The morning times., 1897-03-10
mrs. HcKINLEY'S GOWNS
Her Little German Maids Delight
in Displaying Them.
Unpacked the Trunk in the Pres.
ence OF Favored Few and
Enjoyed Their Praises.

1t is doubtful if anyone got more pleas
ure out of the inaugural ball than Mrs
McKinley's maid. Before leaving with her
party to witness the Installation cera
monies at the Capitol, Mrs. Abner Nc
kinley instructed the girl to unpack the
trunk containing, the ball dresses to be
worn by the Presidents wife and Miss
Mabel Mckinley, SO that they could be
admired at leisure by group of lady
friends.
The little German American maid, who
has thick. fair hair and pink cheeks with
dimpies in thenf, led the way down the
corridor TO a smalliroom, where stood
black, glazed trunk, almost as big as
the bed. When she had lifted the lid and
taken out the first piece Of finery every
looker-on ejaculared: "oh, what lovely
dress!, T.
The silk was rich ana creamy ami The
pinked ruffles were yelled with a lace
flounce that was caught at intervals with
sprays of lilies of the valley Yes. il
is lovely but it isn't a dress" corrected
the little maid, her blue eyes sparkling
with delight, this is Miss Mahei's LettI-
coat!" Then she spread it tenderly on
the bed, diyed into tile trunk for auother
garment and held it up to view. This
time il was the bodice OF Mrs AlcKinicy's
gown.
so, Lena, that Is the wonderful dress
we've all been reading aboutr' ex claimed
one girl, with an ecstatic sigh
''Oh, yes, you have read about it,
said the maid, decorously, hut with a
little look that voiced her criticism plain
er than words, but none OF the papers
have had it quite right please look at
the butterflies; one, YOU see, on each
sleeve aud one to the left OF the corsaye.
The are almost real pearls and diamonds.
and 50 is this girdle which is pointed
over the hips instead OF the common way.
This is not a low neck, hut surplice;
nd look at the exquisite pattern of this
fall of lace over its edge. Mrs. Mckinley
will wear "a magnificent neur-de-lis OF
diamonds ON this side OF the corsace to
match the butterfly, and her necklace
will he five strands OF pearls Her Oxford
ties VIII be OF the same material a her
dress, and she will wear these blue
ostrich tips in her hair--ah, but she Will
look lovely
As dead in earnest aud az personally
proud as if she owned every Article to
the last scrap, she expatiated on the beauty
of every piece until she shook out and
held up Mrs. McKinley's oft-desc ribed
brocade.
Did you ever see anything so exquisite
II was bought abroad aud made by Madam
Stewart, of New York. The papers call it
blue aud silver. but you see it is blue, aud
the most delicate tint Of grey-just look at
this beautiful silk lining -
Il never dreamed OF anything so lovely
Gasped one Young lady
"Oh. no, Of course not, " said the little
maid who had no doubt about the matter -
and now Just look at thisi Here IS Miss
Nabei's dress, and won't she look lovely
when she gets it on She has such beauli-
ful golden hair that cuTls .naturally-oh, /,
she looks nice In everything she wears
Miss Mabel does" The white satin bro
| cadad with lilies Of the valley was made
with girlish simplicity; its low bodice.
| garlanded with lilies Of the valley sprays.
| and its quaint little Jewei-toppcd handler
chief bag, made OF the same material rs
her dress and slippers.
When she had exhausted the treasures Of
the big trunk the last piece being Mrs. Nc
| kinley's petticoat, combination OF grass
linen and endless yards of sbeeIest Brus-
| seis lace the little maid folded her hands
| over her snowy apron and flushed and
| dimpled and chuckled at the praises the
wonderful clothes had received
Il believe you take as much interest in
| the things as il you owned them" OBJ
| served one astuee young woman. land ]
| shouldn't wonder il you enjoyed the bah
| as much as the ladies themselves -
Why, Of course!" answered the little
maid with positiveness that would have
been ridiculous if it had not been beauti-
| fui but it was beautiful