The National tribune., 1897-05-20

in her hair and collar. The brim is turned up
all around perhaps little more in the front.
In way it reminds one of the Napoleon hats,
so popular Winter before last. or of George
Washngion's military headgear. The hat is
trimmed simply with wreath of flowers and
an upright loop of ribbon, with nodding rose.
RI.
Red hair was fashionable last year; this sea-
son, according to reports from the hair-dressers,
there is great demand for gray and white
hair. Women who would as soon think of
telling lie or joining circus as of dying
their hair will be surprised to hear what the
hair-dressers say of the matter. They do more
work in coloring hair than tho other half of
womankind would beleve-and this among
the fashionable set.
My friend has been to New York and to Phil
adelphia. and comes home with a remarkable
account Of bicycle women in those cities. Our
women-folk in Washington are eminentIy
quiet and modest and dcmure, aud only one or
two have ventured forth on the prominent
streets in daytime in bloomers. and very few
tells tale of<a bicycle woman in red velvet
bloomer- knickers in New York; of purple-shod
bicycle girls in Philadelphia; of bicycle skirts
so thin that the bicycle frame showed through
them, to say nothing Of the girl-frame; of
hosts of women riding horses astride-51 of
them looking abominably ugly and one looking
not SO bad the Others and of two other girls in
pretty gray tailor made bicycle suits who were
wearing riding ieggings over their shoes-srif
leather cylinders, all Of one size from the instep
up. and presenting the clumsiest possible effect,
out of all harmony with their pretty suits.
Philadelphia claims to have the oldest club
for women in the United States. It was found
ed over hundred years ago by score or more
of young Quaker ladies, who worked together
as the Female Society for the Relief and I'M
provement of the Poor" The club has lived
through the century, counting among its mem
bers many of Philadelphias most aristocratic
names. The membership passes from mother
to the eldest daughter. One phase of the work
of the Society now is in opening House of
Industry for old women, who go there to sew
by the day, and receive fair pay for their work.
The women come from the poorest of homes to
the warm. well.lighted rooms. where they are
given q good meal at midday. Prominent
women have much of their household sewing
done by these women, and men send their
mending to the rooms. to help the good cause.
The old women do all sorts of plain hand sew
ing, but especially proud of their rag car
pets and quilted comforts.
x*x
Washington gardens are famous for their
roses and they are all gay with blossoms now.
| The roses blossom everywhere but especially
| in the dooryards of the little darky shanties
| Magnificent La Franco roses do not despise SO
humble garden and Jacqueminots. splendid
yellow and white roses, and dainty little
tea roses all reward the darky gardeners most
lavishly. Other flowers, too, make the paths
and beds bright, and crowd each other with
| bIoom-white and golden Iris, bachelors but
| tons, colnmbne, bridal wreath, bleeding hearts,
pauses, verbenas, geraniums, and all the host:
| of fayorite garden flowers. They blossom earl y
| and late, and can hardly be restrained TO their
| beds, all neatly marked off with oyster. shells.
ELSIE PoMEROY MCELRoY.
| =