The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-04-04
ideas for Q5Wnmen.

II the ability to make presentable
dresses was as great among women gem
orally as the desire to do so. we would
see fewer of what the gentle sex so aptly
and expressively call rights
The woman who. having more MONEY
than taste. vet with a keen artistic sense
buys beautiful, costly fabrics Of man
textures and weaves, often jarring tones
and c%olors. and drapes her person witt
out regard to the relation of one fabric
or color 70 another. or the suitability of
her person or complexion to what she is
Haunting before the eyes Of an aston-
ished public, is one fright that might be
less if she were only to have an inspira-
tion that would lead her to give carte
blanche to her modiste in the matter of
style, color and fabric.
Another fright is she who, without the
knowledge or ability. undertakes to
manufacture her own gowns at home.
She wishes to be we'll dressed and is
willing to spend many hours Of labor
over a garment If only it will look we'll
when finished. But, nearly always the
contrarys result is achieved.
There is the woman who does not, or
viii not, realize her age. She insists on
selecting colors, fabrics and styles that
would only become dewy youth. This
latter is a sad mistaks, and, to my mind
presents the greatest fright OF all. The
woman who would appear younger than
her years should learn the wisdom of
dressing a triae beyond them. This does
not mean granny bonnet and felt
shoes for the youthful middle aged.
80 N-.;4tor lon- - MEAN S,1uo0iIa 0Nl0rc and
style for the woman who is no longer
young
There is a graceful medium that the
woman who studies herself and the possl-
bilities of her person is sure to reach.
There are few women who enjoy the
blessings of civilization but who possess
an innate desire to cultivate whatever
grace or beauty nature has endowed
them with, nevertheless, the procession
Of .frights. one meets daily on bargain
day, on the promenade, at church and
anywhere where women do c~ongregate,
seems in no wise diminished.
One sees the thin, angular face that
needs the soft bands of hair. The care
less ripple over ears and brow, almost
sGCdlpS0 VI IL 1OOhS AA4&t eO044
its startling plainness and surmounted by
"a plain walking hat, when the soft
shadow of the picture that is imperatiyely
essential. One sees.Sthe loose locks and
profusion of eurls on the amazonian
type. WAC would appear almost hand
s5zae in severe p~laianess-
But to return to the gentle art of dress
ing. which. after all. is. the main thing,
for despite the trite old adage, fine feath-
ers do make fine birds.
There are many small secrets known
to the trade which if the home dress
Amaker was to become possessed Of would
be Of infinite use in assisting her TO
yrrn out presentabie work. For in
sS4nee. when a gown is to be tailor built,
or cuf Hom any of the heavy goods like
ladies' cPth tweed. covert cloth, honespun
or any df the cloths destined for ordinary
wear. it is imperative that the goods
should be shrunk or sponged before It IS
mSde UP. This is one CT The tailors Sec
refs. and the reason why the gowns
turned cut by them never shrink in the
SIX ri or spot if exposed to a shower.
1.ley never draw around the hem, or in
any other way become unwearable until
past Their use. Ali mems garments
ta.as is. TOR outside wear-are subject to
the sponge before cutting. which is the
secrst Of their smooth finish and correct
set.
The process Of sponging is very simple,
and can easily be done at home. A
large piese OF cloth dress lining is used,
say three or four yards. It is. dipped
into cold water and squeezed out lightly.
Then the goods is spread out and the wet
CLOTH Is rolled up with it. fold for fold.
Let it stand. rolled very tight, for several
hours until the goods is dampened through
Then with a moderately hot iron press
perfectly smooth and dry. Be sure that it
ii dry before the ironing ceases, or it will
not look as desired. Dc not put the iron
On the right side of the goods. and when
rolling in the sponge rag be careful to
put it next the wrong side of the goods
In making up the cloth do not spare
the iron. Press thoroughly at every
stage of the garment. Use the suitable
number of sewing silk for the seams. never
, scotton. Regular ~tailors' silk can be
had at the mems tailoring establishments.
In building a dress from nice material
never make the mistake of using cheap lin
ings. This course is never an economy.
A cheaper material would look better over
good lining than costly goods over fimsy
ones.
1t is a fact that the hot iron is the
dressmaker's best friend, and any house
hold tina essays to do sewing should
be provided with two irons, a ten-pound
one for skirts and bodices, or all wooden
materials, and a seven-pound iron for
cotton or silk work.
NO wonder we poor girls are puzzled
aabout what We ought to do when we
make our entrance into society, con-
sidering how we are ramme with con-
Trajectory advice" complains a cunning
debutante. 81 hope, Esfle,s mamma said
to me the other day, that when you
come out next winter you will have
the sense not to assume the tiresome
insincerity that is in vogue nowadays.
It seems to be the thing now for women
to 1atter each other ad nauseam, and
the worst of it is that in order to appear
at all cordial one has to follow suit to a
certain extent.
When Mrs. Sweet called me dear
est and love at every sentence this
morning. 1t seemed only civil on my
mart RI drap in an occaStanal sdaar -, Che