The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-01-25

rock that Is pretty is made of heliotrope
cloti deeper violet velvet and white brocade.
In thu picture the lapels were forgotten ell
tirely. hat they long aud narrow, begin
ming ji1t above the belt and only turning back
far encrgl 10 reach the big sleeves. not to cover
them a. so many of the shorter lapels do The
skirt fires around the bottom and is plain.
Tho Goa; IS aeted in at the back with a narrow
velvet belt. The coat skirts flare prettily. Tho
vest is :impy straight piece of broeads
stretched across a perfectly. fitting lining, and
it its perfectly without seam or DART vel
vet belt holds it in at the waist. The charae-
teristic touch is given by the continuation of
the vest below the belt. AS pictured il is lit
tie longer than it ought be. OF course the
brocade must he gathered in slightly nc the
belt both above and below. 1t is quite q pct-
uresque frock. The girl who wears it has a
wi1c-brimmed white hat trimmed with white
ostrich tips and purple velvet twist and knot.
x*s
An artificial silk is being manufactured in
France that promises well to rival that pro-
duced by the industrious silkworm The ma
terisl is made from wood pulp. and is soft and
brilliant as silk ought be. The only trouble is
to produce an even quality. The machinery
needs perfection, but there is much confidence
put in the process.
According to report, when the mother-in- law
of the Mikado is i'll she has 423 physicians in
attendance upon her.
The question has been put, +" Do sick people
ever sneeze?"
AMEs, Iowa, Jan. Is, 1894.
ELSIE PoMERoY McELRo Y, Editor "The Better
Half"
Because of the interesting things have found
in "The Better HALF" and by reason of the ad-
miration have long cherished for it. l feel
friends privilege of being sometimes a critic.
In the last number you say: Ordinarily when
there is engagement there IS nothing left
but to call John fiance and Mary ianeee,
although both words tease the uuacenstomed
tongue; and again, "betr0thed may delight
poets but lis certainly too sentimental for
everyday use for the end of-the-centuiy girl"
Now. why do you say SO? Betrothed is a
| good Anglo-Saxon word of reputable parentage,
| and has the merit of being dignifed, and &C
| curate as we'll as native and certainly can be
| no more sentimental than its exact synonym,
! the French intruder fance Our glsh speech
| were we but loyal to the words We have instead
| of using foreign words of whose true meaning
| and scope too many of our hearers and readers
are ignorant. Let US think accurately and use
our English honestly to express our thoughts
Yours for purity of speech,
| SARA KRAIaER WILSON.
take it it is very kind to so frankly criti-
else 1.-THE Better HALF" and / appreciate it.
| But the argument must be summoned forth
for my side, else will the victory be in tho
hands of my critic. and she will have, added to
| her logic the further advantage of having had
| the last word As to "Betrethed," il is yalu-
| able as an Augio-Saxon word. and 1t ia beauti-
ful in having in it truth |" in its old and pretty
form, trotb." And perhaps it would seem
| the best word for lovers 1t has the exact
meaning of fance-as near as faith and truth
| are synonymous-and has the further advan.