The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-14

and it's value becomes nil. Further
more, it cannot be washed at any time
without running it.
The Persian turquoise is as reliable
as the sun 1t is hard and light Will
not penetrate it Water does not in
Jure it, and as the merchants say Of
all their goods OF color, the color is
fast and viii not change for years.
Naturally, they are far more expen-
sive than the Egyptian stones and this
fact is what makes it necessary for
the buyer to see that she does not
suffer from the greedinesS of the jew
eler. 1t takes an expert to distinguish
the difference between the stones, and
unfortunately the most Of us are not
experts. What we want is to be fash
lOnable. We might just as we'll con-
TESS 1t, as it is the absolute truth, and
there is no denying it. Let us by all
means obey the dictates OF our COM
mon mistress, Dame Fashion, and wear
the turquoise, but incidentally, don't
forget to keep an eye on the jeweler
Several Of the large dressmaking
establishments in New York are dis
cCssinS the idea Of having an artist
TO design costumes for those who are
wiling to pay for the genius thus de-
voted to their personal adornment. This
is. in reality, but an improvement upon
the idea OF Worth, the greatest Of all
m1lliners, whose unwearied effort was
to make q picture OF each costume
something different-entirely different
from any costume that was worn by
anyone else. What a delightful thing
1t would be to go to a dressmaker and
have young man, who, in every de-
tail, showed himself to be a true artist,
look us over in that penSiVe 41anner so
dear to the heart and SO gratifying to
the vanity. 1t is just as we'll TO tell the
truth. All of US are a little bit vain,
though we try our best to conceal it.
Then how pleasant when the artist has
thoroughly acquired a correct idea of
our various charms. and, alas, our de-
fects as well, to feel that We will have
costume that WILL at least, largely
conceal the latter, while it is sure to
enhance the former
Worth used to say that the lay fig
ure was his greatest aid, because, with
his best customer he would have for
each figure that would be, so far as
the dressmaker considered, an exact
reproduction Of the customer. Every
one has popularity of form, for, though
compliments may fly thick and fast,
the absolute truth is that the perfect
form is as rare as diamond in a coal
mine. Forms are like faces. They
often seem to resemble one another
very greatly, and yet there is always
a difference. It will be seen that
Worth's lay figure, resembling in every
point the customers own form. is but
the forerunner Of the artist designer.
We have been led to consider the de-
SIgner as one who, bred in the realm
Of trade, sits down at his desk with
all sorts Of fashion plates in front of
him, and simply forms new combina-
tons or makes history repeat itself.
The new idea will change all this The
designer that is talked of is quite like.
ly to have gained his taste and method
from the study of Murillo or Core
gio.
Perhaps he may have gained a few
Ideas in the Louvre, and mayhap, an
occasional memory Of that very wicked
but exceedingly charming locality
known as the Latin quarter, of always
gay Paris, may help him out bit. An
odd combination for one who is to
design dresses. you say? Not so odd,
after all. At least it gives those ever
blase fashionable who are continually
telling US there is nothing new under
the sun, something to talk about
Whenever the idea of the artist de-
Signer has been preached among those
who possess wealth and are members
of the court of fashion, nothing but
praise has been heard. It seems quite
likely that it may blossom from the
bud Of conjecture into the full blown
flower Of fashion, by the time that
us, the flowers bloom that have moth
ing to do with the case.
This is the era Of common sense
weather clothing. This statement is
not meant to convey the idea that