The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-08-09
CLARA BELLS NIGHT FRocK.
How She Was Measured for an Ell
egant Robe de Mutt.

al adornment that she covets with heart
and soul. If it is not a set of laces Of
real thread, then it is string of pearls,
set of corals, genuine tortoise she'll
fan, box of silk stockings, an umbrella
with a solid silver handle, a snake
bracelet, lace dress or silk shoulder
scarf heavy with embroidery, that
stands between her and contentment.
Long have I yealned for silk night
dress with an intensity that no amount
of caremels, Russian baths, olives or
philosophy would allay. Nine. Aimee
had once told me that the woman could
not be found who was not positively
beautiful in q silk nj htrobe. The
jade fortune brought me an unexpected
$50 the other day, and with all speed
skewered my bonnet to my hair and
set forth to purchase the dream OF my
heart. Nine. Lizette, who has decid-
eddy Dublin accent, received me in
little box of a room more mirror than
anything else, containing a very small
chair and very large footstool. I told
her l wanted night gown and she
told me l wanted night frock, and |
acquiesced, There are two colors,"
she informed me, "that we reserve for
night frocks-red and blue. Every
woman looks we'll in either. But you
can have cream color, one of these
ian shades or violct-no, you must
never wear violet, you are too colorless.
Take this red; it's the blood of beef,
very stylish, very Frenchy and so be-
coming. Loud? Well, here's a blush
pink sprinkled with maiden hair fern.
How do you like ii? Turn your face
this way please. All, just your color.
This is reproduction of the design
made for Princess Beatrice for her
lounging robe. like it on you i'm
mensely. You can have a rick rack
yoke, pulled sleeves and cross strings of
pink, pale green and cream ribbon to
tie, and I'll get you couple Of hand
kerchicfs and neckties with sprigs of
fern embroidered in the corner. Only
s32 and it will put you in love with
yourself. Come in Tuesday morning
to be fitted.'
She took my measure and my address,
asked if l had any favorite lace or
choice Of scent, and called Buttons to
show me out. On Tuesday 1 called to
be fitted. Madame was all ready, and
the night frock hung on form in bast-
ings at the entrance of the cabinet into
which I was directed.
"Here's the toilet set in this case,"
she said, shall I send 'Pind' to help
you undress?'
Undress? What for?" l asked.
"For the fit, my dear Surely you
don't go to bed with your clothes on?"
"Of course, not"
"Well, then, get ready tor bed,
please. There's a slumber blanket, if
you choose to put it on, and ring when
you are ready"
This was the unexpected that alarm
lists are always talking about, but 1
couldn't afford to let little thing like
that to mar the perfection of night
frock, SO I got in readiness for an i'm.
aginary bath, got into the shelter of the
soft lambs.wool afghan and touched the
bell button. The door opened immedi-
ately, and the modiste entered.
''Ah, see you did not understand
me. You haven't taken down your
hair. Well. never mind, we can man
age that later"
She put the dainty pink robe over
my head. the blanket was let down and
there stood in all the glory of a pink,
tendrill tinted gossamer of lace and silk,
that did not weigh four ounces and
might have been put into an empty
pound candy box. 1t was the lightest,
dantiest, breeziest garment ever had
OF. l felt like feather in it, and was
possessed with an irresistible desire to
ascend. 1 thought if l once got started
1 could wrap my arms about the ceiling.
The front, from chin to hem, was
caught at intervals with clusters OF
pink, green and cream colored ribbons
tied In pigeon-wing bows. The yoke
was cut square and made of insertion
lace and ribbon alternating, and the
girdle of silver and silk braid that gath.
cred the fulness about the waist saved
the lines of my figure. The sleeves
were long, full and pulled from shout.
der to wrist, and in the breast pocket
was tinted handkerchief oc silk ull,