The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-03
ELLEN OSBORN'S LETTER.
LOTUs LAND OF AFTERNOON And or
WIVES AND DAUGHTERS.
Gowns In a Garrison Town-Ci eopatra's
GirdIe--A Symphony In Yellow
Bicycle Gowns.


t1f1It an altar 10 repose," a land where
Z sic iassitude, drifting up from the
WI 81 Indies meets the rectangular IN
su r. prejudice Of Britain and yields at
20 q points while conquering II at others.
rs a land where Briton and West In
dis heartily agree upon one thing
Ian OF wives and daughters. wives ana
dau tiers. that Is, are known not y!
the wtelves but by their relationship with
som mere man. IL may Dc shOch"i6'
bit ii is true.
TIN two pretty girls who came 10 din
ner II Mt Erie the other evening Tn low
cut / lgIish dinner frocks of simple white
verev Kisses Lyons and Erskne, indeed,
but Mwas added in a whisper that they
were vhe daughters OF the GoVernor-Geh-
eral &ld of the admiral OF the ieet' re-
spectit fly. 1t was Mrs. Moore-Lane who
played i"Mrs Eccles" I'm caste" at the
militaHt theatre last Friday evening, but
i has6k TO add that Col. Moore-Lane,
who pl3yed the leading role, Is the nus
band AN the lady in question, and that
the drsk.Ntic critic of the local semi-week
Nv SAW he played the part splendidly,
though kthe critic pokos fun at the I'M
happy civilians in the cast who did about
as well. $50 far as / could see.
But What else could civilian expect
save rittcule in an island whose only
theatre IL I'm a fort, and whose only tele-
graph line connects barracks instead or
towns?
AS everywhere In Bermuda, was struck
at the theatre, not so much by the act
ing as By the large proportion OF the
auditors present in evening dress Inc
convenient theatre waist worn WIN
dark skirt was, Of course. the usual re-
sort, but there were not a few special
frocks fresh out from dear old Lunnon
70 make their debuts In an oil lamp
lighted provincial theatre.
Such as yellow and white striped silk,
the yellow stripes showing small moon
Tor suns with raging haloes, whose skirt
IS very full and box pleated In front,
whose bodice Is very low, close fitting
and sleeveless. with spangled chiffon,
shirred about the deooiietagc. forming q
pouch front and plated 10 a point at the
waist line behind, and on whose Snould-
ers and Immediately in 'front.' are but
terfiy bows of yellow ribbon. The same
ribbon makes narrow bodice belt.
Sleevelessi Well, nearly; tiny puifs of
the chiffon are looped from the shoulder
under the arm of the petite brunette who
wears 1t.
Or such as this. more magnificent II
less gay: A robe of heliotrope velvet, its
front draped with yellow mousseline de
sole and the low bodice of velvet, laced
IN .,ne back, provided with a shirred front
= Of mousseline de sole. gathered into
band of gold passementerie about the
decolletage. Straps Of gold braid cross
the shoulders. and lower on the arm
are full puffS of mousseine de sole. The
wearer OF this gown enhanced its glitter
of barbarlc gold with a magnificent gold
en- girdle of the kind Cleopatra wore
that -. II she were slender and not the
fat woman that modern detractors claim
she was at any rate. girdle swinging
low from the waist.
And the beauty of II is that when the
regiment. or company, or whatever II Is.
goes back 10 Halifax, these gowns viii
be as good as new for a new audience.
There are advantages in iunerancy.
The bicycle bloomer - not. but the uni
versal short bicycle skirt exhibits some
interesting varieties Tan shoes-to be-
gin with the foundaton-tan iegglngs,
tan leather binding TO a rather heavy
grass linen skirt, with tan ribbons and
neat grass linen blouse embroidered In
white open work aud sprigged with tiny
fowers-that Is one pleasing variant,
likely 10 be popular
The leather binding is much more usual
here than in the States, and a sensible
thing IL Is, too. Not skinny, little
binding trying TO hide itself. but one
that shows "a good three inches on the
outside and rather more than that turned
oASltiAs VI tpAlNt Nitt i-teNANA
must be very light. ana tan is the best
shade. going wen with draDs. faWins,
browns or reds. and, by the way, req,
brilliant red, Is a strong color here with
ladies who. perhaps wish TO render
themselves as gay as the soldiers.
Even the little negro children, though
this is not quite Fashion Note, play
about In little red Jackets; but these
brilliant bits OF color, as they are against
"a rocks al Tho xVhffa M nrp
doubtless cut down by prudent mammas
from cast-off uniform Jackets
More legitimate as an instance OF the
effect OF military environment is a bicy-
Gle costume l noted yesterday, blue fan
mel blouse and skirt bound with soldier
red cord. and grit about the waist thereof
by q broad sash OF tho same vivid hue;
or the tennis jacket. SO commonly adjust
ed after play In the cool BermuGan breeze,
Jacket often fiery red with bright brass
buttons: or flaming red gOlnng jacket, or
even mere red strap tucket as cOmpli-
nIcat to Mars by Venus somewhere In a
blue bodice. As for yachting costumes
for Hamilton had regatta OF little sloops
last week-the navy blue tworn for the
sailors) is almost as commonly trimmed
with soldier red as with the traditional
white. Why. even the sloops are red.
though much darker being built Of the
native cedar and finished In shellac.
But | think the prettiest yachting cos
tunes are those OF pure white duck or
psque not more white than the pale
green surf as II spends itself upon a
beach Of coral sand and steals its tint;
not half 40 bright as the surf breaking
on the coral reefs niue miles out in the
apparently open sea.
Something with moro individual note
was worn by little brunette lin the
signal service" (by MARRIAGE For its
skirt was creamy and its facings warm
rose piEk. prettier than any red. and the
snug jacket pink. and the underwaist
cream chiffon, too cool looking for
water fete In the north
We have had tennis tournament in
Happy Valley. too. though the season Is
rather late for that: and the preitiest
tennis gowns were white or almost white.
sprgged with small flowers pale blue or
pale pink: or with no flowers at all.
Though one beautiful girl won admira-
tion In Lincoln green and gold facings
ard one ia scarlet and brown: and one
IL yellow and white. But pretty girl
looks we'll ~ anything.
otiN. Il Win be 70 far white summer
that : white suit win he quita apWo-