The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-28
FASHIONS AIRS AND GRACES
Shirley Dare Discusses Midsummer
Fashions from Boston Standpoint.
Delights ofNew England Country Life-Poems
in New Midsummer BOnnets-Dainty
Blouses-valuable Cosmetic Hints.
sDeeia, to the rnsianaDOli. Journal.

the New England coast, away from depress-
ing city smells and heat. its ceaseless roar
and sleeplessness. Instead, to breathe the
bayberry spice and dew of the sea, to feel
the sunshine without infection; after
months of weary wakefulness to feel sleep
descend on ones eyelids with the wings of
dusk, and to open them at day break with
smile at the pleasure of the air, is the be-
ginning of new life, is the only thing
worth calling life. Before vacation of
travel and sightseeing it is well to take
such rest. congenial and entire. though it
might not be to everyOne's taste to take it
in an empty house and tangled garden, all
sole alone, as l am doing. 1t is sort of
retreat" as the Catholics take, for the
good of body and spirit in solitude, silence
and rest. The long, country house parlor.
with the colonial desk and cabinet and old
tables. from the heavy walnut-wood with
twisted supports. dating from the days of
Queen Bess, full as il can hold with home
and foreign journals; the quaint card-table.
with four large drawers. which serve
so we'll for slowing away notes
of daily reading and old manuscript;
the large round table. second in
size to but one dining-table in New York,
that of Mrs. Bertha Duncan, famous for its
good cheer. This one is now spread with
newspapers and magazines from London
and Paris to st. Louis and San Francisco.
For if ones coffee be solitary. nothing for
bids having review to breakfast, Cos
sipy society magazine or scientific month
1y, as ones taste happens to run. The
truth is, In peoples writings you get the
best of them. without the dregs. The days
pass quick-footed IN the busy rest of
writer, like the days spent by Daudet in
his house of the windmill, in the thyme
scented Provencal wilderness. My wild
nook. however, is not SO far but could
and fashions of Boston. Perhaps you
don't know that Boston prides itself a
trIffe on It's taste In Dress that 1T imports
styles direct from fine makers abroad; and
New York importers have told me that
their choicest things are seized directly by
Boston buyers without a chance to open
them in the big city. 1t always used to be
treat to run up from New York and see
the fine taste of things in Boston shops, and
i know you can buy the best millinery for
dollars less than any other city. They do
tell me kid gloves are cheaper In Chicago
than anywhere else, but outfits in the better
class of goods are lower prices in Boston, if
you know where to go for them. A stylish
hat, such as will cost so on Twenty-third
street, and private modiste would feel
disgraced to ask less than, ST. for in
S Ssw one Ork Of w the S Sest m fE SON
Washington street. and neither material
nor work could be criticised. Shoes and
fine gloves are cheaper and better in Bos-
ton, and notice Western ladies find salts
faction In buying unset gems here, and
having them mounted in artistic devices.
They say you get very good taste without
having to pay Union Square prices for it.
Get tsstet OF course you do. Isn't it in
the air, nnGer the very nose of Park-street
steeple. brought out in dozen cOnservato-
ries and anxious colleges, preached III
pulpits and dei-hed at Harvard, that is
Ii. D.itied. The midsummer bonnets.
by the way. are mostly hats. sailor
hats, in white straw and white felt
for girls, and the new spoonbills
or poke hats for women who know what is
becoming. The French pOkes are very low
and small IN the crown, with a broad, fiat
brim shading the face perfectly, but cut
close to the sides, which takes away the
cumbrous look of a wide round hat, and is
more dressy for the watering-place pier or
the casino. Fine MANILA pokes. white,
ecru or black, are So untrimmed. The brim
Is faced In Grape, net or fish net over the
thin silk, the material coming hSyond the
edge or narrow lace edging sewed under
ally scarf of bordered Grape, black,
azure or poppy red, or the new brill
liant azafia red. or black net
with narrow lace edge, or white washing
which last is much used on cOmmoner hats.
The scarf or ribbon is tied in two large but
terhy bows in front, that is, bows stand
1ngs out little, not like the meek Alsatian
or Black Forest peasant bow seen on some
small bonnets, and copied from one of the
photographsofl last springs Vienna tragedy,
where the Jealous court beauty figures in
fancy dress with this great velvet bow
with straight features, which re-
quire q close bonnet. still the butter
fly or winged bows are becoming in most
cases and most worn. The double standing
h<<xx~ Of 81, 4
scarf brought round and pinned carelessly
on the left shoulder, gives a pleasing, sum-
merry effect, after the tall crumpled hats
piled with flowers, worn over bare threats,
with nursery frills by way of collars. 1t is
an ugly sight, these naked necks, rising
from ungraceful frills copied from q most
dowdy period of English fashions. fair
throat rising from the guard of an
Is artsfe s and Beautiful 1q but Lace
frock cut lower In the back of the
neck than in front almost shows the ug-
hest line In woman's neck. and the ugli-
est women are possessed to wear 1T. The
high military collar will always be favored
Dy women who understand how to dress
1t protects good throat and keeps it fair
and fresh late in life to be shown occasion
ally IN evening dress. The finest modistes
assert their claim to be known as artists by
announcing that they will copy hats from
old portraits. in any STYLE and picture
hats" as they are called. add greatly to the
variety or 1asnlons abroad. One may see
the, very felt and plumes of Sir
Joshua Reynolds portrait on the head of
its own great-granddaughter or the shipper
ing shepherdess in the yellow leghorn, and
pale pink satin ribbons with streamers a
yard and half long, at a garden party on
the Thames. BY the way bonnets are seen
at the high-priced shop, and ladies who
have one of these fine old straws NAV test
their reputation for doing over endlessly.
They come IN very quaint styles with
Grape and pongee kerchiefs twisted ND for
crowns. and a huge red rose with very
green leaves over the face, copying
old fashion plates To the life. 1t
is quite certain that we shall
soon see as much trimming and as many
flowers inside the bonnet as outside, which
will be very trying TO compilations.
Vienna now sends some of the most ar
tistic fashions, competing in general styles
against Paris, London does in tailor
suits and clOaks. A pretty German blouse
of fine white silk flannel. with tucked
standing collar. fall sleeves gathered into
a small wristband. tucked down the fronts
and belted. is sold in Boston for s.. The
fabric is washable, and the pattern so sim
pie as to be easily adjusted and ironed.
The best blouses in silk. flannel or lawns.
are not shaped TO the waist or gathered In a
belt, but made. straight as shirt, with
half-inch tucks down the front, and belt
OF the material fastened to the middle of
tho back, 10 hook in front. Hooks and eyes
are on everything instead of bnttons. only
sewed alternately. a hook and an eye on the
same side, which prevents coming un-
nooked at wrong times. The silk