The Washington critic., 1890-02-16
WOMEN'S WAYS.


that ia worth mentioning eliminated In
Washington just week or two ago. way
back In the days when the Yanks and John
mes fought for precedence In the Shenan-
doah Valley, about the time the gallant
Sheridan took his famous ride, there lived |
In Winchester town an hospitable family OF |
good, royal rebels by the name of Chap |
man. The Chapman house during the sea
sons Of comparative peace, entertained the |
boys from both sides OF the divided house |
Among those who were received and cared !
for was dangerously sick boy, Yankee, |
and it so CHANGED that the maiden landlady |
took upon herself the entire weight OF |
the nursing. Though the sick soldier |
was mere lad, aud handsome, Julia |
Chapman was even then beyond the |
early bloom of girlhood the old |
story was repeated aud the invalid |
fell madly in love with his charming nurse |
hut the wooing did not 20 smoothly, for |
the lady, sensible as well rs competent, |
brought him out of the dangerous fever,
but she gave his suit no further encourage |
meut. The soldier reported for duty, the
air grew black with smoke of battle, the |
fortunes of war soon separated the pair, |
and the struggle ended in defeat for the
South. Among the many Southern women
who were left dependent were the Chapman
sisters. The elder sister finally secured the
position of housekeeper at the Ebbitt
House, where for twenty-five years she has
served the public and her employers
faithfully and well. The younger,
Julia, the heroine, remained at home uu-
til six years ago, when she joined her sis
ter at the hotel and supplemented her work
as director of kitchen and scrubblng
maids.
And where was the soldier lover? This
is the romance of 1t. Though duty and her
refusal had separated them, it did not
weaken the soldiers love. He wrote to
bpr frpuiIautlV and fprvputlv and shp
while still obdurate, was touched by his
falthfulness and continued to read and re-
spond to his letters.
The war ended, the soldier remained in
the service. He had nothing to bring him
back. The years rolled on until twenty
five had been set down to the credit of the
still waiting knight.
One day not many weeks ago the lady
relented. Who will ever know why, or be
| able to understand woman's argument
| in such case. The excuses she gave him
for delay, the excuses she made to herself
| for her final weakness, no one may con-
| lecture.
But whatever form OF reconciliation or
| compromise was effected, few weeks ago
| it is said that an army officer suddenly re-
signed in the West, and Immediately after
| handsome man, of soldierly bearing, with
silvered hair but youthfully-beaming face,
reached Washington.
A few days more and Miss Chapman's
little circle of friends and acquaintance
| were astonished and rejoiced TO learn that
not seven, but nearly twenty and seven
| years of service had been rewarded. Even
| the people who regard marriage as fail
ure must acknowledge the success of some
| courtships, and however sceptical and
grabbed, one could not but congratulate
Mr.. and Mrs. John Tonnicliffe, and hope
that the happiness so long denied may all
| be crowded into the remaining years of
| married life.
NOVELTIES IN RIBBONS.
What is new in ribbons?
Nothing much, and yet the sale of rib
bons never declines. Women who neither
buy nor admire pretty ribbons are alb
| normal creatures. The, ribbon element
! the long, loose, flute ring-looped and
twisted decorations, is the distinguishing
| characteristic of mas culine and feminine
dress. Even mans necktie is a stif, ul-
yielding caricature of The feminine neck
ribbon. The early ribbons show that the
fashion wheel has made one complete rev,-
luton and the old two-toned thick satin is
on top again. Double-faced satin have
cheaped the single-faced ribbon, and the
dizzy new plaids have quite superseded
the stripes. These plaids are all sorts of
shades and combinations, but distinguished
for both brilliancy and delcacy of tone.
The amethyst shades are just now leading.
They include all the heliotrope and purple
fancy tones, while gobelin blue and the
countless variations of golden browns, with
yellows and grays, are still leading.
The Vandyke laces, rucbings and
passementarie in black, white and colors
are too pretty and effective to be abandoned.
The heavy, backslk lace points are popu-
lar as garnitures for the new woods in dark
shades, while the beautiful white and ecru
Point de ieus, though used principally for
frf, aud Gna cotn off iyaI
used in some of the early importations of
wool and even of gowns.
Necksleeve and skirt ruchings will
follow the past season. The Flauntleroy
turnover deep frills make too fine frame
for woman's face to be discarded These
deep-himsy frills are made only for young
girls or fair-faced, plump-throated
women. Woe to the sallow or
scraggy-necked woman who insists upon
these tempting vanities in contrasts to her
faded face. Nor should fat women wear
this order of neckwear. Straight bands Of
white muslin de sol, embroidered in white
silk bought by the yard and gathered in
frils for the sleeve, or arranged as sabot
vest, or, as the last degree of fashion makes
it, enhancement Flower ruches of roses,
heather daisies and lilies of the valley will
tendance" the edge of the evening dress
skirts.
1t is little early for bonnets, but we
, huNt bSCh WIN W Ca pow lOuSi hub, OlSJcI-
shells and open-crowned small bonnets.
Not the English walking hat, but a low
crowned atshaped hat will do duty for
windy days, and will be trim and neat as
travelling headgear
y
A word about the new broken plaid
sashes They are of soft surah, four yards
long, of every desirable shade and combi-
nation, and finished with heavy silk fringe.
SOMETHING ABOUT GLASS.
How many women know anything about
the relative merits of pressed, cut and en-
graved glass? There are several ways of
finding out. The short cut to knowledge
was taken by lady yesterday who was
gl0ncing over the crystal counter of an
Avenue store. She asked the price of a
quaint little pitcher with engraved designs,
and was told $l.50.
every WE'LL" she said; "l'll take that
and this" she added, selecting tiny bon
, bon dish of glitterng glass. The salesman
wrapped the parcel, for which the lady
waited, and presented her with the bill,
$3.50. The pitcher had an engraved band;
| the dish was cut. Another lady, the day pre-
vious, selected beautiful rose bowl, and
after ordering 1t sent offered the salesman
$3.50.
"Why, madam, the bowl you have bought
is $11."
"Whaty"
And the astonished lady was then in,
structed that the bowl for which her friend
haid $3.50 was only pressed, while the one
selected by herself was cut.
4 Such knowledge bought and paid for
not only becomes valuable for the future
but inspires one with new respect for
genuine articles. From out such blunders
the connoisseuT is evolved.
The popularity of cut glass for table dec
Grafton is not fad, but a growing taste