The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-11-20

royal texture and beauty. Artists make
our boots, gloves, coats and bonnets; artists
decorate our homes, our churches our pub
lie halls, our stores ana club houses. Re-
call if you can the gay Sunday toilette o
pretty village belle-a bright pink gown all
dotted with sprigs'of feathery fern in vivid
green, jaunty white hat with feathers OF
heavens own blue, girdle of black velvet
about her slender waist and ribbons of vel
tied about her pretty throat. What rain
bowl Now place her beside the lasse OF
the period and mark the contrast.
The women of America were never so
well dressed as they are today, and they
are fast learning the lessons which the
French nave so long been teacling that
the dress must suit the occasion. In color
and material the apparel of both
men and women increases in
way, / note the fact that London tailors
have formed an association to create re-
form in the present styles for men, and they
will decline to receive an order for gentle
mems dress suit. Should he insist upon
the time honored black, walters full dress
suit, as it is now known. The innovation
will be stratling, and yet we will only be
getting back to the OLD days of knee bi eecb-
es, silver buckles, velvet vests and RULED
every inch prince or lord in appearance.
Some of the new shades IN dress goods
are prune, I'd thlia, myrtle, maize, castor
brown, faWn and heliotrope. The rough
surface cloths are much in demand, and
twet DIS, cheviut, chereon stripes Bannock
burns and camel's hair are thrown out
besides broadcloth and silk finished Henri
eta in most beautiful tones. Another ex-
qu;site novelty is pompadour brocade in vel
oil l.
waist decoration and also in the bewider-
ing bits of fancy work in which the
feminine fingers love to busy themselves.
Later on | will give some hints about those
thil rs for their special benefit.
Touching upon this theme of beauty and
art in the common place things of life, how
little we think OF the labor required to put
them all within reach. The very paper on
our walls-it may be passion flower in its
tint of purple glory, or hare bell blue,
just readytO nod to the breeze that steals in
through the casement-even this has been
the effort of some wJman's brain; for the
designers in paper, carpets, oil cloths, etc,
are mostly women. The New York Art
school trains many for this class of work,
and when once learned, or rather when the
latent talent is developed, it becomes very
remunerative, as a desidgn not more
than foot square will bring
the manufacturer who makes the purchase.
In Philadelphia there are about twenty
mills devoted to the manufacture of wall
papers. 1t seems strange that women have
never entered the field of paper hangers,
vet do not know one, though many try
their hand in their own home and are de-
cided success. 1t is said that first class
paper hanger can make $50 week for eight
months in the year in Washington, but he
| must be first class to do that.
SWELL MATINEE.
unique event in theatrical circles this
week will be a matinee d. invitation Of
Prince Karl' given by Mr.. Richard Mans
| field to Mrs. Frank B Loring, who is an
old and valued friend of the popular actor,
| The matinee is to be very exclusive. Wash
ington's distinguished people will be well
represented, invitations having bt Ell issued
| to President and Mrs Harrison, the vice
president, the cabinet, the foreign minis
| ters and legations and many persons OF
| note.
AN ELECTRIC ROCK.
| The Washington Gas company had so
| long held sway here that when the electric
light company dawne1 on our horizon it
was hailed with joy, for we knew there
| would be light on our darkened way as
compared with the limited candle power of
the gas company, and the streets now
lighted by electricity are the chosen prone
nades. II the recent discovery by Mr..
Dixon of Sodus, N. Y, of that wonderful
ore called electric rock" amounts to any
thing, it will work wonderful revolution
in Illuminating mediums.
The construction of the battery is very
simple, merely placing quantity of the
rock in jars containing solution whose
chief ingredients are salt and water; the
circuit is then completed and the battery
ready for use. MIR. Dixon claims that one
charge OF 400 pounds of rock will last and
produce light for one year before losing
its force, and also that it is entirely harm
less. He has had a 8 pound piece Of rock
in his office which has been ringing bell
since last November Tests have been
made of this wonderful rock in the pres
ence of several gentlemen, expert cleo
tricians, who acknowledge, but cannot eX-
plain its hidden power.
This is a wonderful old world, mighty
world, revealing continually the divine
i operations ofthe creator of the universe.
How can man doubt the existence of
God, when he beholds His marvellous
handiwo:kp LIE DEAN.