Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-31

dependent away, sioce the motion OF the
form 10 which they are supposed 10 give
grace has no reference to the wobble OF
the structure itself. Upon all this is
superimposed the toilet, and for this sea-
son it cannot be said that 1t harmonizes,
ave apart from the wearer, since the
shades Of green seen everywhere are as
illy adapted 10 subdue French sallow-
ness rs pale-blue to the African.
FRRscH AND AMERICAN.
The French woman, gracious and
charming as she often is. is an absolutely
artificial product, and Der toilet is of the
same order. It's beauty of detail its
harmony OF color, American women have
already 10 q great degree assimilated.
But il is quite time that the theory that
whatever is Partisan is necessarily the
elimination Of all chat women can de-
sire should 100 exploded. America has
still much TO learn. The shoddy ele-
ment there will wear its diamonds in
the morning and its most gorge
Gus toilets on shopping excursion,
a breach OF good sense and good taste,
impossible 10 a Frenchwoman. But the
American lady, young or old. finds on
this side Of the sea not one with keener
eye for proper combination OF color, or
who wears with more thorough grace
the work OF the famous combiners Of
material. Wo need a school in which
our dressmakers may he trsined as
thoroughly as the Paris apprentice, but
each year is adding to our resources,
and 1t il certain that, taking everything
into consideration, we are already be-
yond any question the best-dressed peo-
pie of the civilized world. Paris will
still have plenty TO teach us. Delicate
finish is a characteristic we assimiate
last, but we also have much to teach
her. A city which enshrnes the most
perfect form of woman that mortal eyes
ever rested upon-the Venus de Milo
having cried " q ciet que rdUisSGnte!"
proceeds TO make every woman as abso-
lutely unlike 1t as human hands can &C
complish. The American IS wiser, and
though our type is still TOO fragile and
nervous this fact is q diminishing one,
and we are gaining yearly in the health
which is the real foundation of beauty.
THE AMERICAN womAN's SENSE.
Why should tell you what is to be
worn in April and what in September
A hundred pens will do this with de-
tail leaving no lack, and it Is certain that
beauty and fitness will meet, and that
the owner of Paris toilet may still
thrill as she opens the wardrobe which
holds it. But because the American wo-
man has keener, more delicate percep-
tions because she is truer in her instincts
and wiser from her larger opportunity.
her toilet will be the subtle expression OF
these qualities. She will reject what
ever belittles them, and will in the end
demonstrate TO the world that these rare
souls know also every charm of setting,
and have aiken from Paris all that was
hest in her scheme, leaving TO her only
the need of another renaiss0nce--a
need never sorer than to-day, when art
in every form is well nigh soulless and
Paris the synonym for a superiiclality
which, If she has no ear for any lesson OF
the past. will bring her, with her beauty
and briliancy and charm, to the same
destruction that two thousand years ago
fell upon people with whom she has
much in commOn-the gay and pleasure
loving Athenians, caring for naught but
to hear and to see some new thing. And
if this seems too sombre ending tor talk
on toilets it is because there Is full faith
in the place and claim of beautiful dress
ing that these words and no others find
Mace to-day. HELEN CAMPBELL.