The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-22
THE WORLD OF SOCIETY.
Social AMUSENENTs DURING PAS
SION WEEK.

Womsn's Dress; Its Incongruitics and Adap-
tation to Former Conditions-Birthday
Overwhelmingly Dinners, Weddings, Break
fasts and Evening Teas.
The Romans used to say OK pede Herculem.
OF "you may know Hercules 10y his foot" init
mating that one may usually judge Of tie
whole by pant.
The Greeks also had maxim which trans
lated means THE dress shows the man. and
it is certain that Of all triAing things there is
none by which people so much display their
natural turn Of mind as by their dress.
There is proper style for every rank, age
and figure which those who deviate from are
guilty Of petty treason against common sense.
If all things 10y their season seasoned are'
~ Is all dress Tor should be- seasOnablc, COM
prehensiyc and complete.
The one great secret of the success Of the
French "a artists of female attire Is that they
consider the entire figure and lis demands.
the proprety Of substance and the needs of
the wearer.
The sense Of the personally becoming is a
consideration which they say should weigh
against the freaks Of fashion. Ia buying
hat for instance, every woman should stand
before a mirror large enough 10 display her
full proportions
Often very pretty bonnet which becomes
the face is an utter failure 20 those who con-
sidcr the effect a. a whole. little study and
attention % these things soon teaches young
cirls % avoid the incongruous IN dress.
The French women turn everything TO ac-
count ID dress. nor do they think II unbe-
coming their station 20 take care Of their
clothing. Walking costumes are never worn
by Europeans of rank and position long
enough o. touch the ground They very
properly claim that the first requisite Of
well dressed woman Is cleanliness, and on TINS
head fasudlousness can scarcely be carried too
far.
The impression that only young women
need consider the importance Of becoming
attire Is altogether erroneous Whilst youth
and freshness are theirs they can better
afford TO be Indifferent 20 the nlcities of color.
shade and style than later IN life.
The lilies of the field who neither toll
nor spin" are arnvcd in tnts that all tle
skill of the world artists cannot equal IL Is
e "toiers and splnners,' who. as they adj
vance in years and lose the delicate bloom
and graceful outlines Of youth, IN the Steiner
lines or more generous proportions. must OBJ
serve with care the styles best suited TO their
age and forms.
INDIFFERENCE TO DREss.
Women are censured oftimes for giving too
much attention % dress. but who makes w0-
man cXtrayagant IA these things, The answer
comes from one who knows whereof he
suDik-.N "Of course nobody under the over
Spreading heavens but man. Man. who de
nauds that she shall be dressed well from
the dainty slipper, which embraces her pretty
little foot. % tine roses which nestle IN her
har DO not blame the dear creatures. for
tie other sex assIduou-ly cultivate her natu-
raj uclnatlOus. Better teach her their just
value as % necessity; teach hcr that there
must be something better under the pretty
bonnet than q pretty face. If she would have
and give lasting happiness"
Indifference % dress is not a virtue, but
defect ia the character. Every woman should
study 20 make the best OF herself with fine
means az her command. IL refnes the tastes
and gives satisfaction and pleasure to those
around her.
Dress 10 he in perfect taste need not be
costly, the golden rule being TO avoid ex-
tremes with a little care in the choice and
arrangement of fabrics and colors.
The secret simply consists in a womaus
knowing the three grand unitics her own
age, her own points. and her own station.
She must be- very rich, or very clever. or
very useful TO bee privileged 10 wear "A shabby
gown. Few can afford 20 disregard appear
ances, and those who keep them up are most
respected.
il was q clever woman who said that a con-
sclOusness Of being well dressed conferred "a
serenity not 10 bo derived from any other
cause.
After all, it is tho wearer who makes the
success of dress and IN regard TO costumes
Of fabric 1t may be- said Of dress makers "a,
of grayer subjects, True greatness consists.
hol SO much il uolub tAlidNN lltiN lllI,- as
IN doing ordinary things extraordinarily
we'll"
REVIVAL OF THE ANTIQUE
There is a growing tendency to revive fash
Ions Of other periods more Or less remote. but
n most instances these antique styles are SD
modified rs 90 be practically new and oripinal.
There was never period where variety Was
infinite as now. as % colors and combinations,
which only an artist. whose taste and skill
amount 70 an inspiration. should attempt to-
reconcile Fashion declares those shall le
united which in themselves are iularmouious.
in such cases il is not sufficient 10 combine
c0lOrs IN order 70 produce satisfactory results.
their effect upon the complexion of the wcarer
and upon each other should be very carefully
considered.
SUGGESTIONS or THE SPRING.
The universal bell skirt. " the cose-ftting
iouble-brcasted basque i'm wool materials.
and the graceful daperes of China SILK lace
t0unces and vast finish seem % prevail DOB
the latest journals, whilst the Cleopatra toque
In embroidered lace and crepe. the Neapoltan
and Milan bralds IN GalncsbOr0ugh and other
large hats. marvels of combined garuture of
lace ribbons and flowers. furnish head adorn-
ments IN shapes and styles suited 20 every
face and complexion.
EASTER SUITS.
The spring holiday comes so early this year
that the intention % wear new suits on Easter
Sunday Is by no means general Indeed for
some years past tine custom has been waning
and is not regretted IN its flight. The obser-
vance IS strictly Christian one, and there as
no reason for it to be turned to the use Of
fashions vOtares.
BIRTHDAY DINNER.
Mr. Blythe W Branch celebrated his twenty
seyeuth birthday by an elegant dinner 10 ms
special friends on Monday evening. The
table decorations were very beautiful squares
" pink Saline under Irish point lace and had
resting upon them American beauties in cut
glass bowls The centre was adorned 10y an
oblong PLAGUE of the same beautiful roses
truged with y-of-the-valley. and each lady's
plate was marked by a bouquet of American
beautie,
A beautifully iced almond cake decorated
with natural roses. with twenty-seyen pink
and white wax candles burning around u,
was flushed in the centre by the inscription
N pink icing 1861. b. W. B.. 1891 the ices
were pink melon, the centre Of Roman hislue
and The exterior of strawberry ice from the
fresh fruit
8 very complete menu was supplemented 10y
rare old wines. IN which the health OF the host
vs. many times pledged.
Mrs John T. Branch wore a magnificent
costume Of golden pink brocade over green
crepe, with superb lace and diamonds.
Mrs Russell Robinson. Duchesse lace over
sfraw-colOred satin pannlcrs and train Of
straw cOlOred muscOrite.