Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-07
THE DEAD AND GONE SEASON.
Notes Of Preparation for the Incoming
OF SprinS-New Styles I'm COttOns.
SILK and WOOl-Spring Suits and Out.
door Wraps.
From Our Own Corresponden,.

ciA ana OOI-Sprtng Suits and Out.
door Wraps.
From Our Own Correspondent
NEW YORK, March 6. The season of 1875
will not be remembered as a brilliant one in the
social history of New York; perhaps it has been
none the less pleasant on that account There
Is always plenty of entertainment, public and
private, to fill up time, and the absence of great
parade of exaggeratiOn and display is we'll COM
pensated for 10y the absence also of much jeal-
ousy and heart-burning, and n really higher
tone OF refinement. There is already in exist
ence an interior New York society, which is
rfgldiy guarded. and rarely represented in the
society columns of newspapers. but which COM
Dimes within itself all that taste and cultivation
has arrived at To make life sweet and socially
delightful. Ii il curious 10 see how largely the
attainment of this enyiable position consists in
getting rid OF, rather in the accumulation of
things, people and objects. and in an experience
which breaches the value OF the real and true
of natural associations and ideas of not trying
to do what cannot be wei dOne-doing nothing
merely to imitate-but only that which is fit
ting, and which done in the best, most natural
and trustful manner, is sure to be original and
most enjoyable.
There are at least individuals, if not families,
ment and educated appreciation of the best in
art and literature. They not unmindful OF
their duty to the less favored and larger portion
oil humanity but they get rid of their obligations
In the gross by subscribing TO the charity Organl-
cations and other comprehensive societies. and
argue that the work of philanthrOphy is better
done by these than il could be individually.
They are. perhaps. refined and educated too
much, for they have gradually narrowed their
circle and syrnpathies until they are little more
than points which pierce fatally their humanity.
The most healthful and beautiful thing about
them is that their culture has brought them
back to truth and nature. They prefer the real
TO the artificial; they choose simple forms and
ways. and their influence is altogether good in
keeping down the cheap pretense and vulgar
artificiality of the rest of the world.
THE SPICE OF LIFE.
If variety gives zest and interest to life, we'll
TODD New Workers ought not to complain of
not having their share of 1t. Gay parties, the
ladies of which packed their ruby velvets and
furs for the ice carnival at Montreal q few weeks
since. have only returned here to change their
wardrobe for the silks and thin woods they will
need for a trip to New Orleans and give final di-
rectiOnS for the costume to be worn at the in
auguration ball on March 4th. Many beautiful
tOiletteS are being prepared for that occasion;
bnt few will surpaSs one the bodice and train
of which consist of silver brocade in pond-lily
pattern. and the entire front of thick white SAT.
In embroidered by hand in lily-leaf pattern in
silk and pearls. with veining OF silver. Cas-
cades of exquisite lace drape the sides, and are
feathers fastened with diamond ornaments.
The bodice is low and very deeply pointed. 1t
skirt, and is caught up at the left with feathers
and 81 diamond clasp. A magnificent necklace
and earrings OF diamonds Will be worn with this
costume.
A dress OF pale sea-green satin, very long in
the train and bodice will be covered with a
shaw-shaped drapery OF Brussels point and
yarnitured with real tulips of varigated and
brilliant hues. y Worth dress of delicate gray
and pink combined is trimmed with knots of
ace and Very narrow faille ribbon.
1t is worth noting that with all the world to
choose from, Miss Eva Mackey, the bride OF a
prince, and the daughter of the richest man in
America. could find nothing more beautiful for
wedding dress than hand-embroidered white
satin. and that this was worn totally unencum-
bered with jewels.
