The times., 1897-07-25
MRS. BURNETT AND
HER CLOTHES.
How This Authoress Expresses Her
Moods in Her surroundings.

how This Authoress Expresses her
Moods in Her Surroundings.
New York. July 23.-Few writers are
more sensitive TO their envirpnment than
is Mrs. Frances sBodgson Burnett: and Wheth'
er in her Washington or London noue' IN
hotel summer cottage or on boa rd snip sile
is always surrounded 10y an atmosphere OF
refined luxury. Call upon her WITHIN an
hour ol two after her arrival at house
v7aers she is 10 remain for only Few
asvs. and you viii find that already
rare bits of tapestry have been hung and
obfures arranged, that numerous cush-
ions comfortably disposed invite 10 rest
and that The omnfprcsenCe OF new mag
sziues and fresh flowers has put TO llleht
tie IN welcome sense of hotel sidenaor'
Nor are her swathinSs the lea 81 salient
feature OF this aecesss ny yen tourage. Gowns
have alwavs been with Mrs Burnett dis
tapcf exnfession of her mentality, and have
t,eeu made TO play no insignificant role in
a aharnionlous whole. ItisDOt somuch what
uhs-v may mean to Others as their reflex
influence upon herself.
PERHAPS no character in her novels has
so strong a flavor Of Mrs. Burnett's per
souaIity as Bertha Amory in Through
One ADMINISTRATION, = and one cannot have
raiied 90 observe the dominant note Of
Bertha's gowns throughout the story
Iodeed we find her one day coRfiling to
her husband Il am not really pretty or
clever vt all aud it has been the object OF
my life to prevent its being detected.
I ala n
gowns: Wei, that is my secret. l haven't
an attraction. really, but my gowns and
my spirits and my speciousness- The
solitary thing | do feel have reason To
pride r'lyseIf On is that / am bold enough
10 adapt my gowns in such way as TO
persuade y0u that i am physically RESPONSE
bic for tht color and shape of them. You
fancy you are pleased with me when you
are simply pleased with some color OF
siich 1 exist on the reelection or glow.
Infdne cases out of TENT is merely matter
OF pale blue or pink aud silk or crepe or
CASHMERE "
And later in one of her moe king moods.
she SAYS TO Tredennis:
do you see how her sleeves fit? 1t
was her sleeves which first attracted
mg attention. / sa u them at luncheon
81 New York, and they gave me new
theories OF life. When a woman can ac-
colapliSh sleeves like those, society neei
AK nothing further of her. In moments
OF rashness and folly, have occasion
ally been betrayed into being proud OF
my sleeves: but now | realize that the
feeling was simpl Y impious."
Mrs Rurnett was born with as pro
nounced an instinct for inventing gowns
asinveuiing stories, and it developed at as
eaulv an age. There was never anything OF
thc proverhial literary slouch about her.
IBher reTypOordays, asin those eofherearly
Successes, sfe made tliligent use OF her fin
gers as well as brains IN the creation OF
pretty costumes. A curious proof OF their
effectiveness came to her hat recently,
when she was addressed as Queen OF
Hearts" by one who had not seen her
since she Inasqueradedin this costume when
oIiy Sevcnteeia years old.
she tnen lived in a little Southern town,
where il was difficult 10 obtain anything
dee.Iahle. even if one had money. and her
nEzins were exceedingly limited On this
particular occasion, however, with sim
ole idt Of white muslin and q few sheets
OF gilt paper. she succeeded in making,
a. IL lHBtdISs Il ne BObUch
impression Over The skirt OF her COS
tume she had scattered myriads OF little
hearts. and for the remainder had IN
gsaienslv devised heart shaped oYcrskirt,
SHIRT sleeves and bodice. She eilded
her own little boots. and finding moth
ine that conld be made To serve as neck
lace, with infinite patience cut out tiny
paseb1ard hearts, which she pasted over
VIII gilt paper and mounted on gold braid.
A large. eiided heart shone resplendent
tn her rea-brown hair, and in her hand
slIc carried a gilded stick surmounted by q
heart.
The young suihoress really brought as
greet earnestness of purpose TO the con
coc'inr OF this unique little costume
which, by the way, won her the first
pine. az 10 her next story for Peterson's
Magazine, and doubtless viewed the re
sult with equal satisfaction
with the coming Of arfluence MIS- Bur
neti did not cease 10 invent her gowns
Like Beau Bruinmel. she has her failures
which fact, however, is not a half bad
thing foT her friends, as she holds thai
q woussh who wears a gown unbecoming &c
herself that might become some one elst
"a Eniity Of q double crime: rather than st
5eoBarGize her soul, she tuTns over tia
most expensive experiment 10 the firsi
chsRce conner. 10 whom it belongs by di
vine right of fitness.
The carrying out of her designs is now
however. q matter of easy delegation, as
slic always retains a maid who is at the
sane time skilled dressnla keF, and whe
fs kept constantly employed making, al
terHg and remodeling for Mrs. Burnett re
Qaires unlimited change Of costume, never
isGead wearing the same gown twice a.
the same place. Even at her own "a
hnries-' size does not wish to appear twice
alike ihiougheut the season She says
simply that the thought OF putting on tho
aanre frock over and over again tires hel
ann takes away all sense OF mental fresh.
ness. In each or her homes. therefore
she is obliged TO devote a good sized
s1a.n 10 the exclusive keeping Of her nu.
r.ereGs toilets.
Ers. Burnett, In her costumes affects al