Evening star., 1896-12-05

not T., en- hung away. blonde girl who
wore an enormous turquoise ring, crossed
the room, lifted bodice that lay on a
couch. studied the name and address on
the band, drew pencil and a scrap of
paper from her pocket book, and deliber-
ately wrote both down. A groan of dis
may was only half smothered by the owner
of the gown.
SISTER Alice would take my ears off if
she knew that she whispered to a tall
young woman in brown at her side. I'VE
only give that address to a very few of our
choicest friends. Madame is wonderful
and if too many people come to know about
her, up will go her prices, and then where
will Alice and / be-"
You can't offend a girl who is getting
fine clothes out of a few dollars more Sc
riously than by stealing the name of her
dressmaker.
Meanwhile the unconscious culprit was
patting the front of the bodice and nod
ding approvingly- "Vive la blousev' she
exclaimed finally.
The blouse was pretty enough to justify
the one girls wrath about the dresSmaker
and the others exclamation. 1t was one
OF the component parts of very dainty
evening dress, and was cut low and square
In the neck, though 1t had long sleeves
The material was delicate blue chiffon
mounted on glace silk. Over the chiffon
were traced AIRY lace patterns, picked out
III SlSci anu STEEL Inc frosty twinkle or
the stuff was uncommonly good to see
The blouse was cut slightly full in 'front.'
not baggy, and was confined at the waist
by pointed belt of blue satin, with a big
bow in front Cascades of fine-pleated
frills ran about the decolletage and fiut-
tered like wings upon the shoulders. The
sleeves of the embroidered chiffon were
long and ught-fttinS, expanding a little at
the waist, and trimmed with lace friIis
The skirt of which the blouse was the
complement was soft. heavy brocade
with blue ground figured in silver
NiVe la blouse' said the culprit again.
Why the blouse is Popular.
Long live the blouse. 1t was condemned
to death last summer, but women rose en-
masse and demanded the scalp of it's would
be assassins. The blouse is the one article
of dress they cannot be coerced or fiattered
into resigning, and this winter 1t is more
firmly established in favor than at any pc
riod since the beginning of it's reign Even
Ing gowns, reception gowns, street gowns,
morning gowns. tea gowns; gowns Of all
sorts and conditions are made with bIouses
The most exclusive dressmakers make a
speciality of the blouse bodice and there Is
nothing from cheapest to dearest that
you cannot buy in the blouse ready made
The blouse is an opportunity for the ricn
girl to lavish her money; it is a chance for
the poor girl to make good appearance
on next to nothing. Vive la blouse, in
deed.
This isn't business" said the owner of
the blouse, turning her shoulder on the
flower booth the candy stall were
brought forward desultoriIy, eyes still
glanced furtively at the blue blouse on the
couch and at the brown blouse on the tall
girl. Tne tall young woman's clothes came
from London when they didn't come from
Paris, and it was esteemed great luck to
serve with her ON a committee because of
the opportunity afforded for the close IN
SpCCtlOn of considerable nnmhpr her
gowns.
The tall girl was wearing this afternoon
a calling dress of rich warm brown. The
skirt was cut in a rather novel. shape with
circular front and sides. 1t had band of
FUR at the bottom. The bodice was cut in
the style of the Russian blouse, which Is
the most fashionable of all the blouses
made. 1t was pleated in at the waist under
a belt of blue suede, which was embcoid-
cred with jet beads 1t had deep, pointed
yoke OF blue suede, which was edged with
fur and almost covered with scroll work of
jet and curls. Down either side Of the
front ran band of fur bordering the
blouse pleatings. The sleeves were tight,
with dropping puffs at the shoulders below
which showed little points of blue and fur
A deep point of blue with fur edge was
the wrist finish The tall girl had laid
aside, when she entered, a steeple-crowned
hat of brown felt with trimmings of blue
bows and brown paradise BIRDS
1t Was DreAsy.
What are you going to wear?' asked a
short, plump committee girl of the commit
tee in general. She meant in the service of
the flower booth or candy stall at the
charity fair.
Il am going to wear this, afternoons"
said self-possessed young person with
dark level brows. Evenings / will wear
my lemon-colored chiffon"
Good" said several committee women.
This. as indicated by the first speaker
was the dressy green blouse in which she
had come to the gathering. Its material
was green chine silk. figured in darker
green and rose. 1t was made in short
bolero style, having revers barred and
cross-barred with narrow black velvet rib
bons. The under bodice was Of pale yell