The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-19
Simplicity the Fashion.

Long Branch Letter in Philadelphia Press.
Mrs. Langtry, in wearing plain dresses, is sim
ply in the fashion. There is a rage for simplicity
among the wives and daughters of the million
aires ct the Branch this summer The rivalry
in gowns and diamonds that has so long been .
feature of summer life here by the sea is this
season left to two or three women. One of the
most notable bellies of the summer has worn
only muslin frocks with o little bic of lace trim
ming and a few small jewels. Another belle
says that she has seen gingbam gowns worn by
some of the most fashion able people at the ho-
tells here for the first time in her life. A fash
ionabls New York woman. who brought down
On array Of stunning ~toilettes, declared tonight
that she had not had the heart to wear q quarter
of them, because nearly all the other women
were wearing csshmeres and chintZes.
A charming Philadelphia woman said that she
brought forty-ive dresses down last summer to
suffice for q four-weeks' soiourn, aud there was
30 splendid q show Of gowns that she always
felt shabby. This summer she has only fifteen
dresses. and is regarded as one Of the best
dressed women at the hotel. Mrs. Moses Fra
ley. of st. Louis, whose show OF clothes here in
other seasons has obtained her a national fame,
brought only twenty trunks with her this year
instead of thirty-six. She has hat, shoes,
stockings and a parasol to match
every dress. Although this extraordi-
nary. IL not completely. beautiful woman is
growing with time. and has eight wellgrown
children. she still manifests q youthful exuber-
suce in the makeup of her toilets. She has a
great love for the gorgeous. Tho other evening
she wore q yellowish tulle trimmed across the
bust with spapgles. and all down the side with
silver beads. Her jewels are still splendid-a
necklace Of diamonds around the throat, with
stars and crescents Of diamonds scattered
through the lace On her breast, large
solitaire earrings. diamonds, rubies and
sapphires on every finger. and bracelets
set with diamonds and adorned with
two large butterflies, posed as if flying,
with eyes and wings all of diamonds. She left
for Saratoga q few days ago. trunks, diamonds,
children and all. Her rival in the matter of
jewel display was Mrs. Alexander Howe, the
tall blonde haired wife OF a Wall-strest speculat-
or. Mrs. Howe has a pint Of diamonds, rubies.
sapphires and turquoises. When she was not
wearing them. her tall, athletic-looklng husband
was. for safety, carrying them round in his
trousers pockets. She has just followed Mrs.
Fraley to Saratoga. Mrs. Evander Berry Wall,
the pretty aud engaging wife of the past king Of
the dudes, is one of the most simply dressed
women here. She wears black and white almost
altogether. and Is quite as popular as she ap-
pears to be sensible. Berry himself tries to look
cheerful in the midst of reverses. and solaces
himself for the loss OF his own racers by talking
about other peoples. He was an interesting
figure in his day, and people consider MIN kindly
for the amusement he has afforded them. His
successor as a monarch OF dudedom here is the
son of a tremendously rich New York druggist,
who has. it is said. twenty or thirty summer
suits. Perhaps. II may be superfuous to add,
that he never earned the money that paid for
them.