Young girls who do not expect to figure at the
inauguration ball. and who have worn out all
THERE evening dresses. are forming serving classes
IN * ito hIrNsr tod
Straight black or grey dress pretty apron, and
meet at least one afternoon a week to drink
tea, and chat and sew for the poor. The major
fty have "a much idea of what is practically
needed for the poor a. a nest of frisky young
kittens: but their intentions are good, and there
Is generally some older and more experienced
person to the fore who is practical. and pre-
vents the time from being wholly given. over
70 fancy little blbS, aprons, caps and tides.
NOTES OF PREPARATION.
March is the black sheep in the northern cal
endar; there is no one that would not, If it
were possible, fly from it-gray skies, aggressive
wind, sits sleety days and threatening nights
Still it is, after ALL even in the east and at the
north, month of promise. The ice breaks, the
days lengthen, the sun. when it does make its
appearance. shows increase of power. 1t is at
least the beginning of spring. Furs may be
seen In the streets, but they are no longer in the
shop windows, or on the shelves and counters.
Light sllken fabrics, delicate textures, pretty
printed cOttons have taken their place, and the
fore-handed and those who like the choice of
the novelties OF the season are busy making
their selections, and preparing for an early
night to the country, or perhaps for quiet
dreSsmaker and the useful paper pattern,
Spring styles are always attractive, and have q
freshness which makes them seem at least new.
They may be the same old acquaintance lit
tie disguised but are perhaps glad to see
them for old acquaintance sake, and because
there are some things that are better than mere
novelty. 1t is worth remarking that at the
best stores are found ALWAYS the largest number
of old and wellknown friends in STYLES and
x for milo
can be depended upon year after year for the
pretty Scotch zephyr ginghams, for the purest
checks and mixtures in Scotch and English
woods. and tor original designs made expressly
and silk musiins, or China silks. Ruches are
required in the hot months of our variable
climate These are bought regularly, year after
year, by the best families in the country, and
have not changed their character greatly in
thirty years. Tints and ground colOrs vary
designs are sometimes little larger, some
times a little smaller, but they only go round
and round after ALL like the wheels in
"Toddie's papa's watch.
BERRY PATTERNS,
The patterns of the season are very diversified
but they cannot be said to follow any exact
law. human or divine. What there is of nature
Is conventionaliZed, and too rigidly defined to
be nature; and other forms seem merely to have
been caprice OF the designer YEARLY put in
To differentiate from Others that have preceded
them The exceptions To this rule are in the
lovely monte cloth. with delicately shaded
grounds Some representing soft clusters of
tiny blossoms, with small olive leaves. and
woody hberS: other leaves and woodland
berries. and still Others, charming suggestions of
small tapestry patterns which reproduce with
near perfection the work OF the needle.
Nearly all the new goods are figured, and a
much larger number than usual upon light
grounds. with no intention of combination with
plain material. This in itself is sufficient in
dication OF the absence of bunched-up drape-
rles, and the predominance of straight skirts
and simple lines III the making up of sprino
and summer dresses. China silks reappear with
coral and berries upon wavy grounds or cone
shaped figures in old gold, veined with brown
and set OFT with green leaves. and grounds OF
the pae>t cream and stone, rather ecru The
eolorS are All revivals of those which were
tons suggest the same quaint and odd but
meaningless forms. The spotted foulards are in
tiny octagOn shapes, in clusters OF three: also
upon light tinted pale blue, pink, pearl and
stone-cOlOred grounds These are varied by
small geonetricaIand leafy three-pronged pat
terms which give variety to this cool and deli
cate class of fabrics.
Ginghams are narrowly striped and barred in
the usual pink, blue white, gray and gold with
slight admixture of darker coIoring. Blues
always predominant in the best class of summer
cottOnS: not bright or very light blues but old
China blues and those which are softened by
shading. and a little contrast with white. Very
pretty solid blue cambrics are sprinkled with
tiny interiocked bOr>eShOes, solid outlined,
and nailed with white dots; others show very
small triangular fgures-oper toothpicks in
the newest and most original of these dainty
little patterns are in minute tapestry bars upon
very small checks or hair line stripes: the cost
In view OF the novelty, being fifty cents in