Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-04

MATHIS SOCIAL, MUSICAL, AND IDu.
cArI0NAL N NYw YORK CITY.
An Interview with Hrs. Potter on Dress
ing-a nusical Gsnius-Industrisl-
Education Exhibits.

most attractive parks. Logs blazed IN
IN open fireplace, tea had just been
served in dainty cups, and we oil fell
to talking on the recent discussions re-
gsrding evening dresses, which have
called forth remarks from Miss Cleve.
land, Mrs. Elizabeth Csdy Stanton, and
society in general.
II was twilight Mrs. Potter sat
upon Q low divan in such manner that
the freight fell upon her face. 1t
seemed to me she could not look more
beautiful, as the red CLINT in her hair
became stronger, her eyes looked
brighter, and her teeth, so perfect,
seemed whittier in the light. She wore
q simple cloth costume, yet for the
time and place no ballroom toilet could
have been more effective. "And what
are your views on this much-mooted
dress question, Mrs. Potter?" asked,
after several had expressed their ideas.
;" she said, turning toVsrds me, VI
think 1t . duty we owe to So
ciety to make ourselves as pleas
ing as possible in our man
ner, speech, and dress. The low corsags
has always been the style for full eve
ming toilet, and I think it the most ap-
propriste dress, but it should Of course
be modest otherwise il is not pleasing,
and have just said l consider it social
duty for us to please our fellow-beings
if possible" :,
"Then you always wear low-necked
dresses on full-dress occasions?"
asked.
"Yes," replied Mrs. Potter, " and |
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 where the line
should be drawn"
"Then you do not think all women
should wear their dresses the same
number of inches from the chin ?"
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, well-rounded shoulders and q
we'll. shaped arm, but ones own sense
of propriety should suggest to stout
matron that great display of red arms
or shoulders is not a pleasing sight"
Mrs. Potter has solved the question,
think. We accept the fact that decol-
lete dresses are the regulation for eve
ming costume. Then let 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 the same
degree modest she must have her dress
an inch or more higher, while the Sc
verelv slender woman will also know
that bones, while possibly not immodest,
are certainly not attractive. These were
Mrs. Potter's views condensed. 1t is
one of those things where no rule can
be laid down; q dress that might be
perfectly proper on one would look
almost disgraceful on another, owing to
the difference in their figures and color
of the skin.
UNIQUE COSTUMES.
Then remembered | had seen Mrs
Potter in the full radiance of ball cos
tune with low corsage, and the though
never suggested itself to me Of any
thing but what was perfectly correc
and lovely. Each vision of Mrs. Pot
ter, in the most unique costumes, CAM
to me. One night she wears a cafe al
lat tulle made dancing length it is
French dress there seems to be no be
ginning or end only the filmy fabri
surrounds her. A dark brown velve
bow is at the side, o sash Of the velve
extends across the front diagonally an
ends with another brown velvet bow
The waist, the same color, is made
undressed kid, literally fitting like
glove, while hanging in festoons aroun'
neck and sleeves, dropping over the arm
half way to the elbow, row after roy
of bronze beads the size Of pea.
| see her again in acreation Of Worth
brilliant yellow satin, with sweepin
train, a profusion Of white silk lac
drapery and amber bead fringe, tn
corsage low, just showing the beautiful
shoulders and curve Of the neck. A
Mrs. Potter's evening dresses are mad
with the waists pointed back and iron
at the waist-line and are laced dow
the back.
She is positively regal in cardins
satin, brocaded with tea-roses, plai
skirt, no ornamentation, no overdres'
Just the plain widths Of the rich mate
rial. The neck is finished with crap
lisse tucker drawn closely about th
bust line. Nothing could be NOR
modest or becoming-a pale-blue sati
brocaded with silver flowers, the lo'
bodice drawn close about the shoulder
by lace and ribbons.
Then ! think OF her in black velvt
and jet, and one exquisite creation
moss.green velvet. Yellow wheat, col
ceals the bust, and on one shoulds
a yellow velvet bow. In each she
beautiful, is correctly dressed, ant
while showing her exquisite neck, sti
modest. Mrs. Potter answers Ii
dress question best by her own toilets
A MUSICAL GENIUS.
The bottom having fallen out Of ii
Cowboy Pianist, who got his lass
tangled round Beethoven and fell into
gopher-hole of criticism, let me intr,
duce to you another prodigy. Til
time | think the "bottom" is one
genuine merit.
am speaking Of young man WI
came down from New Hampshire thrt
or four years ago in his "farm clothes,
and told New York he wanted to wri
an opera. He was young and lank an
homespun and fresh, and he had nevt
heard an opera in his life. He ha
taught himself to play tho piano, ar
be made q run on the keyboard wi,
two fingers.
lie came very near starving to deaf
in this city, and some benevolent rel
tive mt him into Claflin's Wh0lesa