The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-11-08
ideas for dWomen


sons modes in the matter of pocket
books.
One would think, from the size OF an
elephant skin. that articles made from
Il weaid be very inexpensive. because of
their abundance. AS o matter of fact.
however, the price of elephants kin is
high because of the long process OF tam
ming to which they are subjected. 1t
takes three years to tan the hide of an
ordinary ELEPHANT for, when first re-
moved, the skin is several inches thick.
BY a gradual process layers of it are
taken on anti the skin entire is rendered
fit for use. Poeketbooks and card cases
made from 1t are strong and service
able, and, when mounted with duh sill
ver mountings. the rough brown material
IS very ornamental.
u silver mountings, by the way. are
the latest novelties for p-ortemennaies.
They are found in articles made from the
rhinoceros and manatee skins as well
as from those of elephants
The hide of this big pachydern takes
nearly as long to prepare as the ele-
plants and is very much like IT in the
finished products; the only difference be-
'ng in coarseness and r~oughness. in both
Of which the rhinoceros is inferior.
Monkey skins make pretty wares. One
of the most attractive card cases dis
played is of this skin n is mounted
with plain bright silver. The skins which
have been tanned white are the only
pure white skins that leather
turers can obtain. While they are light
est colored of leather goods they do not
soil quickly because the oil has previously
been extracted.
Poeketbooks and card cases made from
lizard skins have curious mountings this
winter. In the gold, or silver. as it may
happen to be, there is just a trace Of the
prevailing color of the skin to carry out
the idea. The same idea is noticed in
the tiny checks which form a trimming
for snake skins
The woman who possesses a purse of
manatee, has something rare indeed.
These little marine creatures are very
scarce and are seldom caught. Their
skins are something on the color of ele-
plants skins, but they are smooth and
mottled with small white spots where the
longer hairs grow. To be able to obtain
an article in manatee skin one must know
just THAT dealer has been lucky enough
to purchase a nj AS to clasps one
of the prettiest fashions in these is the
single large stone used for the purpose.
If the color Of the leather will harmonic,
it is an amethyst. On black leather purses
some dark red stone is used with most
artistic effects. f.
The president OF ;aetcertain well-known
university, in his opening address to the
student classes, made a point in which
every thinking woman will be interested.
He asked the young men to characterize
this year of their college life by total alb
stinence from hazing in every form.
But humane and American as the APP
peal was. did it not come too late by some
thing like seventeen to twenty years to
many q young fellow who heard it? If,
as Oliver Holmes once said. the education
Of a child begins a hundred years before
hat child IS born. perhaps the education
of the college boy, in this regard-the
chief education which via avail him in
the cause of neutrality-suspicious. when he
is a very small chap at home.
1t IS not cruelty pure and simple which
makes q child cruel in ninety-nine cases
out Of a hundred-ft Is thohght,essness. A
thoughtlessness which, beginning with his
baby stature, strengthens and develops in
manly growth.
Pity It's, It's true, that no college pro-
fessor can mould in these points when
home influence has marred or has neg
lected. The family table, the nursery and
the playground are the true beginnings,
the first and best college-the most potent
professor teaches here.
Consideration for others and kindness,
respect of persons. g~entleness to the
weak, true American courtesy. all of
these are too little instilled at ten, or
they would be more characteristic of
twenty.
Just how does this thoughtlessness be-
come a habit? Children are as a usual
thing the true enthusiasts, it is a per-
verted something which brings a young-
ster to enjoy the sight of pain or annoy
ance in an inferior form of animate ma
ture or in his own. 1t is some laxity of
the home standard and principles which
results in this way. II mine-person and
property-is not mine about the hearth
and thine thine. what can be hoped for in
after life2
Again, disregard of suffering and petty
cruelties often result In the un~enlighten-
ed way in which children are left to
work out for themselves their treatment
of the lower nimal The average child
is the sworn devotee of household pets
and the training of his fellow feeling in
its proper direction should be an easy
task. But ever in unusual cases. where
the coming man does not fraternize with
his four-footed brethren, at least. his
gentleness, kindness and care may be
excited toward them.
80
Harper's Bazaar says that velvet, mir
ror velvet. plain satin, and even plush are
still used for opera cloaks. although they
are not so smart as brocades. The shad-
ing of all these materials is exceedingly
handsome and effective. and the plush is
a very pleasant material to wear, as it
is both warm and light A smart plush
cloak that has recently been finished is
of the palest shade of heliotrope, made
with a fitted yoke, and the back and front
also more fitted in than is usual. The
sleeves are not laid in tplaits, and are
smaller han those on the brocade, but are
cut In the same wide pointed fashion. This
cloak is lined throughout with white plush
and has a cape OF white fox fur. The
same garment is also made with a trim
ming of fox fur over the shoulders, in a
point at the hack, and in bands dow the
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