The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-04

duty we owe to society to make ourselves as
pleasing possible in manner, speech and
dress. The low corsage has always been the
style for full evening toilet, and ! think 1t the
most appropriate dress. but it should, of course,
be modest; otherwise it Is not pleasing, and
have just said / consider 1t q social duty for rs
TO please our fellow-beings, IL possible"
Then you always wear low-necked dresses on
full-dress occasionsfp asked.
Yes replied Mrs. Potter, land think / can
agree with Miss Cleveland and know where to
draw the line. One Of the greatest beauties of
womankind Is the curve of the throat, the poise
OF the head, and it can be better displayed where
the waist Is low. modestly low Of course, the
age and other things also make difference as to
whore the line should be drawn"
'.Then you do not think all women should
wear their dresses the same number Of inches
from the chinl1
Certainly not A young woman whose throat
and shoulders are white and plump may wear
the dress quite low and still be perfectly modest,
for she displays only what is attractive. what
poets have written of and artists painted, we'll
rounded shoulders and we'll shaped arm. but
ones own sense of propriety should suggest to a
stout matron that great display of red arms or
shoulders Is not pleasing sight"
Mrs Potter has solved the question, think.
We accept the fact that decollete dresses are the
regulation for evening costume. Then let a
young woman display the soft Wilderness Of her
skin; good taste will guide her to the modest
line. and the sensible woman, young
or old. who perhaps may be too stout,
will also understand that TO be in
dress an inch or more higher, while the severely
slender woman will also know that bones, while
possibly not immodest, are certainly not attract
lve These were Mrs. Potter's views condensed.
down; dress that might be perfectly proper on
one would look almost disgraceful another,
owing to the difference in their figures and color
OF the skin.
Then remembered had seen Mrs Potter in
the full radiance Of ball costume with low
sage, and the thought never suggested itself to
me OF anything but what was perfectly correct
and lovely. Each vision of Mrs. Potter in the
most unique costume came to me. One night
she wears q cafe au lait tulle made dancing
length; it is French dress; there seems to be no
beginning or end; ouly the filmy fabric sur
rounds her. A dark brown velvet bow is at the
side, sash Of the velvet extends across the
front diagonally, and ends with another brown
velvet bow. The waist, the same color, is made
of undressed kid literally fitting like glove,
while hanging in festoons around neck and
sleeves dropping over the arm half way to the
elbow, row after row of bronze beads the size OF
pea.
see her again in a creation of Worth's brill
liant yellow satin with sweeping train, profu-
sion of white silk lace drapery and amber bead
fringe. the corsage low, just showing the beauti
full shoulders and curve Of the neck. All Mrs.
Potters evening dresses are made with the
waists pointed back and front at the waist line,
and are laced down the back.
She is positively regal in a cardinal satin, bro
caded with tea roses. plain skirt: no Ornamental
ton, no overdress, just the plain widths of the
rich. material The neck is finished with Grape
lisse tucker, drawn closely about the bust line
Nothing could be more modest or becomine-a
pale blue satin brocaded with silver flowers, the
low bodice drawn close about the shoulders by
lace and ribbons.
Then think Of her in black velvet and jet and
one exquisite creation of moss green velvet, vel
low wheat conceals the bust, and on one shout
der yellow velvet bow. In each she is beauti-
exquisite neck. still modest. Mrs Potter an
swers the dress question best by her own toilets.
q T. HApv