Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-02-08
THE CAPITAL JOURNAL.
Home Dresses.

N i'Oh'o S'liS OuIi VI IL ndpptus
to be her "at home" day, to make
herself comfortable in the morning
in "tea gown" a dressing sacque,
or Mother HUBBARD whatever
best suits the occupation she has on
hand, and remain in that attire
for hours. This is us it should be,
provided her dress though negligee
be neat and becoming. She owes
that much to her mother and sisters,
and even to herself if she wishes to
retain her self respect.
In the country, the custom is
different. The father and brothers
are likely to drop in at all hours
during the day, and besides this the
daughter of the house is expected to
be in readiness to see people all day
long. She has no "at home," but
must rerforce receive every day at
some seasons of the year. Our
neighbors come to visit us when
ever the roads, the weather, and
their home duties permit. Our con-
venience is never consulted we are
supposed to be always ready and
anxious to see them. If they come
in the morning, it is with the in
tention of spending the day; if in
the afternoon, they often remain
with us all night. They do not call
between meals as town visitors do,
and as for taking their departure
when the lunch bell rings-that idea
is preposterous.
During the summer our visitors
frequently prolong their stay indefi-
nitely two weeks or even months,
and in that case we are obliged to
continue the regular routine of du
ties; for even in a household where
servants are kept there are a great
many little nice jobs which we
cannot trust them to do. In the
country the housekeeper cannot get
trained servants as in city, and a
great deal of the time she--is COM
PEELED to put up with raw material
which needs so mnch overlooking
that is usually less trouble to do
particular piece of work herself than
to show an ignorant servant how to
do it.
So we see that the country girl
requires a variety of home dresses
which are not too good to work in,
yet are pretty enough to wear be-
fore company, as she is often
obliged to continue her work and
entertain her company at the same
time. And in order that she may
haye a fresh dress to put on as soon
as one becomes soiled, it is a good
plan to make them of such mater
ial as can be laundried. There are
a great variety of pretty washable
fabrics of this description, but the
trouble is that waist that is made
to fit snugly when new, will prob
ably shrink out of all shape when
laundried. Gingham, unless it is
very fine and closely woven, is liable
to do this. Cotton cheviot, rather
thick pliable fabric, which comes in
pretty soft colors-gray, brown, or
blue and white, checks and stripes
is about the incest thing l know
Of for every day wear. 1t has little
dressing in it when new, and can be
made into very pretty tasteful suits,
as it falls in soft clinging folds
nicely.
Spall checks of gray and white,
or of blue and white, are to be pre-
ferred to the black, or brown and
white, as they retain their colors
better and look fresh and bright as
long as the dress lasts. These goods
wear we'll and do not shrink or
stretch out of shape like gingham.
For summer wear there is nothing
cooler and neater than brown, or
rather linen-colored linen. AL
though it fades somewhat each time
it is washed, yet it keeps a pleasing
color to the last and always looks
fresh and nice.
Then there is the time -honored
calico which comes in many different
brands varying in price from cents
to l2l cents per yard. The cheaper
quality is not worth the making;
it is narrow, sleazy and frequently
fades almost beyond recognitiun the
first time ii is hundred. The best
quality is the most economical, be-
ing closely woven of fine, strong
threads, usually nearly a yard wide
and very durable and strong. The
fayorite style is a white figure on a
dark ground, the smaller and more
incouspicuous patterns being pret-
tiest. A good piece of this print
looks nice as long as there is scrap
left, for although blue becomes paler
at each successive washing, yet any
shade Of blue is pleasing. Waists
made OF this goods should be fitted