Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-01-25
STYLES in STOCKINGS.
What They Cost to the Wearers-Has-
Iery for Brides and Dead Women
How TO Preserve the Foot-Gear.


In these days of high colors there
is absolutely no call for white stock
ings, and, like handling postage
stamps, there is no money in them.
Dealers who pretend to carry COM
plete stock have to keep them merely
to sustain their reputation, and if the
immaculate hose are not disposed of
in a clearing sale the lot is sold to
some jobber or country dealer at cost
price. White stockings are certainly
very nice, where they come IN UNI
bleached, full regular brands; but the
fact of the matter is, they are not
fashionable, and it does not pay to
buy them becamse of the readiness
with which they soil
Society girls have learned from
actresses that a pet stocking is not to
be laundried. One washing is worse
than four weeks wear, for, III the run
from the suds to the line via boiler,
blueing, and wringcr, the colors are
sure to run, if they are not rubbed
out altogether; If lisle-thread, they
stretch until one has the elasticity of a
monkey jacket; if wool, they shrink,
and the silk is never the same after
ward. Ladies who give their feet
proper care battle them daily, and
whenever the toilet is amended the
rosy toes are lavedI IN bay rum, Floren-
tine, or lavender water, and when
ever it is convenient perfume is per-
ferred. There is charming old lady
residing near the Calument Club
house, quite a leader in society, too,
who perfumes her feet and footwear
Instead of her eyebrows, lips and
handkerchief, as the other ladies do
whenever they go into society. Her
stockings are never washed, and she
wears them past repair, when they
fall to the second girl, who refoots
them, and chuckles over her good
luck.
A lady who boards at the Leland
Hotel manages in this way:
Il have $50 a year to keep me in
stockings9" said the lady. This
year bought fifteen pair for the
money. First l selected two pair at
IS each for full dress; three pair at 50
for second best; six pair at So aplece
for street, and four pair That cost
me $40 for the house. Silk? Every
pair; don't wear any thing else.
'Well, this is the way manage.
keep them in a camphor-boX. When
[ am going out put on a pair OF
dark street hose, and change them as
soon as get home. They are good,
strong ones, because [ think wearing
boots help TO wear out stockings.
never wear one pair two consecutive
days-go the ROUNDS and wear the
whole fifteen evenly. But they gel
good care. l tell my husband he
would have some trouble to find a
wife as considerate about her stock
account as | am, for l always brush
them off and give them an airing be-
fore putting them away. Freezes
Why silk stockings are vastly warmer
than wooden ones, and not one half SC
clumsy or troublesome.
White silk stockings are what they
call special goods in stock, and are
rarely sold except for bridal or burial
uses. These goods are superb, and
cost often as much as $50 q pair,
which is paid uncomplainingly, for
Immediately after the wedding they
are treasured as heir-looms, and, I'M
less the family stock runs out, the
stockings will appear at the nuptials
of every generation. In the way of
decorations, hand-painting, embroI-
derry, tinsel, bead and crystal work
may be used, but, as a rule, the pre-
ference is given, to which silk EN-
broidery, or simply a heavy twisted
silk, slightly clicked, if not perfectly
plain. AS it is customary for each
bride to work the initials of her
maiden name, with the year of her mar
riage, on one of the stockings at least,
is apt to be pretty well lettered if the
family is at all large. 1t is becoming
fashionable, too, OF late for debutantRs
to wear pearl-white.. hosiery on making
their first bow to society.
In spite of the efforts to match all
toilets with stockings, black silk pre-
walls for general use. Fat women
ike them because of the diminishing
effect the color has on the overplump
limb, and, when oversensitive about
having pair of shoes fitted by a
friend, one has only to don pair of
plain black silk hose to apparently
foreshorten big foot.