Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-31

An English magazine has printed a SYM
postum under the heading Should Women
Follow the Fashions?" One OF the letters
sent in has the following:
THE sensible woman is pre-eminently she
who does follow the fashions in modera-
tion. Being sensible, she has learned that
there is always a good deal Of merit in ex-
listing things; that the person who pursues
course indicated for her, whether i'll mi
nor matters or in great ones. saves herself
much wear and tear; that the momentum
of the multitude will always oyerbear the
individual and that resistance is folly-or
heroism. The sensible woman does not
want 10 be a martyr; she leaves that
thankless role to cranks and enthusiasts;
her ambitions are towards pleasant things
lot, and cushions beneath her person, since
some tolts are inevitable.
Another woman writes: 81 do not like to
see woman dowdily dressed, but the bet
ter one's taste and the keener ones artistic
sense, the greater the temptation to spend
undue time and thought over it, the less
money one has, the more thought is re-
ouired in order to spend II TO the greatest
advantage. We are all, think, apt 10 for
get that dress is not an end in itself. but
simply means TO make ourselves attract
I've and our lives pleasanter and more use
ful to others"
en-, and follow the fashions more or less
closely let us take a little of the thought
that is necessary to dress to advantage.
It q whisper Of spring The winter there
is short one, and when the daylight be-
gins 10 lengthen wraps begin to shorten.
Before long there may be days when they
may be dispensed with entirely TO display
heavy fur-trimmed cloth costume with
close-fitted bodice and habit-like skirts.
There are indications of these severe lines
foil yiT1er rfvA to-.
some late designs will show:
One is of navy blue serge, with no trim
ming on the skirt save row of sable,
headed by narrow fold of black kid en-
proidered with small gold beads and pail
Iettes. The skirt Is so. tight and close
the head, IL fastens, apron fashion, down
the back seam. The round bodice is fitted
10 the figure. showing only a few Fuckers
in front, that are drawn down under two
fancy pearl buttons placed at the waist
line on each side of the vest. The basque
shows only under-arm seams. the stun
being drawn over 3. fitted lining and Is
nnished TO be worn without a belt. A deep
circular collar that forms short revers to
the bust Is added 10 the basque and Is
edged with fur and embroidered kid Dark
red cloth makes the harrow vest and short
yoke between the collar and CholSer The
choker is also of red. but almost covered
by the fur edging II and the little bunch
of sable tails behind each ear.
The couturieres say that their American
customers have not taken kindly 10 50
small a sleeve and close n ssSrt as ,be
French models show. and that most of fhe
gowns exported have been extremely mod
erate IN these respects, AS Americans are
OF any mode. II rs gratifying to hear that
they are reluctant to give up u becoming
Fashion. Only recently fashionable paint
er OF woman s portraits bemoaned the dim
mutton Of the sleeves worn by his sitters
HIS theory seemed 10 he that the hiG
sleeves make a tiny woman dignifed. and
q pretty woman. Of the right size only pret-
tier. by giving becoming frame TO the
face: but alas, tho large sleeve to-day I'm
Paris is only memory. and there is little
need TO speak Of II i'm discussing the modes
for the coming months.
There is pretty belt effect shown OH
q gown Of fancy black and crrise silk. The
skirt Is trimmed with several rows of mar
row ruffies, edged with Il ruchng of black
net. that ere arranged 10 form shallow
points on the skirt. The bodice has jet
ted yoke Of ceriSc velvet. with blouse front
of black net. The belt isof the jetted bright
velvet and makes thy point ups every
seam. prettily emphasizing the curve OF
the waist.
summer-like hats and capotes appear in
new shapes and in what are really spring
models. Although some plain straws are
being made, fancy straws are more con-
spicuous. anG these are used not only for
foundations. but for trimming with ribbon
like loops and straw pompons.
There is a deal of tuilc required for the
construction of these new Chapeaus. gred
punches of the curling alErcttes tthe veal
nov city in the way OF feathers at this mo
mentD. and. as for flowers. while the violet
color is conspicuous. more large violet pop
pies are used than Viclcts. These large
loose blossoms that are pretty i'm any color
suit the shape and character of most of tn,
forms in vogue.
A hat that reTains in ones memory /.
sn antique equestrian shape % Ane En-,
Elish straw. in the natural shade, witt
brim faced with heron feathers In white
shading to warm yellow. a bunch of III,
same plumsge * perChed on one side o
the crown, which is cnCircled by Il lac,
scarf that ties in regular bow behind. q
on the hair, \ black straw something tn,
same shape has for its entire trimmins
the beautiful green and gold plumage o