Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-17

Nowadays, perhaps, the tendency is all
towards OVERRIDING, and this is a pity, fol-
can there be IL more laughable and at
the same time pathetic sight than that
Of young girl, rising IS or
at the outside, decked out In finery
suitable for woman Of twice her years
/ With what an i'll grace the heavy bro
, cade or the still heavier satin sits upon
the slender young limbs, which seem TO
call for muslins and the lighter makes
Of silks. etc. Most OF us are hard enough
| upon the woman who, long past the
! meridian. of 80 stu clings to the garb
Of her girlhood and has a penchant for
| letting her hair down on every available
| opportunity, and for broad sashes of
babyish blue; but 1 think we ought to be
| still harder upon the mother who robs her
| young daughter of that one loyeliest
| prerogative Of youth-the right to dress
| with simplicity. How infinitely better
| they do these things in France was
| brought home to me forcbly the other
| day when / was gratined with the sight
| or some half dozen models prepared for
| two OF this seasons best known debu-
tantes am not sure that space will permit
! a detailed description of all the gowns;
but still feel cannot do better than TO
represent to you pen pictures Of the three
Model No. was dinner frock pure and
simple, bnt so chic in every detail that it
might well do duty at an informal dance.
The material was Japanese silk, and by
the way, il is worthy Of note that japanese
silk is being used to great extent by all
the leading modstes, both here and in
Paris. for fashioning young girls dresses.
In color the goyn was gray-a soft shade.
known 1 believe. as dove s-breast"-and
apropos of the exceeding popularity
Of gray at the present moment l noticed
that no less than three out Of
those six gowns were in varying shades
Of that Quakerlike hue. Nor. taking into
consideration the fact that both the in
tended wearers are brunettes should this
be cavilled at. There is no more lovely or
becoming color for those whose tresses are
dark than gray OF one tone or another
always providing their owner is slender.
Gray should be avoided by all who have
a tedency, even a slight one, to embon-
point.
However. TO go back to the gown in
question: Thos kirt, which was OF the
latest shape, had a piped flounce reach.
ing almost to the knees, sat in under a
band of steel and amber embroidery. The
lining was of yellow glace silk, ornament
ed or the inner side by a dozen little
frils of its own material, each of hides
cribable "fussness." The bodice, which
was pouched, boosted a full vest OF sill |
yer gray d'esprit net work all over in
design of butterflies. in amber and
steel. At the back a square collar of tuck |
ed gray d'esprit net over the japanese |
silk was embroidered at either corner with |
another big butterfly also in amber and |
steel. Sleeves there were none, two frills |
OF the silk and net, accordon-pleated, |
taking their place. In the centre OF the |
bodice in front was pinned a huge bunch |
of lilies of the valley, with the most J
natural looking leaves I ever saw. The |
waist was encircled by a band of the /
amber and steel passementerie, finished !
at the back by two long sash-like
ends OF accordion-pleated net drawn
through big amber buckle In the hair
a bow of gray tulle and a yellow osprey |
were to be kept in place by another buck
lie Of similar, but much smaller, make,
Frock No. 2 was a ball gown, also OF