they are made of Grape,
of beads, of feathers and of velvet
Horse chestnnts, mushrooms, radishes,
Acorns and pine cones are among the odd fan
cies which French taste makes fashionable for
bonnet trimmings.
Lids OF backing boxes that are made OF wood |
in hassock shape, may be made ornamental |
by covering with crazy patchwork; band of |
plush or velvet about the edge is great inn
provemept.
Short shoulder capes of plush or velvet will
be worn with walking dresses as the spring ad-
vances. These capes have the full shoulder
pAoOOo ONoe OAO oluAJ AAanAu& Su0Lu SOU mOE0
closely to the figure, and avoiding the displace-
ment of the whole cape on however slightly |
raising the arm.
One of the most fashionable Of all the Spring |
colors is brown, and it is seen in every shade,
light and dark alike, but the beige shades are
seen in excess OF all others. Next to the |
browns, black is highest in popular favor. |
Gray is the third favorite, dark steel and sill |
yer grays being the most approved shades in
this color.
White shittings for small boys show designs |
especially boyish, some having tiny veloci- |
pedes, bicycles, brides and spurs scattered |
about n such profusion as surely to delight |
the hearts of the little wearerT. There are
also designs of flowers and birds, and grotesque
heads of cats, dogs and monkeys,
A recent scientific lecturer on tea and coffee |
remarked that both contained the same aka
loid, and the effect produced on the human
system was in both cases similar. Tea requires |
Iess digestive power than coffee, and does not |
cloy the palate. The latter, however, is bet
ter stimulant, and there are but few beverages
more refreshing than the cup of coffee. The
lecturer called tea "the tobacco OF women"
and ascribed its ill effects to the presence of
much astringent matter, and this is on of the |
chief causes of dyspepsia. Coffee would prove
q good substitute for spirits, and should be en-
couraged by those who wish to break person
0f the uaa 0f intoxioanta