The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-02

then. flesh pink and white, also knit gra,
and brown yarn (think of this y and whit
and colored cotton designs; but black stock
ings must be of silk, and these would stair
the feet of the dainty bellies wearing sandal
slippers and bucklsd ties.
AS the years went on the health fad fol.
lowers began urging the necessity of longer
hose to be worn over the knees for warmth
and to avoid wearing tho garter, which is
justly claimed to impede the circulation o.
the blood if worn sufficiently tight to keep
the stocking trim and taught. This brought
longer stockings and stocking supporters
into play. and in a short time even those
who were at FIRST opposed to the new order
of things became firm advocates of the in.
novation.
Through all these years a constant cry OF
complaint went up regarding the staining
and fading of the bright colors worn. The
shade magenta might we'll be named after
as the writing on the WALL" Many took
a dislike to cardinal, rs it would also stain
and often poison the skin if the latter was
naturally unhealthy or delicate. Seal brown
and dark gray shades were taken in a feel
inc of self-defense.
About fifteen years & black hose were
more strongly pushed in the market, but
while the ladies we're ready to welcome a
change, they could not praise stockings that
stained the feet and clothes and returned
from the washtub a grayish green.
The first black stockings were not a sue
cess, and the dyers wen to work with q will
that resulted, in the course of a few years,
in a perfect black dye that does not stain or
fade under any circumstances
When this pearl of great price" was
found a transformation scene took place.
and the demand for "fast black hose could
hardly be gratified.s While ladies' and
children's stockings were the first to DO
what we might style universally black. it
was not long before men caught the fever
day probably three-fourths of all the
hosiery sold is black.
A step further and we have a combina-
ton suit, combining stocking, drawers and
vests, which fits like n glove" and grows
daily in favor with stout and slender. tall
and short figures, and forms apparently the
limit Of the aims Of the stocking. Only
apparently, however, as n nay readily
imagine the continued evolution until it
ceases only when the entire body is COW
cred, leaving but tho face exposed. More
absurd fashions than this have obtained a
footing with the approval of dame fashion,
and this is q case where mo one knoweth
what a day may bring FORTH"
Some old-fashioned people still cling to
white and unbleached stockings, but they
are decidedly in the minority, and ono
swallow cannot make the tiniest part of a
hummer. Otherwise they are worn chiefly
with white shippers and gloves during the
ball and wedding seasons. Light shades
are only worn to match gowns or suede ties.
The market now affords fast dyes in nearly
oil the shades shown, and a fast scarlet il
considered quite a triumph Of the dyel's
art.
Biege, tan and gray shades have boon
we'll favored for several seasons and prom
Use to continue in this stute of we'll being at
least as long as dry goods of these tints arc
Natural" shades or mixtures of
or erny and white in tho indistinot
lnottling, copied from the sanitary under
wenr, have had quite a sale among conserv-
alive women who wished to discard white
and hardly had the courage to clothe them
in black. These natural mixtures
have also sold we'll in the mems furnishing
departments.