Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-11-01
STOCKING NOTES,

England, France and Germany keep
the civilized world in stockings.
English goods last the longest, and
French fit the best, but Germany has
the secret of the fastest dye and the
finest finish.
Spun silk stockings are not economi-
cal. Poor gentlewomen should not
wash them, and no sensitive sole should
wear them, as the fabric, which is
"shoddy," left from pure silk, will not
take fast dye. Spun silk is deceptive
for the reason that it makes thick,
warm stocking, but, like plotting paper,
is unable to resist wear.
About two-tifths of the trade calls for
Nos. and 81, the demand being about
equal in each case. A sure stocking
measure is the hand. Most women don't
know their size. 1t is a fact that the
right hand is shade larger than Its
neighbor; intelligent clerks gauge the
size from the left hand The stocking
foot lis folded round the closed hand, and
if the heel and toe just meet it will be a
| perfect fit.
The best selling article in trade is a
25-cent black cotton. The demand ex-
ceeds that for all the rest of the cottons
and threads and is about three times lar
| ger than for the silks. The fabric is
heavy, the material is coarse but strong,
the dye is absolutely fast, and for SER
vice nothing in the market can approach
it at double the money. A 25-cent cot
ton Marley will outlast 60.cent Isle
thread, but, of course, ii lacks the beauty
of finer weave. Beautiful goods are
offered at 80 cents pair, in black and
leather brown cottons. They are full
regular solid feet and also white tips. 1t
is not to the credit Of the sex that the
majority of customers prefer solid black
feet to those with white heels and toes.
A line of English goods of this quality,
with fancy stitches done in colored silk,
are very desirable. The decoration
covers the entire front from the toe-line
to the boot.top. With low shoes OF
slippers they give just that touch of
femininity to the footwear that helps
sustain the superiority of womankind to
every other species of creation.
English and German stockings are
made on the same last. The sole is
woven separately and sewed in. This
puts a seam on each side of the foot
but IL is done so neatly as to be insensi.
BILE to the touch and almost invisible in
the fine goods. The English last, as il
is called, is quite large. Not only are
the feet longer than French stocking
of the same size, but they are full
across the toes, ball and ankle. The
French weave the stocking in one piece
it is then joined, making seam through
the centre of the sole and up the back
The English and Germans and great
many Americans object to this seam
which twists unless the stocking is pu
on properly. However, this prejudice
is oYerruled by the exquisite fiji of the
hose. They are woven on a small scale
to insure a kid-glove tit. A No. 81
French stocking is often full incl
narrower and three-quarters of an incl
shorter than an English or German
stocking of the same size. 1t is for thi
reason that French hosiery is incom
,, parable for evening dress and for wed
, ding outfits. Even the nobility of tn,
three great powers wear French stock
ings with their wedding boots. Sine
J the passage of the Tariff bill stocking
are trile cheaper. The reduction il
silk is 20 cents pair, Isle thread, Il
cents, wool 10 cents and cotton cents
All 35-cent goods sell three pairs for 81
25-cent socks and stockings are $3.50
nnyen