The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-31

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coaching parasol, others hold them of ginger
IL at arms length as if they were afraid of
the thOrns, while still others swing them
about as drum major does his baton or
handle them like tennis racket
The girls who desire TO be picturesque and
graceful are studying the postures OF Madame
de Staei, who in most Of her portraits carries
myrtle branch in her fingers with the ayowed
intention of showing of her well shaped hand.
In ungloved fingers the thOrny rose stem ls
somewhat an uncomfortable appendage but
as the hands OF most women look best IN
glove the bare hand is not often seen.
PRETTY HANDS.
A well-known manicure tells me that
beautiful hand is a very rare thing, and That
among the hundreds that she manlpulates
there are few even ordinarily we'll shaped
ones They say that 1t takes three genera
lions 10 make gentleman, and 1t certainty Is
the mark of arlstocratlc ancestry % possess
pretty hand and foot. One sees elegantly
attired ladies with feet as fiat a those OF
titled English women, while often poorly
clad working girl has a small and slender loot
which Is nMiceablv lovely even IN her shabby
boots in the one case the apparent arstocrat
was not 10 the manor b0rn,in the other there
wasa strain of good blood somewhere, although
appearances did not proclaim H.
Returning 10 flower fashions, the swell
girls recently developed mania for carrying
a single violet between their pretty lips IL
was done with uns tudied carelessness, but be-
came too pronounced not TO become notice
able. The girl who first did it bad, it Is un-
necessary 10 state, inviting red lips, and the
single purple violet called attention to the
cupid bow of her mouth.
The swell men as frequently carry tins
fragrant flower fastened in the crown OF their
hats as they do in the lapel of their
coats: IL IS somewhat embarrassing, however.
70 dOf ones hat 10 a fair oneand find ones self
almost blinded by rain of violets.
BABBARIc THUMB RING.
An ugly and unbecoming fashion in iewelry
is that OF the thumb ring. which has too bar
barrie a suggestion 10 be altogether IN con-
sonance with modern taste. The warriors of
old wore these ponderous ornaments upon
their mighty thumbs but even III rude ages
women seldom affected them. Lillian Rus
sells diamond thumb ring Cutters IKE rad-
ant star as she throws back her vel IN the
role of Pvthia the lovely and inspired oracle
Of Delphi. Miss Russell has a snapely hand
or the innovation would not be acceptable;
but as she is the most beautiful woman upon
the stage, we accept, but all the same DO not
admire IL.
Mrs. Ella Wheeler Wilcox has also adopted
the latest fashion in rings. Her plump lett
thumb is encircled by ring set III English
style with diamonds and rubes alternating
the stones being set closely together and run
ming almost half way round the finger.
Edmund Russell Is fond of wearing an
enormous silver thumb ring dug up from
some Roman ruins IN Great Britain. III Is OF
curious workmanship and is so large that II
reminds one more of shield than Iln@.
SNAKE CRAZE
The snake craze is still rampant in jewelry,
and if one has no prejudice against reptiles
one cannot fail 10 regard them as appropriate
forms for bracelets, necklaces, ana gltdles
The serpents are made of pllable metal with
an enAmeled head diamond eyes. ana ruby
tongue. We have also been hooded WIN
snakes as bonnet ornaments, but most OF tnen
were 50 ugly that they were repudlated NJ
once and failed to wriggle as aliurlngly as the
deluded milliner supposed they would.
horrible idea was that OF Jet-oiack snake INC
bead placed upright upon the oack Oh the
bonnet. while the glittering, Shiny length
cOiled itself about the neck. IL gave the
wearer an appearance of strangulation, and
one expected momentarily TO see her grow
purple in the face and groan IN agony MOST
Of the hat-snakes are extremely lnartisuc'
some of the silver ones looking tor all the
world like garters OF spiral WIRE ehhoDIeu WIFI
the head OF a boa constructor.
A pleasing depression from the serpent
craze in head gear are the flower ana nuit
bonnets: bonnets Of dainty small mowers such
as heather. honeysuckle and the neyer-to-0e-
forgotten fOrget-ine-nOt are very pretty TO
FRUIT FOR BoNNETs
Fruit forms the basis Of many Of the new
bonpets but the wearers appear 10 have but
little regard as TO whether the fruit Is In or
out Of season-grapes, strawberries and fruits
that do not mature at the same time being
indiscriminately used.
Fruit bonnets are 50 luscious looking that
one almost feels tempted 10 take niDoie at
their zine abundance Among the prettlest
are those made Of grapes. IA mlnghng OF the
rch sun kissed Tokay and the cool green
Malaga being an especially happy one.
Scarlet currants and Ox-heart cherries nest
ling amidst cool green leaves cause one TO
dream of rambling old country gardens, and
blackberries peeping out from Driars white
with snowy blossoms BRING WIN theh
"reminiscences Of wayside lanes ana pilcAed
and berry stained fingers. -,
Luckily we have stopped at the orcharo'
and fashion has not invaded inc hlVcuon sal-
den as she did several seasons. ago, wneh
radishes. carrots and cunning whitey-Drown
muchroons nodded upon the hats OF women
who would have scorned to enter naIhe'
garden and knew nothing about ths Succu-
lent edibles until they were served hPpe-
tzlngly with a sauce 10 Bechanel upon
silver chatting dish.
LAHK wosfRs.
Meanwhile the woman Of the period reminas
one of linked sweetness long drawn OUT;
everything tends 10 make her appear long ana
ianky; her gown clings closely and traiio seV,,
eral inches Ia the dust; the high rufnes ana
lofty Eizabethan collar give length from
shoulder 70 ear and although her hat u tho