The morning times., 1896-04-12
FASHIONS FOR TOTS.
This Summers Boy Will Dress
in Crash and bingham.
;Copyright, 1sse.1


This weather brings them out in swarms
i'll the Bois and the Luxembourg gardens,
1.-The sunshine babies,'' as they are called.
For there are other babies ia Paris, too
the ''rain or shine babies.' But they are
so different. so roly-poly and red-cheeked,
and they defy all sorts of weather.
And then one could never write Il letter
about the different styles of their dresses,
for there is but one style OF dress known
to the rain or shine babies''-a sort of
''smock'' OF blue linen or black alpaca, a
full affair, gathered on TO a short yoke.
1t reaches little below the knees and at
the waist there II always little yellow
leadther belt. Then there is a little ex
panse OF chubby legs, generally clad in
bright purple wOrsted stockings, and the
daintiest shoes one could imagine OF thick
calfskn with wooden soles.
Except OH holCla Us these rain or shine
babies never get to the Bois or the Luxem-
bourg gardens for their airings, but there
isalways an alluring sand d-aeapnear by that
the builders have dumped for their mortar
ma king, and the ba bie5 for blocks around
claim il.
Deleuner comes all too soon, and little
rain or shine baby is called for its noon
meal. A big earthcn mug OF red wine and
water is gulped down a the shop door.
All the While baby'S eyes roll round the
cUBe OF Tue mug Watching tEt interesting
sand heap and the Jolly French poodle.
With q last little gulp and pant, and
eyes all swimming over with choke-tearS,
rain or slIine baby hands back the mug
and gets a great piece of dry bread as big
as its head. and with hurried -'Mercl.
maman,' baby is off again TO the sand heap.
| can't believe that either baby or the
mother knows OF that vast army OF people
who continually wage war on that enc
..fsa NJ ft1f n
regularly twice a day. for baby's cheeks
could not bIoOrnl as they invariably do, and
baby's head could not he 50 light IL II knew
of the future painted so black as this great
army that does not approve OF Wine fer
children paints it.
&hen the spring comes the sunshine b2-
bies' have To play very furiOusly and think
very deep to make up for the long winter
months spent iHdoors-months when the
sun doesn't shine one week cut of the four.
Every baby has ITS own nurse and the
nurScs-who have styles of their Cwn-
group themselves around in the parks in
little bunches. according 70 their nationality
There VIII be group OF AlSatian caps
with their Geads all together, all talking
al the same time. but their fingers are ar
WAYS busy with their knitting needles. and
not far off another group IN Breton caps
having quite Us sociable a morning. so the
little groups OF children are divided up this
way, irrespective OF their divers languages
and natonalities-
The American and English children are
in the ma jority but there are lots of
French and Italian and spanish in the
groups all OF them catching unconsciousiy
the French language to quickly answer
properly
A handsome little fellow. who wears
always kits OF white duck, has a new
spring OverCOat of cadet-blue ladies' cloth.
tailor-nade, and very plain. with o short
cape and Il dark biue-ycllow collar. This
child speaks three languages
saw a jolly little group of New
Yorkers ambling home yesterday from the
BoiS'' Little Miss Ten Months was
in the lead in a little white coat of
| Turkish toweling and one OF those great
fluffy bewitching caps OF white null, viii
little clumps of moss roses tucked about
| in the frilis.
She was kept in check by a practical
sort Of cOntrivanCe-a white suede belt, all
| padded with blue satin. that was slipped
around Just under her arms. and decorated
| with silver Jingle bells" There was 4
| street reins OF plated whiteleather that was
attached on each side of the belt. and with
very little trouble nurse supported this
| ambitious tot.
| The other little girl in the group wore
| Il dress OF old rose and cream chale, with
| a broad belt OF old rose and taffeta and
! collar of old English lace The boy of
| the party had on the prcttiest little bright
| dress of Scotch plaid gingham made on
| the bias. The big sailor collar and the
| broad belt were of white duck His broad
/ brimmed blue sailor hat had a band OF
| bright tartan. ! thought him the type oil
| the future athlete and later the statesman
The very small daughter OF a Russian
| diplomat is fitted out entirely in white
! Even the top OF her carriage is of white
| morocco. and there really isn't the slight
est suggestion OF color TO be seen except
the bright blue of her eyes and the bright
| pink OF her cheeks.
| Many children's gowns are made in Pari,
| for the rea son that they are more common
| sense here. America mothers would never
| consent to robr their bright young children
| heireSseS and heirs of immense fortunes. il
materials so plain, for example, as Turk
| isI toweling Yet il the towel dresses comt
from Paris it is different,
| / saw a little group of these We're Ameri
| caT children. directly from the Sta-e>. pIa Y
ing in a Paris gutter. The little ones had
wandered outside the small park where
they were sent for the morning. and haj
| gathered like little street urchins arouG,
| a small pile OF dirt in which there wSr,
| inviting twigs and Jumps of dirt. They play
| ed an hour before discovered, aud whe
| called from their enchanting pastime b.