New-York tribune., 1896-10-18
NEW AND CURIOUS PURSES
THE WHOLE REPTILE TRIBE IMPRESSED
TO FURNISH SKINS.

BEAUTIFUL AND ELABORATE WORK IN GOLD.
SILVER AND IVORY FOR THE pEcoRA-
Trox OF PURSES.
Popular prejudice Is undoubtedly in favor OF ~
gardng the contents OF a purse OF more impor-
,ance than the purse Itself The sentiment Is not
aesthetic: but 4, Is practical. Il is commercial ana u
is undenlaby American. After these extenuauhs
facts have been .eaded. however. 1t must oe con-
fessed that any oie who has never had enough re-
spect for purses TO examine the various kinds has
missed the sight Of much curious ard beautiful handi-
work. There has probably never been so wide .
choice there Is at present among these money re'
coptac.es for womens use and certainly the costli-
Of some OF the gold and jewelled specimens now
exhibited quite unknown in earlier years.
Leather is, OF course the material most frequently
seen in the large pocketbooks. which are usually
made 10 serve the purpose OF cardcases as we'll one
striking point la regard these articles is impressed
Immediately upon a purchaser possessed OF an In
quirins of mind. This is the startling number
and assortment OF animals which have been called
upon TO contribute their skins to the cause. Who
shah say that the next humane society to be or
ganzed will not be one devoted TO the suppression OF
leather purses?
SKINS, NEW AND OLD.
Besides the older and more familiar skins. such
morocco. seal. chamois. russia and the crushed
evant which are treated and finished more ar
uSucaliy every season, the Whole reptlie trloS
has been impressed into the pocketbook SER
vice. Alligators nave long been popular fur
nshers OF leather for the purpose. but they are
obliged 10 yield first place now 10 the lizards. the
chameleons and the snakes. The lizard skin, with
its mottled and beautifully marked silvergray sur.
face deserves TO be highly ranked and that OF the
snake has weird. uncommon effect in It's odd
brown-and-white stripes which Is more at
tractive to many people Sea elephants and ron-
keys help to swell the list OF the pocketbock ami
mails. the monkey skin is really exceedingly pretty
1t has slightly rough surface and comes dyed In
several shades OF brown and green
In an investigation OF the purse question. the
partial solution of deep mystery accidentally
discovered. There serpents. II there
not how would It be possible TO have purses made
from their skins some which salesman showed
the other day soemny asserted TO be? Ex-
acty what the serpent looked like. the same
salesman unable to state.
The decorations which applied to all these
kinds Of leather are many and assist still further
to vary the styles. Tiny watches in he skin
a pretty fashion. Delicately formed and
enameled flowers. such as violets and sweet peas,
fastened to the purse-cover By the stems and
edges of the petals az II held there by The hand
when the purse is carried. The silver mountings
have long been in use. but some of the designs this
year far elaborate than any heretofore
seen. The small silver corners have grown slightly
oid-tashioned In their place the leather IL either
intricate and artistic device. which Is a gem OF the
silversmths art. japanese scenes and fiylies IN
! queer. dull colors are perhaps more curious than
| beautiful as leather adornments.
PURSES MEANT FOR COIN
Chief among the smaller purses. intended strictly
| fer coin those of closely interllnklng chains
in silver. silver-Eilt and solid gold. They Of
| every size and shape. and tine fascinating
TO look and TO hs ndlc OF all the purse family
/ ba of os t,f Of stA
metal. which shut down with snap or clasp.
Sometimes they are as large silver dollars. in
which case they look much like the covers OF bon
! bonnieres But the newest OF them much
smaller being scarcely greater in circumference
| than nickel lvc-c2n, piece. Is an opening cf this
size would not be large enough for the passage Of
| coins. the upper edge of the body OF the purse -
| fitted with ingenious spring arrangement. When
this is spread apart. which il done by merely push
| ing with the fingers. the aperture is about two
inches in diameter. When closed it measures not
more tnan three-qlarte.s or an inch across. and
| forms KIND Of neck 70 the purse. The I'D IS then
| snapped down. and the coins securely i'm
! prisoned. fa'ortte fancy in these purses is TO
have an I'M = amethyst garnet. or other semi
| precious Sc, set in the cover. Sometimes
watch or medallion repac the jewel. IN tae most
luxurious purses the tops are OF du-ansheG. yellow
These must be meant TO De shown. yet II would be
| courageous woman who would venture 10 carry one
| in ner hand on the street.
SOME OLD STYLES REVIVED.
side by side with the latest mo iorn contrvanceS,
| there "are revivals OF the quaint silk and bead
purses which the grandmothers OF the present gen-
GRAFTON delighted to make. These usually ca
| pacious and in the form of double pouch. One
| which .s exhibited prominently in weknown
A, shop has groundwork OF tiny red beads. upon
which prm, od-fl shioned patterns in green. yell
low and white are embroidered. The complicated
system Of rings which must be manipulated in or.
der open and close this pouch gives II the addi
tional charm OF mystery. No could ever undo
lt in hurry. ana II seemed TO exist as a protest
from the past against lattcr-dLy gushing methods
Another representative of a bySoNe but beautiful
style Is the dainty purse OF mothor-of-pearl Moth
ing could be more delicate than the tints OF one OK
| these which seen in jewellers window re-
! Gently \ fine tracery Of gold iligree overran tho
pearl surface ard heightened the rich effect OF the
| coiOrs
| Carved ivory is a Japanese noti,n for purse. IL
! has the twofold merit of being handsome and rare
Patterns In 1t exceedingly few and difficult 70
find but when discovered they are well worth the
| pains. Two disks of ivory. perhaps TWO and half
inches In diameter. form the sides OF one OF these
purses They are joined by fods Of leather which
| pull open like accordion disclosing good-sizcd
| rocket change within. on tho yellow surface
| OF the ivory the most absurdly natura.-iookirg
| monkeys carved. with all the vell-kncyn jap
! anese cunning and ce,icacy OF execution They
have \ deeper hrowrish tint than that OF the rest
OF the ivory. and stand out IN moderately high re-