The record-union., 1897-01-10

loving cup holding a bunch of La
France roses leaves little to be desired
in the way of pleasing effect.
1t has taken a woman to invent the
nlonstrosity of the season-the piano
secretaire. There is a slight allevfa-
tion in the fact that she is an Eng
lishwoman, and she and her invention
are still in London. The "sekretaire"
Is an annex built on at the back of
the ordinary upright piano. 1t is a
desk with dropping writing apron,
pigeonholes. etc. There is a closed cab
iret on one side that may hold any
thing, a lampstand at the other, and
shelf space above for jardinieres. pho
tographS and bric-a-brac of various
sorts. The attachment is adjusta BILE
and may adjust itself to any upright
piece of furniture whose back offers a
smooth surface for a few feet, but it's
first and rightful victim, according to
its inventor, is the piano.
y
In necklaces the novelty is strings Of
stones cut perfectly round, like large
beads. These come in turquoises and
opals. Jeweled aigrettes, with the dia-
monds falling from them like heavy
drops of dew, are artistic and graceful,
and strings of pearls fully two inches
across, with diamond slides and clasps,
are approved of by the best jewelers..
These are to be worn tight about the
throat, and the broad ones certainly re-
quire long neck and gracefully poised
head. There are also heavy jeweled
snakes, winding twice and a half about
either throat or arm, with emerald or
ruby eyes and length encruSted with
stones, that reach in price into the four
figures.
There is little to be said of fans that
was not hinted at year ago. The up to-
date fan is small and the extreme fan
is tiny. Vatican designs are in favor,
as are also fans painted in rose and
bow-knot pompadour patterns. The
black mother-of-pearl is much used for
sticks, even more than is tortoise shell
or ivory. Some fans are entirely of
ivory, often richly enameled or jeweled
Combinations of lace figures and silk
eauZe on which flower designs by we'll
known artists are painted make charm
ing fans Feather fans are Of stiff
wings rather than of ostrich plumes, to
be strictly la mode. Some fans are
covered by soft down of grayish
feathers and have pearl sticks, orna-
mented by gold and jeweled snakes. Fan
cases are sometimes of tortoise-shell or
pearl with gold ornaments or mono
grams to match the sticks, but oftener
of rich silks with monogram and cor
ners of gold.
In gowns we are hardly getting away
from the high belt and short jacket, as
the Paris models show. The skirt Of one
dress is Of tan cloth opening on the
sides over a straight line of the same
stuff, closed by black velvet buttons and
silk cords. The crushed belt is Of black
velvet and velvet buttons ornament the
sleeves. The jacket and epaulette
pieces over the sleeves are Of green cloth
unlined and trimmed by black passe-
menterie and buttons. A null skirt with
starched turnover collar and pleat in
front, closed with studs, forms the
under-blouse, although a silk or velvet
blouse may take it's place.
Another frock is a rather more dressy
afternoon costume of a fancy silk with
small pink figures on a tobacco brown
ground
The skirt is novel inasmuch as it sug-
gests an apron drapery. but the effect is
due to an apron trimming of pink silk,
covered by second ruffle of heavy yell
low lace. The blouse is of the figured
ell lot a ~ t,,
ruffies over the top of the sleeves The
yoke and high belt are of pink silk,
covered by incrustations of yellow lace.
In both these gowns size and style of
sleeve and skirt represent the average,
not the extreme, house gown made now
by Paris couturieres.
1t is remarkable how easily we be-
come accustomed to the caprices of
fashion, and how quickly every vestige
of the beauty and attractiveness of GER
tain modes and outlines vanishes when
once the ruling queen of style has
frowned upon it, Already, for instance,
do we see here and there balloon"
sleeve which looks monstrous and ridi-
culous beside the trim taut little styles
that took it's place; and heavy and cum
bersome do the over-full godet and rip
pie skirts appear contrasted with the
new graceful models of more normal
moderate dimensions. And ever thus
has il proved since Fashion first began
her dominating sway in the feminine
world Taken as a whole. the prevail
ing styles for the winter are very near
perfection, with nothing excessive ap-
pearing in their chief characteristics
with no extremes, and with uncommon
~ few bizarre effects excepting those
which make a caricature of nearly
every fashionable hat of the season.
Ophelia in her widest moments never
put upon her fair head any more sane
looking meaningless, overladen decora-
tion than we behold any day or hour on
the promenade or at public or private
gatherings. The special point of their
absurdity is the number of long. tipsy-
looking feathers that appear exactly as
If they had been pitched upon the hat
hit or miss, fastened where they hap
pened to fall or stand. and when this
crazy looking hat is donned. the wearer
looks as If she had just encountered the |
worst sort of demoraHzing blizzardly |
gale straight from Manitoba.
A revival next season of the sup
planted game of croquet is announced
from London. The reasons given make |
the news seem probable-that tennis. |
golf and the bicycle have made outdoor |
life 50 popular that mortals who can |
achieve no one of the three must have