Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-04-30
rnr eAnrnn.
Gradually Bcconinr Ornamental Instead
of Usetui.

I -
"fa"uahy bccoininr Ornamental Instead
of Useiui.
WOW ioek Noinlnoscial Advertiser.
| women dote on garters. and men buy
them, This is one instance where love
anu nnuhce go hand in hand. just
now The garter is on tho crest of the
wave OF popularity, for IN hor inmost
heart every girl believes that il she
dons a yellow garter on New Years
ahd wears 1t night and day she is sure
70 be engaged before tho wear is out.
10 inc engaged girl II is also guaran-
zee that her matrimonial bark will not
pc cast away on the rocky shores Of the
lsle of Disagreement.
One OF the peculiar features of tho
garter OF the present is that 1t is
gradually becoming ornamental instead
OF useful. Thv feminine heart delights
IN It's beauty, but not in its unfailing
ability to Interfere with tho circu-
lation Of the blood and eventually
inlure the proportions Of the leg. 1t
Is rarely that women to whom nature
has been generous wears the garter in
preference to the regulation hose sun
porter, though she loves the bejeweled
and ornamented elastic with all her
ld.time ardor. This is why, If one
makes bold TO ask woman il she
wears these objects of beauty, she as a
rule replies: "No, but like them ever
80 much. "
This year the jeweled garter is moro
than ever favorite. The designs are
unique and costly. One in particular,
which is greatly admired, has buckle
of Roman gold, In the centre is a
crown sot with small diamonds. The
edge of the buckle ia beautifully
chased. This variety is much more
admired than purchased, for most men
draw the limo at paying 500 for pair
of garters, regardless of all hints.
There is still another buckle, however.
even more expensive than the one men
TONED. Diamonds, square cut, and
black enamel entirely cover the surface,
! giving it something the appearance of
the checkerboard. II one wishes to
surrender $3.50 she can become tho
owner of a pair.
The bike and the bloomer girl have
their own particular brand of gariers.
| For the first is buckle with young
woman in boomers on a wheel. This
is in chased work, and the buckle may
bo OF silver or gold, according 10 taste.
For tho bloomer girl alone buckle
has been designed on which is very
clever representation of girl in
bloomers of the most approved fashion.
Then there are buckles with horses
heads, and others with tennis, fishing,
golf and yachting designs. For the
athletic female there is certainly no
lack OF designs in garters.
The gem of all designs of the year,
one which appeals TO both good taste
and the heart, is the garter with the
photograph buckle 1t is a startling
change from tho long established Gus
tom of wearing the likeness Of the
hearts dearest in a locKet attached to
chain about the neck, or in the form
of brooch at tho throat, but it is
popular This buckle is in the form
OF heart, and contains a case for a
| photograph. In some instances the
picture is concealed and is only re-
yealed BY the pressure of secret
spring. In other cases the photograph
is the outer surface Of the buckle, and
tho face constantly gazes into infinity.
The design opens golden oppor-
tunity to girls who arc fond of two
young men. The face of each can be
worn.
In the yellow variety, known 40 the
New Years garter, Cupid's face is the
fOaturO of the design. Silver is The
material generally used for the buckle,
and the face of the God of Love peeps
out from intricate scroll work. In this
condition it is noticeable that scroll
work is rapidly gaining favor. A very
handsome specimen is carved out of a
solid lump of gold, with two diamonds
set in platinum. Tho effect is charm
ing Indeed.
Carriers intended as gifts to brides
are severely simple. The buckles are
generally of plain gold, rather mex
pensively ieweled, pearls being the
favorite. A very pretty gift, too, is
the garter whose golden buckle is
ornamented with wreath of roses,
beautifully chased. Another Of some
thing the same nature in design, has a
buckle of reddish gold, with chased
wreath OF red and green flowers and
leaves,
Perhaps one of the most generally
approved garters for tho younger
women is the college variety. Prince
ton is tho favorite just at present, be-
cause one OF the garters must be OF
orange color and tho other black. This
ID Just as sure TO produce good luck as
an opal ring is TO bring i'll fortune,
ana tho pam gold or silver Dnckle also
lends the merit of being comparatively
Inexpensive.
Tho Yale buckle is generally Of plain
silver, the elastic boing pale blue. The
Harvard elastic is, of course, of a
sanguinary color. but the design of tie
buckle, the four leayed clover, deli
cately chased, makes it stcorg rival
for favor with Princeton, if the element
Of good luck is taken into considera.
tion.
To give an idea of all the designs
and vagaries in garters would be as
endless task as the attempt TO de-
scribe the different bathing suits one
sees ut Coney Island. They are all
worthy of admiration, and, like the
wearcrs, ornaments of society.
| Horse and Horse.
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