The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-10-19
THEIR MASCOT A GIRL.
How the English Athletes We're At
tended in This Country.
Athletic Sisters and Cousins Who Follow
the Sports in England.

the Sports in England.
When the English clubs came over mere
a few weeks ago to practice for the con-
tests they brought several members OF
their party who had not been soheouleo
in the list of contestants and who were
not even expected as arrivals writes Helen
Ward from New York These were nall
dozen very pretty girls, sisters cousins,
and friends of the athletic boys VINO came
to watch the sports and keep the LAS
from getting homesick. They would
bring good cheer if not good luck.
| The chaperon of the party was 1ond
aunt of one of the Cambridge boys, ana
the young women, besides being reiatea
to the young athletes, were themselves
athletes of no mean pretenslons. 90 uhey
were powerful factors of success. rev
persons noticed them in the exclUemen1
of welcoming the brawny lads, but they
were there, and very important they nave
since been in the preliminarles OF the
sports
| AS this is the sporting time OF the year.
and as English girls lead in outdoor ath-
letics, the dress of these young ladies' can
not fail to claim attention. They had one
popularity, rare one in this country,
but common in England, that they all
dressed alike. Scarcely was there shade
of difference in color, let alone in the cut
of their garments. Let US describe the
one who is called g Mascot" by her party
and who has a record of being present at
fifty consecutive 'ssport'' afternoons in
her own country.
| She is not typical English girl, for she
is very dark. Her hair is black, and 1t
ripples around her face. When she ls
flushed and her hair is tossed it ourls IN
funny little ringlets. Her figure is short
and rather full, SO you. naturally expect
dowdiness. But, on the contrary, she is
quite stylish.
The hat which this English mascot
cousin wears is light weight white
| straw one. It is heavily bound with black
velvet which ruff1es all around the rim.
There is another thick black velvet trim
ming around the low crown, and several
short, stubby tears. stand up in front.
On shady days the mascot sets her light
little hat back Other days she wears it
we'll forward. The straw looks quite
English-for English girls wear their
straw hats all winter-but to American
ize it the trimming need only be trans
ferred to a white felt crown.
| The dress is of several different mater
ials. Tho loose vest front, drawn to a
long point at the waist, is of spotted blue
and white silk. 1t is very becoming to
the wearer. A lowe sailor collar of
navy blue velvet sets over the silk vest,
and there is very pretty Elton of modi-
fed shape. The back is precisely like an
Elton Jacket but the front is cut away to
show the entire silk front of the vest,
1t is fastened at the waist invisibly,
probably with hooks, but there is very
pretty chance here for buckle of fancy
material preferably silver one set with
blue sapphire stones to match the navy
blue collar
Everywhere this mascot goes she carries
her camp chair. 1t is a deep red cloth
and quite becoming to her gown. Its
sticks are black wood, and, altogether, it
is not an awkward burden, for it can be
strung over the parasol or carried over
the arm.
AS the mascot's dress is for sitting as
well as for standing, the material is that
century old favorite, silk. Really, after
all, nothing wears like silk and holds its
own as long. I thought of this when l
saw that trim skirt of deep blue silk,
without luster, but rich and shapely.
The back hung in large round folds and
was doubtless supplied with one OF those
patent things for holding it in place. for
it took shape nicely after being sat upon
and the front was stiffened right to its
very hem.
The lining of this skirt was of the
identical material OF the skirt itself.
This must havo been enormously expen-
siye, for usually only lining silks are
used for these Innings; but when asked
the modiste about it she smiled in a SUI
perior way and said: Cheapest in the
| long run"
| On being further questioned she sail
| "A SK1rU lln6u Will bu0 SdlIl0 Iutt6Ildl
never wears out. Suppose you tear it, as
often occurs in dress for outdoors
sports. What happens? Nothing. The
tear does not show much, for there is TIL Q
same material underneath. And when it
is nicely darned down to the lining it
does not show at all. The same with
cracks and seam cuts. The lining is the
salvation of the dress"
When the mascot brushed the skirt
aside deep velvet facing of light blue
was visible. 1t matched the blue of her
vest and gave the girl very dainty look.
| 1t showed that she cared enough for her
facing to match it to her waist.
| The sleeves of this becoming gown were
plain, light blue silk. And they did not
look as light as they may sound, although
they were exactly the shade of the ground
work Of the vest. They were fine quality
of silk and held their own stiffness we'll.
You may talk about the fashions of
sleeves being droopy, with the largest part
at the. elbow, but as matter of fact
I ~