Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-26

umpb. and II is a revelation In resources
to see how a coquettish woman will make
n new toilette every day with a single
white flannel gown. She adds touches OF
red in the accessories on Monday. on
Tuesday green OF blue. and the next day
yari-coiored Breton embroidery give a
rich and new effect. This color appears
In knots Mt the knee. Mt the shoulders, III
the sandal iaces. and I'm the turban. The
Breton work. an overloid embroidery In
Oriental effect, IL on brettelles, belt and
knee bands. and calls for gay eastern
bsndanna on the head. I saw woman
the other day In an ali-black costume
come up IKE Galatea out OF the ocean to
be envelopcd by her waiting maid In
voluminous cloak OF deep saffron yellow.
The effect was enormous. Navy blue
would seem TO have no resources un-
known. but shorten the skirt, build on,
the shoulders with epaulettes. open lh,
blouse over a gilct OF white flannel. ana
then stitch upon all the blue an applique
pattern Of black flannel, and the Old mate
rial viii have taken on an aspect al new
In the sun this dress Is charming. The
effect produced by the very short. fuii
skirt. with the tapering length OK hmp
below, Just accented by the sandal tips,
and the sleeveless blouse above. ana the
bandanna folded like crown with two
aggressive horns tied above the forehead,
Is piquant beyond description or mine.
Also. the spectators seem TO appreciate
the picture. They come down onto the
sands in good season. and take their place
each under his private awning. as they
would 20 to their box at the play
Rafarrpars cotffl nor Sk for less weight
or much better adaptation Of means To an
end and II sedate and proper women in
these toiettcs look as seductive as sea-
weed sirens. they have surely fallen on a
happy chance. and their conscience cannot
accuse them, since, IL the end Is sane
toned, the legitimate means must be
justified SO art makes It's evolutions.
BICYCLE DRESS.
The French feminine world seems to
have taken TO the bicycle with an ardor
all the more fervid for being late. and the
Paris drcssmalSers have had the problem
thrust upon them of a suitable dress for
this exercise also. Here likewise they
have acquitted themselves with a single
eye to art The conditions are not un-
like those for swimming only in discard
ing useless material they have arrived at
no skirt at all. There Is reason, they
a.
there s positively none on the bicycle.
The French cycle woman stands forth,
therefore. in trousers undisgused. The
significant part of the matter Is that the
prctcXt IS seized by considerable num-
beF of women TO promenade on foot In
trousers, and "a common sight in Paris OF
late Is women In groups Of twos and
threes on the bouleyards without any
machine at all. Nobody stares any more.
IL Is a bicycle woman, they reflect, and
there ia a machine somewhere, at home,
perhaps, but 10 matter; a reason Is COM
pretended for the dress, and so it is felt
10 be justified.
Thus another wheel OF wOman's chariot
IS turned. quietly, irrevocably, and with
out rolling over any corpses OF hostile
thought Years ago Mr.. Bloomer tried a
revolution which ended in jeers; to-day
more radical dress Is accepted with
ccmplaisance. This II ~ to interpret and
not precede a demand.
THEY MEET TO PRACTICE.
There Is a short. quiet street In Paris
between the two colleges OF medicine
that wdens out into court paved with
asphalt, where there may be seen almost
any fine evening bicycle learners prac-
ticing. among them many women. These
women have laborod all day, and are
now taking relaxation. They are in i'm.
provised trousers. made out OF skirts
they have left their hats at home, the
loosened hair falls around their ears
they sit awlIwardly; husband or brother
walks beside to steady the machine. which
wabbles drunkenly; but the cheeks are
flushed with exercise and healthy excite
ment. smile breaks the lips. 1t is a
| pretty picture and sign Of the times.
In great store in Paris / came tho
| other day upon the section Of "a woman
| bicycle dress, and thought / had got into
/ the mems department. There were pile
on piles Of trousers all alike and stacks o
| jackets and CATERS. \ dignifed and con
| nti0nal-lOolNng woman OF 80 years wa
| selecting a costume for her daughter,
thought, and while | reflected how tlmc
are changed since such a woman woul.
| buy bcr daughter pair Of trousers. sh
proceeded to slip off her skirt and try OF
| the trousers herself. "Voila mon affaire.
| she said. "They fit me-" This Is even
| better sign OF the times than the other
The French costumes are being mad,
with either fun Turkish trousers OF
knickerbOckcrs. The first are cut witt
great fulness at the bottom to make then
fan with the suggestion Of skirt. a s0r
OF hostage TO mock modesty. and these
are plated all the way round the hips: OF
else they are cut with less fulness. NJ
plating round the hips, and fall wides
between hip and knee. giving distinctly
the form Of "A trouser below. The first
makes a straight cutoff line below IN,
knee. and the other gives an oval out.
line that includes the feet. The last has
more beauty in the abstract. The upper
garment is m Eton. with bOufrant blouse
or q tailor coat OF rounded corners over a
starched shirt and turn-down collar; OF
else it is a boX-plalted bodice. The hat
is sailor. with leather band or a Scotch
cap. Beaufiful costumes are being mad,
of darkgreen velvet: also. OF rough
cheviots. with straps of facecloth or OF
leather OF the same color stitched on IN
patterns. ADA CONE.