The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-05-05

|
<SNsbttSSE $tSVW If they are not
| <Ss4k&Ey called artists,
think they are de-
frauded of their just due, for the de-
| signs are more than designs this season.
They are so many perfect pictures, each
after its kind. Ihaves seen pictures paint
ed by artists which were not nearly SO
, artistic and true to nature as are some of
these. There Is dark ground-some-
times black india silk-with the most
perfect flowers scattered over it, as if
thrown by baby's hands, some of them
crushed and faded little, as though they
had been held too close in the loving
grasp and had wilted under the warm
caress. The tiny daisies, cowslips or
violets are marvels of delicacy, and then
there are others where there are broken
off blossoms Of the pink wax begonia,
tiny sprigs of parsley leaf pattern and
broken fronds of maidenhair fern, rus
set and Redeemed under too bright sun.
There are others with small branches
of pussy willows in bud and bloom, and
perfect orchids in their gorgeous color
ing, and pale, brittle leaves. Tiny rose
buds lying on rose geranium leaf that
is partly green and partly faded yellow
are seen in one pattern, and pink PIN
pernel makes another. So do the deli
cate white chickweed and apple bios
SONS and clover blossoms both white
and red, and few velvety pansies. But
the taste of the artists seems to have
turned rather toward the despised and
overlooked beauties that lie about us.
One beautiful pattern of o gray green
ground has pine needles strewn over it,
some of them singly and others in
punches of five or six all in heap
There is no set figure, or If there is it is
not repeated often enough to permit the
whole to appear at one view.
One most exquisite pattern had pearl
gray ground, with irregular pale pur-
plish blue leaves in two shades and moss
rosebuds with short broken stems in
pink and purplish blue woven in the
cheney pattern, SO that it looked like the
colors of mountains seen through the
misty haze of distance. Some other pat
terms have disks of one color or another
on the background and lying partly on
the disk and partly on the solid color
half opened pink daisies or some other
small flower, which makes an artistic
contrast and pleasing whole. A few
have geometrical figures alternating
with pattern of broken twigs, the pref
test being q black ground with very
pale green rhomboids and twigs of the
wild chicory, also in pale green, with
blue flower on each one. But there are
hundreds of varying patterns, all exquis-
itely lovely, so that it is hard to choose
from them.
To suit the matter to every purse these
patterns are all reproduced in sateen,
fine cambrics and challies. The dark
grounds are likely to appear clean longer
than the others, but those with the light
er grounds are far prettier and more
summary.
How are they to DO made? Well, here
is a picture that will show you. One
has ground of French gray, with pim-
pernel blossoms and leaves for pattern.
The skirt is gored and without rufle or
ornament around the bottom. Over it
is quaint cape, which, after encircling
the shoulders, forms q sort of waist dra-
perry easily understood by the illustra-
ton, and this then forms sash panels
which reach to the bottom. This is of
faille in dull blue.
A lovely pink batiste was made up as
If it was the most extravaganza silk, with
six gathered founces, each headed by
band of bias silk, changeable old rose
and gold, the cape revers and stole ends
all of the same. These bands are sewn
over stiff muslin and then loosely cat
stitched on SO that they can be removed
If necessary to have the gown washed,
but it could. barring accidents, be worn
one season at least without requiring it.
Among the other lovely new spring
and summer cotton fabrics one finds
empire brocades, satin striped and plaid
ginghams, French twills, rayonette,
figured and hemstitched; chintz, two
toned figures; gloria foulard and num-