Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-08
THE INCOMING SEASON.
NOTES or PREPARATION IN THE
FASHION CENTRES.

The Past Season >Ot "A Brilliant One In
the Social WOrId-New styles for the
Coming Spring-CIOth suits and Out
door Wraps Beige and Blue to be-
Very Fashionable.
Correspondence Qf re Morning Nescs.
NEW YORK, March 6.-The season Of
1884 s. will not be remembered as bril-
! liant one in the social history Of New
York. Perhaps it has been none the less
pleasant on that account. There is always
p entE Of entertainment, public and pr.
vate, 10 nil up tine; and the absence OF
great parade, Of eXaggeratiOn and dis
play is well compensated for by the alb
sence also of much jealousy and heart
burning, and a really higher tone Of re-
fnement. There is already in existence
an interior New York society, which is
rigidly guarded and rarely represented in
the society columns Of newspapers,
but which combines within itself all that
taste and cultivation has arrived at to
make life sweet and socially delightful.
Ii is curious 10 see how largely the at
tainment Of this enviable position consists
in getting rid of, rather than in the accu-
and in an experience which teaches the
value Of the real and true, of natural as
sOciatIOns and ideas Of not trying 10 do
what cannot be we'll done-dOng nothing
merely to initiate, but only that which is
fitting. and which done in the best, most
natural and truthful manner, is sure to
be original and most enjoyable.
There are at least individuals, if not
families, whose lives are an apparent
~ lf 81
probation OF the best in art and litera-
tuTe. They are not unmindiul of their
duty to the less favored and larger pOr-
tiOn 81 humanity; but they get rid Of their
Obligations in the gross by subscribing 10
the charity organization and other com
prehensiyo societies, and argue that the
work OF philanthropy 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 sympathies 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 b truth and nature;
they prefer the real 10 the artificial; they
choose simple forms aud ways; and their
influence is altogether good in keeping
down the cheap pretense and vulgar
aTtihciality of the rest OF the world.
THE SPICE OF LIFE.
Ifvariety gives zest and interest to life,
well-tO-dO New Workers ought not To com
plain Of not having their share of it. Gay
parties. the ladies of which packed their
ruby Velvets and iurs for the lee carnival
at Montreal, a few weeks since, have only
returned home 10 change their wardrobe
for the silks aEj thin WOUis they will need
for trip to New Orleans.
Il r-fh Fra0r hot IN oil AE.r
world 20 choose from, Miss Eva MaCkay.
the bride Of a Prince and the daughter of
the richest man in America, could find
nothing more beautiful for a wedding
dress than na.-esmbroidered white satin,
and tEAt the ,,o,.,, t~4~i.S- ;;iino,.c,11a.
Oered with jewels.
Young girls who did not figure
at the inauguration ball, and who have
worn out all their evening dresses, are
forming sewing classes for Lent. IL Is
quite the thing 10 do, to wear straight
black OF gray dress, n pretty apron, and
meet At least one afternoon week, 10
drink tea, and chat and sew for the poor.
The majority have IS much idea OF what
is practically needed by the poor as nest
Of risky young kittens; but their inten-
tons are good, and there is generally
some older and more experienced person
to the tore who is practical, and prevents
the time from being wholly given over to
fancy little blbs, aprons caps, ana tides.
NOTES OF PREPARATION.
March is the black sheep in the North
ern calendar. There is no one that would
not, ii il were possible, fly from it-gray
skies. aggressive winds-its sieety days
and threatening nights. Still il Ia, after
all, even in the East and az the North, a
month Of promise. The ice breaks, the
days lengthen, the sun-when 1t does
make its appearance-shOws increase OF
power. IL Is, at least, the beginning Of
ring. Furs may be seen IN the streets,
but they are no longer in the shop WIN
dOws or on the shelves and counters.
Light silken fabrics, delicate textures,
pretty printed cOttOns have taken their
place, and the fOreh8nded and those who
like the choice Of the novelties of the sea-
son are busy making their selections and
preparing for an early flight to the
country, or perhaps for quiet
with the aid Of a dressmaker, and the
useful paper pattern. Spring styles are
always attractive. and have a look OF
freshness which makes them seem at least
new. They may be the same old ac-
Qualntances, a litde disguised, but we
are perhaps glad to see them for old ac-
Quaintance sake, and because there are
novelty. 1t is worth remarktng that at
the best stores are found always the larg-
est number CT old and well known
friends, in styles and fabrics. Arnold
4 Constable, for example, can be de-
pended upon year after year for the pretty
Scotch zephyr ginRhsms, for the purest
of spotted fOulards, for eXclus-
i've and invisible checks, and mix
lures in Scotch and English woods,
f. 10
presslv for them in a fine line of cOtt0ns,
thin linens and silk muslins, or China
silks, such a 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 a little
larger, sometimes a little smaller; but
they only go ground and round" after all,
like the wheels in "TOddie's' papa's
watch.
BERRY PATTERNS.
The patterns Of the season are very d.
yerslfied, but they cannot be SAID TO follow
any exact law, human or divine. What
there is Of nature is cOnYentiOnalized
aad too rigidly defined to be nature; and
other forms seem merely 10 have been a
caprice Of the designer, or YEARLY put IN
70 UlWGTEnItaAe from OLuGAb LLdL nave pre-
cCtlld them. The exceptions 70 this rule
are In the lovely monte cloth with deli
eately shaded leaf and flower designs,
upon light tinted grounds, some repre-
seDting soft clusters of tiny blossoms
with small olive leaves and woody fibres,
others 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 Few goods are figured,
and a much larger number than usual
upon light grounds, with no Intention of
combination with a plain material. This
in itself is sufficient indication of the alb
sence Of punched up draperies and the
predominance of straight skirts and SIM
pie lines in the making up Of spring 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 eff with green leaves,
and grounds OF the palest cream and stone,
rather ecru. The cOlOrs are all reviYais
Of those which were familiar 10 our grand
mothers; and combinations suggest the
same quaint and odd but meaningless
forms. The spotted foulards are in tiny
octagOn shapes IN clusters Of three, also
anon light tinted pale blue, pink, pearl,
AMI stOne-colOTed grounds. These are
varied by small geOmetrical and leafy
three pronged patterns which give variety
70 this cool and delicate class Of fabrics.