Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-01-30
IN FUR.
sealsldn Still in ~Fashion-Tho Costly Sabl,
and tho Inexpensive Fox Rugs ant
Iy~I>ou

Robes.
In no branch of her domain is Queen
Fashion more cNacting in her require
ments of her dcvotecs than i'll the mat
ter of outdoor wraps and winter gar
ments. and those of the fair sex whose
liege lords, fathers, and loving iudulg-
cnt have purses sufficiently
long ndplethoric in contents to crafty
their tastes in this direction may in
dulge their fancy free and deck them
selves in elegantand costly robes, know
ing full we'll that they are d ping homage
to their queen. and are 'tjust right"
1t is scarcely necessary I'd state that
furs grow i'll favor year after year and
a number of stylish garments form the
matter for an article on fashionable
furs. First, then. scalskin still holds
the position of prominence as the
''leadcr'' and the most fashionable for
the manufacture of dolmans, Newman
kets, sacks, cloaks. French wraps, peler-
ines. mutls, bonnets, and tbques. The
most valuable and finest seals are the
Alaska, Siberian coast, and Shetland.
The pelts of fur seals are brought to
the marketunpreparedi in casks of brine,
and after remaining in pickle a sutfi-
cicnt length of time to render it soft and
pliable the pelt is cleared OF the long,
dark gray hairs by a tedious process,
and only the fine. close fur underneath
remains untouched. On the tineness
and closencss of this second layer de-
ponds the value of the skin. There is
very little dittcrcnccin the natural color
of the skins, the rich, dark glossy, and
the red-brown colors being the work of
the dyer. 1t requires several skins to
make a garment, therefore the neces-
sity OF using great care in order to
have skins of the same color, as any in
congruity would spoil the effect, and
naturally retard the sale. None but
the best skins will take the rich, dark
color so much admind and so popular.
Quite Il number of Plcific Coast, Cop
per Island and Cape Horn sealskins
have been made up md offered for sale,
but while they possess all the elegance,
so far as appearance is concerned, of
the best quality. they arc a delusion
and a snare. and a little wear is dam
aging to their beauty and to the feel
ings OF the unfortunate possessors.
Sacks. cloakS. ulsters and walking
jackets are familiar to all, but the
French wrap, although quite unpopular
in France, is Il new candidate for favor
in America and gives promise of be-
coming very fashionable. 1t is short
in the back, flowing sleeves, and long
tabs in front, the trimming being in
French black lynx. For trimmings
golden beaver, sable, white fox, lynx,
and all fine natural furs are fashionable.
Golden beaver is Z novelty and will
surely be the rage. AS the name in
dicates, it is of the color of gold. sub
dued and very rich, adding greatly to
the elegant appearance Of the garment.
Sealskin is the most popular fur for
winter pelerines, and the graceful con-
tour is well suited for slim youthful
figures. The pelerine has a long point
at the back. is round in front. and
generally edged with beaver. Toques
OF sealskin. ornamentcd With the claw
OF Il seal, are very pretty and quite
fashionable, while seal m,llfs are also
quite in vogue. Sealskin bonnets have
become fashionable. taking the place
OF sealskin caps and large hats.
They are durable and are not ex-
pensive. In the matter OF prices the
backwardnesS of the season has natur-
ally been more or less against the trade
and dealers will sell very close. Quo
tations for sealskin sacks range from
$50 to $3.50, ulsters and Ncwmarkets
S275 to $3.50. walking-iackcts 500 to
$50, French wraps 800 to $3.50, and
bonnets from $40 to SD.
Stables are the most costly of all
furs, and values vary. Common
American skins sell from SIS to $50
each, while Russian sables are worth
from SD to 5000. The average length
of the little animal Is twelve inches,
and the tail six inches. so that it
takes an army of skins to make a
garment. The Emperor Nicholas of
Russia owned Il sable pclisse valued at
$4,000, and Il coat or cloak lined with
sable Is worth II couple OF thousand
dollars. The tails of the sablcs make
beautiful ornaments for seal or velvet
cloaks. but even they are very cxpen-
sive. Sable capcs have not been worn
~ o"N Si|"' 'NlSiib VI 1utC tCuIS, Dill
are now becoming more in favor.
Black fox and silver cray fox are also
valuable furs, and Il portion Of the neck
OF the former skin is used bv Russian
noblemen to form collars or facings on
coats. Six neckS are required, making
the cost OF a collar about 5000. An
old saying, reading as follows:
Nothing is thought rare
winch Is not new and followed vet we know
Inat winch was worn some twenty wears AGO
Comes into grace again,
still holds good, and the costly and
elegant mink j. now steadily increasing
in popularity.
Parlor rugs are very fashionable, and
the correct thing is Il Bengal tiger.
grizzly or black bear skin, so mounted
AS to preserve the head intact. Skins
OF all small fur animals may be used in
the same manner. Style in furs is not
all allotted to the gcntlcr sex, but the
lords OF creation may indulge in seal
skin caps and gloves, while fur trim
minggs on overcoats is growing in pop
ularity in this country CHicayo i1Jb-
me
SINGLE BEDS.
All Element OF Household Economy Which
Is Seldom Practiced.