The times., 1897-07-25

most wholly long lines and soft fabrics,
using quantities of crepe de chine, liberty
silks, gauzes broeades, etc. She is also ex
tTemely fond of lace, seldom being seen
without gamisfings of this delicate mate
Iial in one form or another. Her under wear
is always of the finest muslin, sumptuously
trimmed with laces. Once when very Ill
size said quite patheticaily TO a friend who
came 20 see her: a. You may know how i'll
have beca when / tell you that have
been Indifferent TO my ribbons and laces y
She has also q great liking for rare aRd
beautiful fnrs. Indeed, SO pronounced is
her penchant for all soft and fluff effects
that it is responsible for the very name by
which she is known among her Intimate
friends.
While at work Mrs. Burnett wears
pretty negligee usually OF India silk,
that fails from the shoulder 20 the
floor. entirely unconfined at the waist,
and ends in 2 hong train. These chariu-
ing little corrections abound Il falls or
lace aud are always of black, white or
violet, as since The death of her eldest
son Mis-. Burnett has never worn colors.
She cares nothing whatever for jewelry,
and though she has had many valusb bic
and Interesting pieces pres ented her,
never wears anything in the way Of or
nament but rather ugly moons tone
ring given her several years ago by the
daughter OF Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe.
TIE stone WAS never OF pretty shape, and
has now become almost Iuste rless but
nothing would induce Mrs. Burnett TO be
without it for single day, so strong is
her superstition regarding its influence
upon tic fates. 1T was given her Just
before the enormous success or ~Faun-
tleroy,' and during the only time she
ever allowed it to be off her finger oc-
Cured the carriage accident which re-
suited in her long illness from a con-
| cussion Of the brain. Most of her Jew
els have pictures que stories conn ected
| with them that OF a beautiful diamond
ring which she pos sesses being indeed
| quite a thrilling tale, as tile ring was
/ given her in memory OF having, saved a
mans life while bathing at Long
| Branch at considerable risk 90 her own
The Story" has been the dominant in
fluence In Mrs. BuTnett's life from the
! beginning, and she is never so happy az
when trying 20 make some fairy story
materialize in the life OF a friend--eren
10 the third and fourth generation She
| has already laid the foundation for the
most enchanting real fairy tale in
the life OF some far-away ereat-grand-
daughter. Eight years or more ago Just
before receiving the cable telling her OF
! her sons illness. Mrs Burnett had been
TO Paris. and had number OF magnificent
costumes made for the coming London
season They had hardly arrived at her
1 Rndan q hafpr.a fra ,i,a
and the splendid creations were destined
never to be Worn. In a cedar chest 600
years old they lie packed away at Port
| land place, stiff brocade and soft crepe in
shades Of pink, yellow, violet, blue, and
ashes OF roses, embroidered over with
pearls, silk and gold A beautiful opera
| cloak OF yellow brocade lined with hello
| trope satin and trimmed with white mari
beau. completes the fairy outfit, which
VIII not sec the light OF day fer another
| generation or two
Oae may imagine with what interest
some fair daughter of the twentieth Cen
tury viii open the old chest aud listen to
the sad story OF how the light went out
of her nlustrious grandame's life, so that
she never again cared for bright co]ors
| and slW avs wore her garbs OF mourning.
In planning the Genouement Mrs Bur
netts emotions are divided between her
storytelling and maternal instinct Fol
the best interests of the story, this charm
ing descendant must be very poor aud fall
unexpectedly upon the old chest at some
great crisis of her life, where clothes play
an Important TaTt-as when do they not,
for that natter vet how deliberately
consign ones great granddaughter to pov
erty to serve even SO picturesque a pur-
| pse-