Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-14
Turns TO TURQUOISE
n,vr FASHION DECLARES THERE
Is NOTHING MORE CHARMING.
SgW DEPARTURE IN DRESSNAKINC.
Great stores VIII Have Genuine
Artists TO Design the Costumes os
the EIect-Common-sense Clothing
suddenly Becomes stylish.



nv far the oddes; feature OF the seaso,
q. The fact thai fashion and economy are
sv,reing down the promenades hand In
hand. 1t IS long years since anything OF
this sort has come TO pass. and matron
and maid are filled with rejoicing that the
unexpected has really happened. Strange
Nv enough, II is one OF the most modest
OF precious stones that has brought the
truth % light. and tho turquoise promises
20 he hereafter a blessed memory al
thoueh ever present
The Jewellers win tel those who inuuire
that the turquoise is the coming gem.
whoever cares TO saunter about the
hsuuts OF fashion will see for himself
that the gem is not coming. but here.
It's advance in favor has been as rapid
&c lt was unlocked for. In fact. the tur-
ecoise has been in the background for
some time. and we have all thought it
iupolitic 10 wear even the most charm
irr specimens OF the milky blue stone
ur.t,s everybody knew that we hun
plenty Of money. Otherwise we would
either be placed In the list OF the power
tv stricken. or the category of those who.
not knowing what TO wear, make a guess,
aa8 trust TO good fortune that they may
De rsht
There are those who so so far as TO say
that the sounding of the popularity Of
the turquoise IS really the death knell Of
the diamond disguised. Long months ago
the opal gained such prominence that
there were plenty of predictions to the
effect that. al last, despite the terrors
OF superstition, the diamond had found
a genuine rival. Ard now comes the
turquoise to clinch the argument. as it
were. and change the whole trend of the
market FOR precious stones.
Therefore II Is that the between
seasons talk Is largely devoted to gems.
OF course we are all wondering what we
are going 10 wear next spring. Deep
down IN our hearts that Is the principal
thing that we are thinking about 1t is
not the way Of woman, however, to talk
OF what most interests her. so the con-
versation turns TO the turquoise and its
beauties. Very beautiful they are. when
properly SCI. surrounded with brilliants.
small wonder that their beauty has at
last won the recognition to which it was
long ago entitled
OPAL BETTER LOOK OUT.
It seems very queer to think Of tur-
Quoise being made the principal feature
OF the fashionable jewelry this season,
diamonds taking second place. but that
IS exactly what Is going 10 happen. Not
only that. but that deiciously unlucKy
stone. the opal. viii have to keep sharp
eye TO the fore. or its popularity Is ike
Iv 70 wane II seems 70 be the case that
every precious stone. like the dog, has It's
dav. This IS certainly the period Oh tlIne
allotted 10 the turquoise.
As always Is the case, whenever gem
achieves the prominence which popularity
gives. IL is to be seen In all Sorts OF
articles that are beautihed with JeWeis'
The pretty bonbon box. the card re-
ceiver highly ornamented; the cashet
wherein the turquoise's rivals repose
glove-boxes. pocket-books; and TOT laoies
also cigarette cases, are ornamehleu WIN
The stone that makes you think OF thal
Italian sky that Byron tens Us Is niUto
beautiful than all else. just incidentally
too there Is no harm in stating that the
TURQUOISE Is said to inspire one TO poetry
and az the spring is at hand, 1t may De
nat this conduces not a little TO its popu-
iarifv. There is a deadly fear In the
bearts Of some Of US that amateur poetry
r,ay also become fashionable, and that
would be unspeakably dreadful.
An these things are true about the
frrr1uoise and there are ever 81 many
o+ber nleasant remarks 10 make about
ttis new candidate for fashionable favor.
Tn the fairest flower, however. one may
6D5 a worm. and therefore, If you Intend
~ purchase a turquoise IL is well 10
bsor in mind the following facts: There
are two distinct varieties Of the gem
FgvDtian and Persian, and there Is as
much difference between them as sepa-
rates n London fog and Colorado SPRING
CAV. when II comes TO a ques1iOn -
value The Egyptian turquoise Is hluo e
like unto the blossom Of a day. IL IS Oh
great beauty and instantly charms the
eve but il cannot hold its color III
fsct 10 give the original color three
-,onths' life is exceedingly liberal. Inc
s.oDe either becomes entirely colorless'
On else Is transformed to disagreeaoie
grsen. and It's value becomes MI. rur-
thermore. it cannot be washeu "' any
tine without running H. ,,
The Persian turquoise Is as reHaDi ne
rs the sun. 1t is hard, and lght VIZ
not peuetrate Il. Water does not lnJuIe
IT, and IS the merchants say OF an uaed
goods Of color, the color Is Iast an az.
VIII not change for years. Na'ul "ilg'
they are far more expensive man tns
Egyptian stones. and this tact Is Wilo'
makes II necessary for the buyer 10 sec
that she does not suffer from the sreeui
ness OF the jeweller. II takes an up
10 distinguish the difference between the
stones. and, unfortunately, the most Oh 10