The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-07
soclETYs OLD CLOTHES
Economical Uses Of Hementoes OF Greze
social Events.


social Events.
The other day an inquisitive persos
asked a leader OF New York society
with the reputation of never wearing
gown more than three times: How do
you manage not to be swamped in a
sea OF garments? Your gloves cost more
than all my wardrobe, vet L find my
closet disagreeably full at least once
year"
The woman smiled inserutably, say
ing: The poor we have always with us
I see you look ineredulous. but ii is an
absolute fact that my Worth gowns help
TO warm many poor creature every
winter. Not. OF course, in their first
estate Madame is the magician that
makes them available. When have told
you my part Of the story l viii send
you 70 her for the rest. You see, if
3ne goes out great deal heaps of
clothes are a necessity, and the more
unique and striking q gown is, the
shorter its season OF usefulness. For
people remem Der il, and do not forget
70 remark its appearance if at all fire.
1uent. Then you must either remodel
t, give it away, or send for madame.
"a clever maid. with knack in her
finger tips, can transform a simple
gown with new draperies and trim
nings, but give her an embroidered
French creation, radiant with the in
lividuality of Worth and Pingat, and
she bungles terribly-so terribly, in
fact, that the last state Of the garment
is more notable than the first. The
most serviceabl gown in the world is
a silk or velvet, very handsome snd
well cut, but severely plain, upon
which all sorts of trimmings may be
superimposed to give the effect of diff
ferent costumes BY so clothing your
self you viii escape reproach. On the
other hand, your style will never be
marked: and what woman could bear
that? Nearly all prominent society
woman have sisters, cousins, aunts,
friends or protegees so situated as to
make the gift of their scarcely-worD
garments more than accepta ole. That
is what becomes of a deal of society's
frills. Their new owners make them
over, or wear them intact Ia fresh
fields and conquests new.
Zone Fifth avenue matron within my
knowledge is a sort of special provi.
dence to many people of whom she
knows hardly more than their names
The surplus Of her wardrobe goes into
the hands of molly generous creature
who delights to distribute among other
gentlewomen who are secure enough Of
their genGility not 10 take offense at
the gift.
That sort of thing goes on largely
abroad, where the ranks OF poor gentle.
women are SO pitifully crowded. There
is more OF it here, too, than you would
imagine. 1 could name you more than
one belle and beauty whose career
would be impossible but for such good
help. Very handsome stufs are, OF
course. sometimes worked over by
iressmakers outside, but it is the excep
ton. not the rule.
I'm London, though, you Away.
count on getting new evening gown
out of your court train after you have
been presented. 1t is four TO five yards
long, and Heaven knows how many
breadths wide-so it is as easy to deal
with as new stuff; besides, there is the
lining for a new undergown. Historic
brocades, too, are kept and made over.
Indeed. as a rule, each one of us cher
ishes very rich silk of any peculiar sort
real lace of all sorts, Lyons velvet and
sable. In each of these we buy such
quantities as deserve to become heir.
looms, and for the most part we keeE
them very we'll.
Our maids, of course, come in fol
many things, even such as is manifest
" impossible for them to wear. But
generosity toward ones personal at
Jendaut is more and more taking other
forms.
Disagreeable contretemps have more
than once arisen from the maids ap-
pearing IN the garb or ornaments of the
mistress; sometimes, too. such gifts are
purpOsely misused-for revenge some
times, or in aid of questionable ssso-
ciates. So, madame is more than ever
a blessing and a necessity. She is the
dearest, neat, small Frenchwoman.
with a trim shop in an out-of-the-way
nook. She has been in business years
and years. We all have her address
and when gowns and wraps begin to
clutter everything, she is sent for,
comes in cab, trips daintily about,
pulling over and peeping at things,
then says: I give the lady
so many dollars counts out the
money and goes away. Next day a
trunk or two leaves the house, not ad-
dressed, but in charge of some one who
knows where to take it At about the
same time, maybe, the charity organ
iZations receive q SUN OF money. either
anonymously or accompanied by well
known name. and. oddly enough. il Is
exactly the amount madame left be
hind her. Not a great sum, either.
She took twenty-eight gowns from me
at her last call More than half were
French, and had cost from three hun
bred dollars to i've hundred dollars
each, and l had just FIVE hundred dol
lars for nv fund"
A card took the inouisitive person 20
this mysterious madame, and proved an
open sesame TO the wonders OF her
shop. The half had not been told Of
Il Worth gowns overAowed the closets,
the presses he ~ '-Ezlfs that lined
the wall. ali with tne makers stamp,
and many with hardly trace Of
wear Felix, PIngat- Redfern. and
twenty more famous names were
on the various garments, heaped and
huddled about the queer small place
Ii was a not Of six. OF en- oroidery, Of
iaweIed beading and ephemeral ace.