Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-30
'ROMANCE IN REAL. LIFE.
The Wonderful Experiences Of an
American Girl


AoveB-A R3x0 ITOu69e0u.
Stella Vilmer-her friends viii not know
her under this title-is looking her FIRST on
Western civilization, writes Brooklyn cor
respondent to the st. Louis Globe Dem
ocrat. Twenty two or twenty-three years
ago fiery Southerner had high words with
his brother over some wretched little ques-
ton involving fox brush Both young
men were hot-headed; tho result was a
breach. Stells's father left the rambling
old Virginia household and took his bride,
six months married. to the PaciSc coast
They wandered up and down IN the pien-
itude Of youth and high spirits from Peru to
ALASKA Stella was born in the Sandwich
Islands, where the adventurous couple
made their first essay at housekeeping in
the most delightful of climates, proyisioned
with bread and bananas. AS baby girl Of
three Stella battered about in Etsle white
sandals tied upon her feet by silk cords,
after the fashion Of the small Japanese Yum
Yums who were her paaymates. At seven
she had an Indian ava for a nurse, and at
ten she was the delight Of broken down
Rajah who yet managed to keep some state
in spite Of British encroachments in the hill
countries of India, and who had retained
her father as one OF his high officials. At
eleven her mother died, and her father,
thirsting for fresh adventures. took her
by the hand aud started, like Lord Lowell,
to wander q year and day, strange coun-
tries for to see. They lived for months in
Persia and other months in Siberia, and yet
others in the heart of the Caucasus.
They penetrated the Hinalayas and
forded strange streams on the backs Of
elephants on a trip to the Vaie of Cashmere
There are not many women living who have
seen as much of this globe as tins olive
skinned girl Of eighteen Last spring the
father, her companion in so many trips
through strange and romantic lands, died
in India and she made the voyage to En-
gland in the company of the family of
Scotch officer, whose son, IN spite of all her
journeyings, she had found time to promise
to marry. Some Of her mothers relatives
are still living in North Carolina, and it is
under their roof-tree that the wedding viii
be celebrated between now and spring.
This much-traveled American girl is a
unique little figure. She stands just five
feet high, and is as perfectly proportioned
as one of the figures beaten out by the gold
workers in her own India Her hair and
complexion are very dark, and her eyes
have long curly lashes which somehow lend
a suggestion of pathos to the pure oval face.
Especially noticeable are the nostrlls, which
are delicate and finely chiseled, but make
one think instantly OF an outof-door Great
ure, wood nymph or dryad, unused to a
roof overhead, and demanding deep
draughts of air to vivlfy the sensitive Or
ganism. She is marvel of endurance and
OF athletic development, fearless rider
and tireless walker, good shot and a
proficient in camp cookery. Her father
taught her to draw, and her sketch book is
full of strangely costumed Asiatic figures
and strangely picturesque mid Asian
scenery. These figures and this scenery
represent the only life she is used to, Amer
lean cities impressing her with as much
novelty as the jungle would an average
American damsel. In one thing she is
truly feminine. She delights in dress, and
her combination of outdoor daring and IN
door costumiug is worthy of one of Amelie
Rives' brown storm, slithering gale hero
ines This little girl plunges into gowns
the more heartily, perhaps, because she
had not time for many heretofore.
Her trousseau mixes India and Paris. 1t
brings smile to see the women rave over
the underclothing. All the materials for
the dainty garments were brought from
the East, but made up by French miliners
from her own designs, partly original, part
ly notifications of Partisan and Indian
robings. The delicate chiffons include
nothing which corresponds to the chemise.
The garment which is worn next the skim
is made up in sets of half dozen, some sets
of Indian lime, fine as wrought cobwebs,
white as carded wool; other sets of a beau
tiful japanese silk crepe, hand-woven on
the looms Of native women; yet others of
thin Indian foulard. Each garment is long
enough TO reach from the neck to the knee.
For the upper part Of the body it supplies
soft swathlng without bulk, fastened by
gold or ivory clasps on the shoulders, con-
fined by a ribbon girdle at the waist. Be
low the waist it turns into Turkish trousers,
fastened at the knees by more clasps of
gold or ivory, which serve also as garters
for the silk stockings. This novel under
gown is made in white, aud in delicate
rose blue, maize, pale green, suede,
tan and black. The corsets which go
with these bits of luxury differ widely from
the hand Of steel in gloves of satin which
usually clasps the Western bride. Stella's
stays are flexible supports of yielding
leather, the skin Of Himalayan kid,
dressed soft and rich as velvet and colored
in all the hues Of the silken underwear
They do not oonstrain the figure in the
least, and are probably the first comfort
able corsets known 10 Western femin1nity.
No petticoats are worn, but second pair OF
Turkish trousers, made of India silk and
lavlshly embroidered, are gathered INTO
ribbon bands below the knees Next these
come the gowns, cut mostly after the En-
pirc fashion, which suits well the flmy
gauzes, crepes and soft silks brought by
this discriminating young woman from
Eastern bazaars, and does not Jar with the
carved worries, ornaments OF beaten gold
and curious gems which I'll her Jewel cases.
That which has been set aside for the wed
ding robe is a lovely cream-whise Indis
cloth, embroidered IN gold and made up
with simple, but perfect curves and folds,
In charming Grecian fashios With all this
refinement of dainty seusuousness. this
newiy-caged bird Of many flights has not
forgotten altogether her wfld-woods ways.
There is no part Of her new wardrobe in
which she takes greater delight than in .
couple Of riding habrts with loose, full
trousers of black cloth 10 ankle, long black
redingote and red scarf about the waist, an
adaptation Of Turkish costume, IN which to
ride in the Carolina woods, as she rode IL
the bill country, astridc.
THEAT RtCAL TiD-BfTS.