The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-07
Special Correspondence,

Special Correspondence.
NEW YORK, March 4-The dear little
old fashioned check silks are among
the dainty dishes set before us this
week. They are, as one lady remarked,
Just too lovely for anything earthly,
and another said they were killingly
beautiful so it may be inferred that
they are pretty, and not only that but
novel. These are called Louisine check
and they are in many colors and COM
binations of color. The most promin-
ent of them are the following: Pink
ground with white and black checks,
green, lilac, brown, eminence purple,
cardinal and navy blue, all of them
having the black and white checks
over the ground color. There are other
pieces where the colorlng or shading
is a little different, but the black and
white check, like the trail of the SER
pent is over it all. These, with sew
eral lines Of narrow velvet ribbon put
on as trimming in whatever way may
seem good to the maker of the gown,
form the most suitable garniture for
them, though the heavy openwork pas
sementerie in form Of bolero or figaro
Jackets are very effective, and plain
bands Of bias velvet in some suitable
dark contrast as well. But these Lou
isine silks to be tasteful require spe-
cial treatment, pretty as they are
They will doubtless be much liked for
warm weather by those who do not
care for wash dresses.
1t seems strange that every one Is
not satisfied with the lovely new cot
ton fabrics. They are so fresh and
crisp and clean. No matter how care
fully a silken gown is treated it gives
the beholder a feeling Of repulsion if
seen too often. while a clean calico
fresh from the hands Of the laundress
is a delight to those who see it, Among
the newest wash fabrics 1 see many
designs in all linen batisteS. Some have
woven croSSbars, some have embrOi-
dered stripes, some have stripes that
are combinations of the two, and some
have dainty hemstitched stripes. There
are French batistes with dazzle stripes,
always pretty, but rather hard on the
eyes. There are also more fancy fig
ureS in moons, stars and scroll patterns
than l can mention.
The beautiful transparent plumetis
and Persian patterned fine lawns SO
popular last season are as eagerly
bought now as then. They are not 50
costly in themselves, but they require
q full silken lining and the most ex-
quisite treatment and finish, with no
end Of fine lace and ribbon, so that
those who look longingly at them think
twice before purchasing. Where the
principal color in the design Is light
richer shade Of the same or a suitable
contrast is made by the bright taffeta
interlining. A favorite is to have a
jonquil yellow lining under stuff whose
predominating tint is green. Greens
and yellows, green's and blues and
blues and yellows are among the most
popular of these. though puppies and
pale coral pinks are much liked. When
the outside is of soft and mingled blues
and the lining Is yellow, the general
color becomes green. with f1tfUl
changes to blue or yellow as the folds
break.
In organdies there is everything pos
sible to imagine. beginning with the
pretty hemstitch stripes. These show
very effectively over a colored silk lin
ing. 1t is not always necessary that
the lining should be new. If one has
pretty light silk or satin that has
become the least little bit passee a
bath Of gasoline In a fireless room will
brighten it up so that 1t will be quite