The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-11


it is that their clothes never look as
some other women's of their acquaint-
ance, or why they haven't the style they
see numerous women have as they pass
by. The reason lies principally with
themselves.
In the first place, dress. like everything
else, requires care and thought and of
necessity a little trouble. Some women
from this lack of thought and inattention
to their clothes after they get them soon
nave them looking half worn and slouchy,
and. therefore, not nice. Gowns must be
taken care Of or they will very soon lose
shape and freshness.
On the other hand, many women are
SO very prim and particular, the effect
of their clothes is almost as bad as that
of the careless women. She, the prim
body, desires very much to be in style,
but. from a prudish idea of her own as
to the unbecomingness of, the thing, or
its very newness, she modifies the idea
and straightway spoils the whole thing
and takes all the style out OF it. Learn
the gospel of sIightingness without being
slovenly; If a thing is too precise here
or a bow too straight there it mak all
the difference in the world.
Don't be too conservative In your
tastes. don't be afraid to adopt new
ideas. A great many women see a
thing, and fearful ut will not be worm
wait until the style Is almost passed be-
fore having anything of theirs made
that way, and consequently theirs is old
style, while the progressive woman has
had that and gone on to something new.
Be observing; keep you eyes open when
with other women and when going
through the shops. Above all, If you wish
to be stylish, have you gown well cut
and to fit and hang nicely; this is more
than half the battle.
The vivid Imagination of childhood is
greatly Influenced by pictured life, and in
the formative days that are determining
what the child shall be or do of good,
no stronger forces for the development
of what is best and highest can be WELD
ed than the silent teaching of the pictures
on the nursery walls, says "Demorest."
For these an excellent idea is to rave a
deep dado of plain denim or burlap, upon
which can be temporarily fastened with
brass-headed lacks any of the fine litho-
graphic reproductions of oils or water
colors or large black-and-white photogra-
vures and ~engravings with which the ma
gaines, illustrated weeklies, and Sunday
papers literally flood our homes in these
days.
They may be arranged in man happily
irregular groups On such a dado, the plain
stuff in any dun, soft color, as terra Gotta,
blue, or ecru, furnishing a very pleasing
background which supplies the want of a
frame.
A white margin should be left around
the bIack-and-whites when possible; and.
il the edge of a colored picture chances
to be harmonious with the background
and seems to need defining, a very pretty
effect is given by passing a narrow ribbon
around it--the lacks at the fou corners
will hold 1t in place-and tying it at one
corner with a bow and ends. A gold-col-
ored satin ribbon, an inch wide, in this
way. does almost as much sor a picture
as a narrow gilt molding would.
-.
A new thing in the palm leaf gown
is in black heavy silk, and the beautiful
palm leaf almost seemed to wave on it's
stem, SO natural and life-like was the
weaving and embroidery. The skirt fitted
tightly over the hips and fell away at the.
sides in the semi-oval waves of a palm
leaf, while the front, though wide, came
to a point in the centre. the middle
breadth being longer han the others.
There was a tfght-ftting waist of surah.
The background was old blue, and the
decoration Persian roses. Over the silk
waist was a ~corselet of spangled and jet
ted black satin. 1t fitted like armor across
the chest, being fiat and imposing. 1t
came down to a narrow point in front,
where 1t reached the belt The ~corselet
was cut in points under the arms, and in
the back was finished k a Spanish
jacket. Two butterfly wings of black satin
closed the skirt n Joined the waist to
1t in the back. The sleeves had drapery
puffs, and the shoulders were garni-
tured with epaulettes of jet palm leaves.
The neck was finished in a Medfci ruff of
Spanish lace in palm leaf design.
-.
The virtue of g-raciousnessi
OF all the virtues that women cannot
afford to leave uncultivated this comes
very near the top of the list. A gracious
manner VIII win friends and keep them;
1t Is a sort of sunshine, having power
to melt the ice Of prejudice and ill-feel-
ing. and make one feel that the milk of
human kindness has not all been drawn
from an ice water tank. Under certain
circumstances 1t Is easy to be gracious
and affabie; when the weather, the gas,
the dinner, the callers and various other
ingredients Of our life are in harmony
withour wishes. how lovely VIZ can be.
But wait until a book agent appears
on the seenel The grade Of a woman's
refinement and the extent of her gracious
ness can be discovered in the way she
says mo" to an agent sooner than in
any other way. And then public places,
street cars, for instance, are good places
In which TO test ones gr~acfousness. Have
you ever seen the woman who IS incensed
because the car does moi stop in its wild
flight on the instant the bell is pulled?
She angrly asks the driver why he does
not take her to the end of the line, and
then aounces out Of the car, leaving
every one feeling as ii a cold wave had
passed over them.
In societies of women fhie orono 10 oe-