Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-01
HOW TO WEAR JEWELS.
DIANE DE MORNEY ON THE USE OF GEMS
For Dinner You May Wear the Richest Ireas- ures of Your Casket-G Glorifying
 the Evening.
BY DIANE DE MoRNY.

"Rich and rare were the gems she wore'
 Let us hope "she" did not wear them in the morning with her breakfast gown or upon the streets in the glare of the day.
 Mime. de Maintenon declared that good taste, simply indicates good sense, but confess I know clever and emnently sensible women who seem not to have the slightest idea of the times and places for wearing precious stones.
 A French woman of breeding would, with equal composure, consider the pro- priety of wearing a low gown Gin the street at midday as any article of adornment Tings, of course, being ex- cepted), containing a precious stone, and high bred English women very properly classify us and put tags on us in their country and tell us they knew we were Americans, you know, because Ameri- cans wear jewels at all times, and no other people do, don't you know"
 It is conceded by all authorities that jewelry, that is to say, articles of adorn- ment consisting of or containing jewels or precious stones, should never be worn in the street, the exception made in fa- yor of rings which may be worn at all Stimes, is because of the sentiment sup posed to be inseparable from them, for according to the old rhyme:
 'Without a sentiment, a ring
 Is but a sair and senseess thing"
 Correct Use of Jewels.
 A watch, of course, is also expected. but properly speaking, a watch is not carried as an ornament or for mere dec- oration.
 am aware that during the past three or four years, with it's extravagances in tinsel and spangles, the custom in Amer ica of wearing diamonds and other gems with walking costumes has grown but the best bred women do not wear them, and the display marks a false note in the personnel of the offender.
 The woman who wishes to be recog- nized by those who know, IS an example of correct form in dress, will never wear any but the simplest little pin to fasten her gown at the throat during the morn ing hours and on the street. If possible, particularly if she wears tailor made costume, she will even choose a small sil- yer pin rather than gold it must be evi- dent that it serves useful purpose.
 For ceremonious visits, visiting cos tune is of course. de rigeur, and with this silver pin would be manifstly in- appropriate. A pretty and ornamental one of gold is proper, or gold and en- amel may be worn, but even then 1t should have a useful intention. It should be necessary to fasten some part or the toilet The enamelled and gold wreaths of myrtle or of forget-me-nots are eX- tremely pretty for these simple pins So
  amel upon gold, but without the all pre- yaiJing diamond dew-drop, or center to be in perfect taste
 For dinner you may wear your richest gems it being understood that the func- tion is a ceremonious one, and that you wear a low gown. If you dine in more democratic way and the men in your family do not wear evening dress, you naturally will wear a high gown, or one possible open little at the throat. You y,ir, xuif a these circumstances, but 1t is in much better form not to make any display of jewels except the occasion be one of cer- emony.
 Glorifying the Evening.
 Personally, I agree with the English that dinner should be a rigidly enforced ceremony in all families of sufficient means to warrant 1t. There is nothing which so keeps up our respect for each other, and makes impossible that famil- iartty which does breed contempt. as tha enforcing of rules at home which are written or unwrtten laws abroad If every wife and mother living in suffi- cient ease to permit her doing so (and this does not imply large income, but one which removes a woman from the actual drudgery of household affairs) if. repeat, every wife will insist on hus- band and children making a fresh toilet for dinner, and will herself put on a pretty gown and becoming ornaments.
 
 cry home, but unfortunately too ire quently obscured by, the shadows and friction of domesticity, and see that her table is pretty and daintily set, we shall have before long a revival of the real feast which was the origin of the spreading of the table or festal board.
 Unhappily many families appear to la Dor under the delusion that the dinner table is the appropriate place for bat tie of tongues, and war is declared with the first course and the conflict kept up with bitter and increasing vigor until the end. The remainder of the day may or may not have flag of truce futtering somewhere in the domestic atmosphere but who is there who does not know of the family with pater-famiias who snarls through each meal, and to use the yer -nacular, lays down the law to wife and children? I must say I think a costume Of sackcloth and ashes better fitting such "a scene than more joyous toilet. The unhappy wranglers do not enter into my philosophy of daily home feasts where .the wife and mother looks her prettiest 5and smartest. and wears diamond or ruby on her bosom.
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