The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-15
n IDEAS for uMonneu

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Each year the little industry of the
fashion dolr' becomes less. and a GUS
tom which meant untold things to our
feminine ancestors has now almost en-
tirely disappeared. To the majority of
women of the present day the word has
no meaning.
The glory and usefulness of the fashion
doll dates back some three or four gener-
ations. She came into existence toward
the end of the last century, when travel-
ing was rough and cost so dear that few
women living in other countries could
voyage to Paris in search of prevailing
modes.
But Partisan gowns and bonnet were
even moro requisite in those days than
now. To meet the demand for them
the French costumers and merchants
sent always. with their exports, a tiny
doll marvelously gowned with newest
coiffnre and headgear, designed to show
to fashionable danes OF America. Eng
land. etc. the exact hang Of a gown
or mantle and the newest ideas in femi-
nine apparel.
There is a charming bit of history con-
nected with these dolls-an International
courtesy.
These "poupees DIES modes began to
enjoy a worldwide reputation, and al
most incredible privileges were accorded
in their favor as to a distinct and cher
ished race.
Thus it happened in the f~iercest part
of the wars between France and Eng
land, the ministers of both courts-St.
James and Versailles-accorded, in favor
OF women an inviolable passport to the
great fashion doll, gowned and eoiffed
according to the most recent mode, which
was to serve to English ladies as a model
for their new frocks. In the midst of
the bitterest hostilities one thing was
respected and endowed with rights-the
fashion doll.
Today the Partisan fashion doll is re-
placed by a pretty young woman in
flesh and blood whom the great tailor
ing houses Of the French capital send
out with their models to Brazil. Mexico
and other portions of the globe.
They are said to be a thorough inn
proyement on the doll. Especially charm
ing oung women are, of course chosen
for the purpose and the costumers are put
to it, to secure a new maiden for each
seasons export; for the young women sell
dom come back. The fashion doll of pres
ent days, with her pretty face and figure
Joined to exquisite taste. is as eagerly
sought after as was the celebrated model
of former times. She marries and settles
down in foreign parts.
The reason of that new tangled fem
inine fancy known as the Russian blouse
was discovered by a Star reporter on a
trip from Jersey City to Washington a
few nights ago. The train had just be-
gun to move out of the Jersey City Sta
ton when a young woman, rather on the
1new" order, swung herself aboard. She
was almost breathless from hurrying, and,
unlike the majority of her sex, was sin
gularly unhampered by luggage. A neatly
rolled umbrella and a jacket were all the
travelling gear she carried, says the
Washington Star"
The young woman occupied a section by
herself, n it was apparent that she con-
templated retiring, for she requested the
porter, with every Indication of WEAKNESS,
to make up her berth with all possible
haste. Yet was 1.-THE Star reporter
mildly curious to observe that the young
woman had no grip in which it is usual to
carry toilet conveniences. He wondered
if she contemplated lying down in an i'm
maculate tailor-made skirt and a fash |
ionable Russian blouse.
AS the making UP of the berth nearer
completion, the young woman rose and
proceeded to the 1avatory. Every one in
the car looked at her, for she was ex-
ceedingly handsome and she possessed a
trim little figure. Pretty soon she re-
turnel to her section and the reporter
marvelled more than ever. She was ar
rayed in a black India silk negligee, and
she carried her blouse over her arm. Sew
eral observing women exchanged wonder
ing glances, for they, too, had noticed the
absence of all luggage, and were puzzled
at the transformation.
This fascinating traveler was the OBJ
ject of general attention next morning, as
The train was rolling into Washington.
The young woman sat calmly in her sec
ton, rolling into the smallest and tightest
bundle possible the India silk garment.
This completed. she closed a folding comb,
put a tooth brush into an oil silk cover,
and with a dexterous movement from un-
~derneath, which looked like the stretching
of an elastic band, the young woman
slipped negligee, comb and 10th brush
into her Russian blouse. A handkerchief
and veil soon followed, and lol the trav-
eler suggested one of our West End girls
arrayed for a morning stroll on F street,
without a suggestive sign of having pass
ed the night on a sleeper.
Have you heard the latest from Paris? |
The rumor tina Dame Fashion has de-
creed that the world of feminity must
array themselves in skirts which measure
but two and a half yards in width? But a
year ago we were wrestling with gowns
whose circumference was a generous
seven yards; we were weighed down with
dry goods; our slumbers were broken at
night by the dreadful fear that our pleats
in the rear did not hang right; our
backs ached under the strain, but, obey
ing the injunction of the poet, we suffer-
ed and were still.
Now comes the rumor that our dimen-
sions are to be decreased to about one
third their former size, and at first blush
we are disposed to give thanks for the
dispensation of Madame La Mode, but
soon We realize that the sudden revolu-
ton of petticoats is not without its draw
backs-literaily it's drawbacks-for the
transition presages nothing more nor less
than the reurn of the p~uIl-backi Fancy
the agony hat the change viii entail on
weak Inc suffering womankindl Do we