Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-12-04
sired results. Experie housekeep-
ers might avoid much disappointment
i they were always equally careful.
Lace ~ an Heirlooln.

Il
Foreign Letter Of Jenny June. @.
Lace in quantity is never seen in the
street in Antwerp, unlessitt is worn by
English or Americans, for no Antwerp
lady would wear her rich lace in the
street or allow herself to appear in a
cheap imitation. These rules still
hold good, though there is less rigidity
thansf formerly and young girls wear
contrasts and their mama s designs
in form and fabric which they would
not have dreamed of ten years ago.
The domestic and social habits, how:
ever, hold good, and are maintained as
matter ofpride by the genuineladies
OF Antwerp. One OF these was only a.
child, and. would naturally :: have
lssnherited- a magnificent collection
OF lace, gathered and inherited by
her mother. But she was not inclined
to work with the, needle, and Iebelled
against the necessary, conditions im-
posed to learning how to mend and
actually make lace, so as to keep il. in
perfect condition. Her. mother. did
not force her, but simply told her that
the lace would never. be hers, but
would be left to some member OF the
family able and willing to ''entertain"
and care for it. This threat was suffi-
Gent to induce theyoung lady to fulfill
her mothers wishes, and she is now
not only possessor of one the finest
private collections Of lace in Antwerp,
both modern and antique, but can re-
pair any of it SO that it is exactly the
same as before. Yet this lady recently
papered and painted two rooms with
her own hands, at q cost of Is francs
tor materials, because business being
dull, she did not wish to subject her
husband to the cost OF house paint
err and decorator, who had estimated
the work and material at 225 francs.
A lace dress as made in Antwerp, is
very desirable possession. It is not
cut up and wasted from the piece, as
with us; but an accurate pattern is
sent and the dress is outlined from it,
and the pattern wrought in according
to cost. The lace pieces for bonnets,
tans, parasols and every article OF the
toilet for which lace is used, are all
made and finished upon the edge in
the same way, and are all beautiful
and permanent possessions. The
cost Of a real lace dress is not more
than one covered with imitation lace
is with us; but the difference in elegance
and finish, in permanent beauty, can
not be. put into words. It is a differ
ence in the morality and aesthetic in
fiuence of lifetime. An Antwerp lady
of the middle or business class looks
forward to the acquisition of such a
dress as a New York lady of
the same condition in life might to the
acquisition OF a sealskin cloak, for
the reason, probably, that less money
is spent in Antwerp on trifes and on
the costly articles ofstreet attire, bon
nets, parasols and, above all, gloves,
which are such an important and
costly article in America. Besides, the
men know that lace dress means
something, it is equivalent to their
dress coat. It will be worn at the
great family reunion and anniver-
saries, over all black, over color, with
silk sleeves under the lace, with lace
sleeves alone, in short, with slight ad-
ditional expense, it will make several
dresses and be a. great economy as
well as elegance.