The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1893-11-26
Who Make the Fashions.

that artists and painters have any
thing to do with the matter. When a
fashion of a certain period is revived,
as for instance, just now, the 1880"
rumor always has it that, because the
costumes of that time were quaint or
picturesque, some great artist prompted
their readoption. He did nothing of
the kind. Great artists are, as a rule,
great enough in common sense to
know that however well old world
dresses may look in pictures, they are
not with very rare exceptions, adapt
able to the wear and tear of the every
day life of the present.
Another popular idea is that most
fashions are set by some elegant wo-
man of the world, says Il writer in the
Western Budget That also is imag-
lining vain things. Very occasionally
it may happen that Il leading society
lady, by wearing a certain costume or
part of a costume of her own inven-
tion, sets a fashion. But, as rule,
that busiest of busy women, the ruler
of large and much frequented salon,
has neither time nor inclination to
create her costumes. She prefergpay-
ing others for doing it for her.
Who, then, are these others?' The
ma ajority are quiet women, themselves
dressed in the simplest style, on whom
none of their fashionable clientele
ever set eyes, but who, from behind
the scenes, rule the world of fashion
with an iron rod. They are employed
by leading business houses to puzzle
out week after week something new,
startling, effective, by means of which
a society woman may outshine every
body else. These ladies, who are the
real fashion makers, are well paid, but
of honors they have none, and THEN
names, though they deserve it well,
since for the most part they evolve
fashions entirely out of their inner
consciousness, do not go down to pos
terity.
Think of the change one single cen
tTFy has wrought among the fashion
makers! At the end of the eighteenth
century, and, indeed, we'll into the
present one, doll single French
doll, was all that was needed to gi We
to the women of the whole of
civilized Europe the cue as TO what
they were expected to wear during a
summer or winter season. This
dOil was dressed at Paris; thence
it was sent to London, Berlin, Vienna
and st. Petersburg; it had with
it its day-dress, its silk evening cos
sions, velvet robe, and u muslin or
tarlatan frock for dancing.
Now, imagine how utterly bourgeois
or provincial it would be were you to
even dream of wearing the same visit
ing or evening gown through one
whole season! But the modern
frenzy for luxury in dress has now
gone SO far that even its most reckless
advocates are beginning to pause, and
then comes from Paris, the very
throne of fashion, a strong appeal to
all women to return to the graceful,
elegant simplicity of the days of the
past.
Let US cease to make simplicity
synonym of ugliness; let Us no longer
indulge in this restless chasing after
change and notoriety. and let us re-
turn to the ways of the olden days
when what was worn was good and
rich as purse can buy, but when it
was not considered almost a disgrace
to wear the same Dresses for three or
four months
Which words of wisdom should be
printed in letters of gold over the
doors of every .'fashiona bic resort"
For Unexpected Guests.
Here are number of good recipes
which may be prepared in from five to
fifteen minutes. They are just the
dishes to serve at that emergency, so
well known to all hcusekeepers, when
meal must be prepared quickly.
Beefsteal1 and Mushrooms-Boi the
mushrooms in milk for eight minutes.
then season. add a tablespoonful of
butter, and thicken with a little
Drowned flour. Lay the broiled beef
steak, which has been broiling mean
while, on a platter and pour the mush-
rooms and sauce over it.
Fried Bananas-Cut in two length
wise, dip in paste composed of two
eggs, one level cupful of flour, one
half cupful of water, one-half tea
spoonful of soda dissolved in hot wa
ter. Fry in boiling lard to delicate
brown.
= Baked Cabbage-Take cold boiled
cabbage; c4rop fine. stir in a little
cream, and bake for eight minutes in
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