Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-19


has still got his eye on you.
II what hear is true the hoOpskirt is
bound to make its appearance in Rich-
mond again, though all tho ladies with
whom have dared to discuss the sub
ject assert that their sex look upon the
fashion as a diabolica one. The fact
that Queen Victoria, or some other
woman equally as great, has adopted
tho bird-cage apparatus, If so 1t may be
designated, does not seem 10 con-
sole the fair ones in the least.
While discussing this delicate and wiry
subject with knowing danes ] have ex-
perienced analmost ostunconquerable desire
to ask them how they sit down IN their
crinolines, but something told me that
my curiosity had better check itself.
Some months ago | happened to find
myself in ladys apartment, and there,
standing alone before me saw what /
thought was wicker-work hoopsklrt.
Gracious me, thought, /" L would just
as sOon'wear pair Of tin pants as insert
myself into that thing" For once my
surprise got the better OF my politeness
and / was bound to inquire about the
object of my wonder, "Why that's a
shape" said my fair friend. "a
what?" I asked in horror, and with a
brick-dust tint gradually floating
over my complexion. When she re-
peated the word | couldn't help think
ing of that little slang expression, Pm
not stuck on your shape" but kept
mum. She saw my bowildermeht, and
then explained that what | thought was
hoopskirt was an appliance the ladies
use TO make their dresses on. 1t en-
ables them to get the cloth to hang
right, and is unto the feminine world
what the trouser-stretchers are to the
gilded youth. But | am DEPRESSING
from my original subject. Those who
predict the reign Of crinolines once
more say that they get their authority
from the fashion books, and :" IL you
see it in ono Of these interesting Jour
nails it's So" At any rate, | am glad L
am man if hoopskirts are en- regte for
the ladies.
The extremely cold weather, which,
to use the language of Mr.. Benjamin
Harrison, "even froze up baseball, "
has produced a marked change in the
style of overcoats this winter Last sea-
son the boys raved over the little bob
tailed garments which hardly took as
much material as q dress.vest, but now
everything is reversed. To-day you are
from the country" If you haven't got
an overcoat that tsweeps the cigar stumps
from the pavements and covers your
shoulders with lts collar. Everybody likes
the change. Nowadays it's case where
you get what you pay tor, while for
merly it was q case where you paid for
(or were supposed TO pay for) what you
didn't get And then there's another
thing about the big OvercOats, which is
the best feature Of all. We fellows all
look awfully handsome and manly in
them. and-but for goodness sake don't
cay told you-they hides an old pair OF
trousers so we'll. With one Of the large,
shaggy garments and bulldog pipe we
are the exemplifcation OF "political
economy" and save enough money each
week to make large contributions to the
widows and orphans
Verify. l don't believe there is a man
in town who isn't pleased with the new
Chamber of Commerce building. Tc
tell the truth, the folks here are moi
used to seeing sky-scrapers " and the
magnificent structure is pleasing to then
eyes In the last month l have passed
the building q thousand times, sup
pose, and on every occasion some com
ment on Richmond's progress
has reached my ears. Every fel
low who goes up Ninth stree
has his neck twisted when he ascend:
the hill, for I don't believe there is I
Richmonder in town who can resist The
TEN ptation to look back at the splendiC
structure. Mr.. Burton has had unusu
ally bad weather TO contend with, but hal
made excellent progress notwithstand
ing. The structure will be under roo
in few weeks and then insid,
work will be advanced as rapidly
as the exterior has been. Th'
building will cost, including th'
lot, 100000 or little more
but the indications are that it will be
paving investment The front portion
of the Main-street floor will be occupied