The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-06
IN FEMININE. FIELDS.
The Newest Designs in Linen and
Lunch Cloths.

Lunch Cloths.
New YORK, Feb. 4.--The midwinter
linen sales call attention TO the marked
advance that has been made in beautiful
things for the table within the past few
years. For the dinner cloth the heavy
white damask with fine satin finish is the
first choice. The old medallion or scroll
PATTERNS which used to be seen on damask
are things of the past, and the recent i'm
portationS show marked influence from
the South Kensington art schools A beauti-
full design is a tangle of climbing roses,
thornv stem, leaf and flower, slightly con-
ventionalzed and making an all-over
pattern, showing little plain surface. Glover
sprays are treated in the same fashion, and
holly branches with clusters of berries. A
poisoning Dough from an apple tree seems
to have dropped on the cloth or great mass
of passion-aower vine. Mstletoe is a
favorte subject with the English designers,
with cobwebs stretching from spray to
spray, and daffodilS are strewn over the
centre of a damask and bordered with
clusters of snowdrops. The Irish linens are
still the best, though the Russian and French
makes are often very beautiful.
The newest thing in lunch cloths is the
white embroidered monte, or monte with
colored border to match the napkins. Color
is always pcrmiss; ble on the lunch table and
this may be supplied by a scarf of embroid-
cry, by eu groidel ed pieces of linen drawn
work or By the new colored lunch cloths in
Indian damasse effects, on which crescent
moons, stars, the lotus leaf, Egyptian lily,
the water lily and leaf are displayed in in
tricate arabeSque deSiguS. For fruit nap
kins there are square white ones, with
colored borders, which dispute popularity
with the dark Persian colors, the checker
g. 1t.,,
Pretty doilies, on which the finger bowls
rest are of white pongee silk, embroidered
in Kensington patterns. Others are of fine
linen, embroidered or decorated with drawn
work and standing their buyer in to the
tune of $50 dozen Napkins in three sizes,
doilies, square tray cloths and buffet covers
are now imported in all patterns to match
cloths. The dinner napkin of standard size
is three-quarters of yard square.
A novelty in towels is monte cloth with
lace insertion, costing anywhere from "a to
$12each Simple monte cloth, embroidered,
but without the lace is worth SO to 81. Fine
damask towels, hemstitched, cost 81. Hem
stitched linen towels run as low as So a
dozen. Pure white is the proper thing in
towels at present and those with colored
borders sell cheap.
All linen sheets are now hemstitched by
hand, as are the pillow cases to match. If
plain they will sell for So 50 pair, but with
fancy design IN hemstitching two or three
inches wide they bring SIS to $50 a pair.
Fancy pillow cases and single sheets for day
use are wrought in drawn work and hem
stitched in blocks as deliberately as a fine
handkerchief Women make a large
amount of mony doing this work for the
stores, for they sell for small fortunes.
1T OCCURRED TO Me YESTERDAY
that if l meant to get' married before
Lent put an end to such festivities it
wouldn't be bad plan to be looking up my
gown. l was passing through Grand street
when my eve was caught by sign to the
effect that costumes Of all descripti ms"
could lie had within, wedding dresses"
beng a speciality. The usual assortment of
costumes, masks and wigs was displayed
at second story window, and picked my
way up a blind staircase to inquire what it
would cos me to get married in good style.
In the costumer's parlor L found a very
polite young woman with preternaturally
grave countenance, considering the nature
Of her occupation. She had black hair,
black eyes and an accommodating DISPOSE
ton. She seemed able to supply me with
everything needed in the matrimonial
line, save and except husband.
do you want first wear" she inquired,
pausing in the act of untying the string
that held on the cover of an interesting
white box
First wear she interpreted to mean an
afternoon or evenings rent of new gown
that had not before done duty at the altar
rail
Understanding from me that everything
depended on the price, she pressed me to try
on cream white satin draped with en-
broldered muslin, arranged somewhat after
the fashion of Mrs. Clevelands wedding
gown. The skirt was plain, but laid i'll
organ plaits and quite long. The muslin
crossed the front from the shoulder and
was fastened in sash on the hip. With it
there went tulle veil, white gloves and
slippers and prayer book. 1t was really a
pretty gown and tastefully composed.
could be married in it., on condition of re-
turning it i'll good order, for $18.
And Pm sure you'd look fine in it, Miss,
sne said, "a marching down the aisle. p"
denied myself that pleasure, pleading
poverty and was allowed to inspect white
gros grain silk, which knew It's way through
tne ceremony, having already adorned four
brides 1t was entirely covered with good
imitation of ducfesse lace. 1t was to let for
-, and hesitated between it and an ivory
white velvet, with ostrich plumes clasped
on the shoulder and gathering the draperies
Which could be had for SIS. There was q
splt white silk, with tulle draperies, and
tnere were travelling dresses with cloaks
anu bonnets, for day weddings. All these
nsd histories, and it was as good as stack
OF novels to listen to the romances Of factory
girls and cigar rollers and pretty mattresses
VINO mad put them on. The young woman
IN charge had faculty for story telling
end seemed to take special pride in keeping
L ,9 Inc of descent Of each gown from wed
ulhg 10 wedding clear. fancied myself
coming next after the "foready of the
sutchroom," at such and such an establish
nent till it seemed as If wedding sc
soleulnlzed must feel like third or fourth
marriage at least The more times a gown
had been worn the less it cost. Few were
nuch soled, and all seemed 10 have been
10y Dad dresses originally, made especially
mieh o view TO that very peculiar trade, u
sulV women who must look nice once in tneii
Ay .. u they never did again
here were complete trousseans, lace
sN9ine1 and embroidered, but In these thf
uaae was not 70 large These were b b.
PslQ Tor la lugtalluieafs or returned la 8