Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-02
A SILK NIGHT FROCK.
How the Wearer was Measured for an
Elegant Robe de Mutt.

Clara Belle In New York Evening World
Every girl who studies her glass has In mind
one or more articles for personal sdornment
that she covets with heart and soul II IL il
not set of laces of real thread, then it il q
string of pearls, set Of corals, . genuine tor
toise-shell fan, box Of silk stockings, an um-
brella with solid silver handle, snake brace
let, lace dress or q silk shoulder scarf heavy
with embroidery, that stands between her and
contentment Long have I yearned for Q silk
night dress with an intensity that no amount
of caramels, Russian baths, olives or philoso-
ply would allay. Nine. Aimee had once told
me that the woman could not be found who
was not positively beautiful in silk night
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 de-
cidedly Dublin accent, received me in q little
box OF room more mirror than anything else,
containing very small chair and a very large
footstool. I told her wanted q night gown
and she told me / wanted a night frock and
acqulesced. There are two colors." she in
formed me, "that we reserve for night frocks-
red and blue. Every woman looks well in
either. But you can have a cream color, one
OF these tan shades or q violet-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 becoming. Loud2 Well,
here's blush pink sprinkled with maiden hair
fern. How do you like it2 Turn your face
this way please. All, just your color. This is
a reproduction OF the design made for Princess
Beatrice for her lounging robe. like it on
you immensely. You can have q rich. rack
yoke, puffed sleeves and cross strings of pink,
pale green and cream ribbon to tie, and I'll
get you couple of handkerchiefs and neck
ties with sprigs of fern embroidered in the
corner. Only 1872 and it will put you in love
with yourself. Come in Tuesday morning to
She took my measure and my address, asked
If had any favorite lace or choice of scent,
and called Buttons to show me out. On Tues
day called to be fitted. Madame was all ready
and the night frock hung on form in hastings
at the entrance OF the cabinet into which was
directed.
Heres the toilet set in this case" she said
''Shall send 'Pind' to help you undress?"
"Undress? What for?" asked.
FOR the fit, my dear. Surely you don't 20
to bed with your clothes on?''
"Of course not"
swell, then, get ready for Led, please.
There's slumber blanket If you CHI DOSE to put
1t on, and ring when you are ready"
This was the unexpected that alarmists are
always talking about, but couldn't afford to
let little thing like that mar tho perfection
of my night frock, 80 1 got in readiness for an
lambs wool afghan and touched tn bell button.
The door opened Immediately and ne modiste
entered.
"Ah, see you did not understand me. You
haven't taken down your hair. Sell, never
mlnd we can manage that later" Z
She put the dainty pink robe ovei3 nv head.
the blanket was let down and there II stood in
all the glory of pink, tendrill tintAi gossamer
of lace and silk that did not weigh f,ur ounces
and might have been put into an en{,ty pound
candy box. 1t was the highest daint}sst breez-
lest garment l ever had on. felt liHa feather
in it, and was possessed with an Irresistible de-
sire to ascend. thought that il II once got
started could wrap my arms abous the cell
ing. The front, from chin to hem, Vas 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 gathered
the fullness about the waist saved the lines of
my figure. The sleeves were long, full and
pulled from shoulder to wrist, and in the
breast pocket was a tinted handkerchief
of silk null, with decorated fern leaves
about the edge. In length the frock would be
called demi-train, and the hem was padded
with the most delicious sachet imaginable The
odor was the very sort Ouida uses in the hair
and eyebrows of her leading ladies'; it made
one swoon in ecstacy, and but for its waverng
subtility the fragrance would have been over
powering. / viewed myself in q cheyal glass
and hand mirror and was enraptured. Never
imagined Icould look so utterly too" Madame
was in quandary about the style Of collar
She concluded that had better have high
cut rolling collar, and to get the effect She
pinned fold of the soft silk about my throat
and caught up a sofa pillow Of swans down, on
which she laid my head, and told me to look in
the glass. Just the thing, we both decided.
That done with, she pulled my hairpins out
and arranged what she called pillow col"
told her that l was in the habit of sleeping
with my locks in loose pigtail, and the horror
that came to her face appalled, me.
Comfort? What is comfort to beauty? Look
your best, child, and let your feelings take care
OF themselves l insist that you wear the ''pil-
low COLI with this frock. The braid you can
indulge with less artistic robe de mutt"
The frock was sent home the following day in
willow basket the size Of glove box. put
it on that night and went to bed after parad-
ing before the glass for an hour, but the dread
OF mussing the lovely stuff and the faint, sweet
smell Of the sachet kept me awake until belfry
clock struck 2, when got up, exchanged the
s32 frock for a % muslin gown the ''pillow
COLI for pigtail and slept the sleep of the
just. And SO it is that ''the things we prize SO
dearly turn to ashes in the winning"