The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-03-22

The AIR "a flill OF the umnilncss OF sprihs
the blue OF the sky seems iantalising Ike
summer, ana yet there Is naturally agcod
stretch before we can assure ourselves we
are safely past the winter. The American
pussy willova" are ceiling upon the streets.
an dior want 81 better BIZ Of decoration
they ere tucked into the buttonholes- Nio-
lets. too. breathe their perfume generously
as the promenAaers stroll by, tempting them
TO the expenditure Of many d sosu. Tor they
are not yet grown cheap, as they VIII De
l,t,le later on.
What beautiful. grea, city Is this Paree.
all a-hustle with gay life, beautiful women
aad the most extTavagant OF splendid Things
to wear, Somehow even my pity for the
French women IN that their husbands are
such diminutive men. cannot auench tAe
envy they feel that they are continually
able 10 loll In the very center ot all TINS
loyellness. To walk along the fashionable
promenales on such an afternoon as this
one would naturally think there was no
sorrow or poverty in all Paris. and still,
lust around the corner-but there. every
lovely spot has It's skeleton, and fashion
is not 4 bi, becoming 10 the old mouldy
bones
Splendid colors in gowns are blossomins
out like the rose: everywhere the eye Is mot
hy some beautiful tint. which seems to
have taken on a new shade never seen
before It is a perfect marvel how such
variety OF colors are produced, when. after
all. the primary oolors ara so few In all
the array Of new tints there is very little
that is garish or loud, Occasionally one
secs brilliantly gownei woman. hut lmme-
diately one knows she docs not belong to
the mondaines not she Something always
notice ahou, French women, and perhaps
10 this very thing Is due their fame for per
feet dressing Ia the strict attention always
paid to all the small accessories OF the
toilet
This genuine French woman begins at
the skin. II she can afford but a certain
sum for her entire OUTFIT. the geleroua
part Of It goes into the dainty lingerie and
not into the gown. She will pay Willingly
the price of a smart gown for lace
trimmed chemee or skirt. Her linen is
always Of the finest and her laces OF the
rarest The poorest French girl would
scorn to wear a plain undergarment or one
not entirely fresh and sweet. Their next
attention Il giyon 70 hosiery and shoes;
they must be Of the best the shoes snugly
but we'll fitted and always glossy as patent
leather
Tho gloves are ALWAYS Immediately
clean and whole every button In place, and
he color always chosen with reference to
tie gown The purse and the umbrella are
Of tho most chic pattern, and the veil Of the
newest design There Is always a bunch Of
Dosies; even tho pooree, French girl will
manage posy or two. and with a gown OF
correct cut the tout ensemble is perfect.
The Rue de Ia Concurde Is the gayest Of
the CAV at this season. for the mondaincs
20 shopping very much like common people,
save that they 20 In carriages and With
much more elegant costumes than their
nelghhors on foot. Among all the rush OF
beautiful gowns perhaps the loveliest Of
all was one Of Flace silk in shades OF
black and green. There vas a full harlng
SKIRT all furhelowed along each gore with
nick ruches Of black mousseine de sole.
edged with narrow butter colorel lace. The
very bouTant expression of the skirt was
heigh enei by tiny blouse Of the SILK
made with fun hip ruflles edged with nous
seline Do sole,
There were snug sleevee. with no fullness
at the top hut covered completely with n
succession Of tiny frils from shoulder "a
wrist fetching little shoulder cape Of
mirror velvet IN the same chameleon tints
showing considerable limpid green. had a
full border Of heavy black ostrich tips.
The Aamneau collaretie Of velvet was also
horiercl with feathers and clasped with n
huge ornament Of old silver set with tur-
qunlsr The accompanying hat was ono Of