Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-12-23
A Budget Of News and Notes Fresh
from Many Sources.
Dress Philosophically Considered-Hints
for Toilets-We dding Fripperies
and Bridemaids' Finery.
Christmas In the Home, Decorated and Beauti-
fed - Chips for Workroom
and Kitchen.

for the past week sWayed by IL slhSte
thought, that finds expression III shop
ping expeditions and Ofttimes, almost pa
thetic utterance in burden bearing men
and women. Odd shaped bundles are
seen, and there is no surmise as to their
significance They contain as much
pleasure as can be put into parcel. In
addition the women have had an abun-
dance of their favorite occupation of
shopping, and have Toasted their eyes
and emptied their purses amid the glorics
of the shops that at 70 season are so bril-
liautly seductive as during the month
ST December Nor is this attract
iveness confined TO such exhibits
dis come under the head OF holiday pur-
- chases, but on the prosaic line of clothes
the counters of the dry goods merchants
have their special temptations over which
shoppers are wont to hover, and should
wives drop some hint of pretty dress or
cloak the ear of the husband often heeds.
In fact, the elegant materials displayed
are enough 10 turn the sobercst head, and
the haTmouics and contrasts III color are
bewildcring in their beauty.
Indeed, the long, clOse-Ntting cloahS,
with their bands Of fur, are very entIc-
ing, and there can be no mistake in pur-
chasing, as they are the rage. These are
shown in two shapes:
The Russian mantle, with long over
sleeves reaching 10 the edge OF tt& dress,
is the fnyoritc, and is made in number
of different materials, but chiefly in
broche cloth, with fur or paSsementerie
trimmings-these last, although Of plain
silk, are wonderfully rich, aid some
times so elaborate that they cover 4 con-
siderable portion Of the mantle. The
sleeve generally fails straight from the
neck h,.t IL one new model il is mounted
with a beaded box plait on the shoulder,
ard Joined with folds to the front and
back of the mantle rs far as the waist.
The LONE rioaks have an ad@el value,
that they are economical rs well as styI-
ish, enabling one to wear with perfect
safety Il dress not far removed from shah
biness.
The commepdab}e tendency OF present
modes is that il IS in q sensible direction,
suitability and appropriateness being its
strong points The toilet for the draw
inG-rnom does not il the least resemble
the dress worn upon the promenade ,'ard
the woman who coufounds the one with
the other finds herself gr2atlyHt variance
with the canous Of good taste ana Glc-
gance which happily prevail just
new. The extreme caprice, the
luxury, and elaboratenes8 CT
the home and evening toilet are finely
counterpuiseG bv the elegant and studied
simplicity oG those designed for the PROM
Grade The only fault of the latter
costumes consists in q recent tendency 10
lengthen the siliTt-a departure IN the
wroug direction which cannot he checked
too soon II Is an uHtidy ana DulIeI-
some fashion, and contrary 70 all laws OF
sanitation. For the rest woman s dress
iRg at home and abroad is just nov ad-
mrable. The odious tOuruure is reduced
to normal lines, the sleeves Of dresses al
low Tor free action, and free circulation
of the blood through the arms; drGperies
ara easy and graceful, and i'll perfect &C
coTdauoe wish the figure, and IaCing Is
almost Il thing Of the past.
There is also Il certain degree of indie
pendenoe that is permissible. and it is of
great advantage thar no one is obliged to
follow any certain, undertaking methods
or fixed uualterabIe laws regarding their
dress. 50 many and so diversified are
the phases 81 fashion, that il ut last ap-
pears within hi;man possibilities to satisfy
ali eyes, tastes, persons and purses.
anu btSl'ttS iil inc tiit.it'SS
STYLES ana c&priJeS, if some bright
genius Of tie wardrobe can evolve
from her.Own quick brain something vet
unthoUght Of and attractive, so much
the bettcr.fo the fair originator, whose
taste, if correct and praiseworthy, is i'm
mediatcly commended and copied as a
tribute TO her ingenuity. Some of the
most beautiful and finished toilets noted
this season have been those wherein the
designer of the GOWNS has exercised her
own taste and art in combining the vari-
ouS elements of number of toilets into
one, partaliing III a degree of the phase
and effect of each OF the several styles,
without, as we have said above, making
an absolute copy of any one model.
Many women who have graceful figures
are wearing upon the promenade, stylish
tailor made empire gowns. The bodice
portion has either a pointed or round
WASTED effect, and to the bodice the
skirts are applied by pleats or shirrings,
or often both. very handsome costume
of this description is formed of a beauti-
full shade of pinc-gTeen India camel's
hair, over a skirt of suede-colOrcd
cloth deliberately braided in green,
in intricate araDesque devices.
The cOTsage portion opens over braided
vest OF IDe same HSnV CiOJu, ana Ut the
waist is n soft double scarf, this of dark
green silk, matching the soutache braid
In color. The long ends are carried
through large gold buckle, which ap-
pears low on the left side of the waist
En- suite with this costume is bonnet of
green cloth, trimmed with crown band
and loops of suede colored velvet, over
laid with green and gold gallo0n.
In the preparation of elaborate winter
dress toilets, there has thus far been
shown but little novelty i'll the arrange
ment of the skirt portion of the gown,
either short or demi- trained. AS COM
pensation for this, the corsage is all the
more varied: and very lovely and novel
effects, accomplished by the liberal use
of lace, tulle, velvet and flowers, are
constantly multiplying. One of the
graceful features which find special favor
in full evening toilets is the arrangement
of cream tulle on the corsage, known as
the {" RecamIer bertha. - This is draped
like veritable cloud about the top of
the decollete corsage. The airy scarf !
is carried across the front and
back, being fastened down once in the
middle aud on each side of the shoulders,
this making billowy puff over the shoul-
ders that forms all the sleeve there is.
Another favorite method is to sew the |