The herald., 1896-04-26
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u PARIS. y

| The air is full OF the limpidness OF spring.
| the blue Of the sky seems tantalizing like
| summer, and yet there is naturally a good
stretch before we can assure ourselves we
are safely past the winter. The American
pussy willows are selling upon the streets.
an dior want of better bit of decoration
| they are tucked into the buttonholes. Vio-
lets. TOO, breathe their perfume generously
IS the promenaders stroll by. tempting them
to the expenditure Of many sosu, for they
are not yet grown cheap, as they will be a
little later on.
What beautiful great city is this Paree,
all a-bustle with gay life, beautiful women
and the most extravagant of splendid thinsr
to wearl Somehow even my pity for the
French women IN that their husbands ere
such diminutive men. cannot quencn the
envy they feel that they are continually
able to ioll in the very center of ell this
ioveliness. To walk along the fashionable
promenades on such an afternoon as this
ono would naturally think there was no
sorrow or poverty in all Paris, and still,
Just, around the corner-but there. every
lovely spot has its skeleton. snd fashion
is not bit becoming to the old ,nouldy
lones. 44
Splendid colors in s,owns are blosson,!ng
out like the rose; everywhere the eye is met
by some beautiful tint, which seems to
have taken on a new sulde never seen
before. 1t is a perfect marvel bow such
. variety Of colors are produced, when. after
all. the primary colors are so few. In all
he array of new tints thero is very lttla
hat is garish or loud. Occasionally enc
st-es brilliantly gowned wcman. but imme-
d!ately one knows she does not belong to
the mondaines not she. Something always
notice about French vonen, and perhaps
to this very thing is due their fame for per
feet dressing is the strict attention always
paid to all the small accessories os the
toilet.
X * Y
TIL, genuine French woman begins a.
the skin. If she can afford bat a certain
sum for her entire outfit. the generous
part of it goes into the dainty lingerie AID
not iuto the gown. Sho will pay Willingly
the price of a smart gown for a lace
trimmed chelnise or skirt. Her linen is
always of the finest and her laces CT The
rarest The poorest French girl would
scorn to wear a plain undeTgarment or one
not entirely fresh and sweet. Their next
attention is givon to hosiery and shoes;
they must ne Of the best. the shoes snugiy
hut we'll fitted ard always glossy as ratett
leather.
Tho gloves are always iromacula;ely
clean and whole. every b'itton in place, and
he color always chosen VITA reference to
The gown. The purse and the umbrella ere
oi the most chic pattern and the veil Of tie
newest design. There id always a bunch Of
posies; even tho pores. French girl will
."anage a posy OF two. and with gown o.
correct cut the 'out ensemble Is perfect.
Tie Rue de la CoHcordc is the gayest OF
The gay at this season. for the rlondainee
20 shopping very much like common people,
save that they so in carriages and With
much more elegant costumes than their
neishbors on foot. Among all the rush OF
beautiful gowns perhaps the lovoliest If
all was one OF glace silk In shades OF
black and green. There was full flarns |
skirt all furbeowed along each gore with !
thick ruches Of black mousseline de sole. |
edged with narrow butter colored lace. The |
very bouffanr expression Of the skirt was |
heightened by tiny blouse Of the silk |
made with full nip :ufles edged with NOUS
seine de sole.
There vera snug sleeves, With no fuliness |
a. the top, hut covered completely with a |
succession o, tiny frills from eEoilder TO
wrist. fetching little shoulder cape CT
mirror velvet in the same chameleon tints |
showing considerable limpid green, had a
full border Of heavy black ostrich tips. !
The fsniteau ssiiN.s+t- - '-i'~. = -
bord cred with feathers and clasped with a
huge ornament OF old silver set with tur-
qucise. The accompanying hat was ohe o. :.