The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-03-08
Season and Costume.
Wise Women Buy Their Summer Gowns in Wnter--Notes
of Newest Paris Modes.

While the ar IS Jaw anu colO anu
the. ground still showing traces of the
beautiful snow, as 1t IS known III New
York. the shop windows are filled with
the daintiest. airiest and finest Of fabrics
wonderful embroidered muslins, such
ae- were brought years ago from the mYS-
terions countries beyond the seas, PRINT
ed mnslinS such as Mary Washington
wore, wonderful contrasts in color III the
dainty cotton materials that seem 10
have belonged TO the days OF Marie Ah-
tionf.ttc and Petit Trianon. And with 1t
all they are so cheap. When our muslin
GOWNS were brought by some travelling
cousin from China, they were really
worth their weight i'll gold. When do
nestle manufactures We're unknown, Il
cotton frock WAS almost rs expensive aS
Il WOODEN one. But nowadays, when
clever American girls draw the designs.
when wonderful American looms weave
the material, the beautiful, artistic fabric
is within the reach even Of the woman
vino has 10 CcOnOmlZe.
She is the Wise woman who buys her
cotton frockS while it is yet winter. Why?
Because she has her choice of designs
and because she can get her material
while it is yet fresh and before it shows
the effect Of passing through many
hands. Then, getting the material SO ear
~ the wise woman can devote plenty of
time to choosing her decorations and TO
selecting the modes in which her gowns
shall be. Perhaps she has chosen Il
dainty white muslin with little dots thick
ly embroidered upon it. She goes to no
pattern house for her design. Y month
ago there came to her from Paris some
photographs of famous French beauties
in their summer toilets, and it is these
she will initiate. Her dotted muslin will
he made after the fashion of that Worn
by Mile. 1ahne as she cmergcS from
between two velvet curtains. The skirt
is finished with three tiny rufflcS. while
the bodice has 4 tucked yoke and 4 cor
sage with frills of valenciennes lace and
insertion. The sleeves are glove fitting,
but trimmed with the lace, while the
crush belt and soft collar are Of white
silk. Chic? Immensely And yet
while it is in the style il does not after
Il servile fashion initiate the gown worn
by Dorothy, Gwendolsn, or Cynthia.
Another cotton is made after one OF
Anna Held's newest frocks This shows
Il decoration Of the dainty ruftles, edged
with narrow lace while a big white
parasol is made-in the photo 1T least
TO seem a special part Of the toilet. But
il Is her jacket of which the wise woman
is prOudeSt this spring-the jacket over
which all Paris is raving. 1t is the
dainty little coat worn by that wonder
ful beauty MaIsy i'll her last new play.
II is Of bright red cloth, showing lapel
faclnG5 Of white, but the coat itself is
50 cut that, though it fits the figure,
rhrr" is q certain laXity to the front
which is an ingenious compromise be-
tween the hagging of the ubiquitous
blouse and the severity of the classic
jacket Surely the Wise woman could
not choose three better models than
those pictured. for the French actress,
even on the stage, never goes to an
extreme. and always sets the mode. In
England and America, the actress imi-
tales the ladies Of the great world In
ariS the most artistic drcSsmaker brings
a. her genius 10 bear upon a toilet for
the stage, since she is sure that IL will be
extensively copied by the most fashion
able women. AS q natural sequence the
French actress seldom ovcrdrcss~S. and
she takes Il special pride in suiting he.
fn-lct to the exact time and place. When
sGc Is supposed TO be the daughter of
poor but honest parents. she does not
come on the stage wearing Il Felix din
ner dress. but she thinks out what. un-
der such circumstances. would he proper.
and sh" assumes it. Who of us hasn't
seen tn" exact opposite on the English
speaking stage?
by the 10y, to leave the stage. which
rev P"op." are willing 10 do do Won real-
ne mat Just about now everybody is
'N'"S /" iJ"iSdrte again, and young
omen are black and blue from tumhlino
np stairs and t1mbling down stairs and
I'armng 10 dccGmposc themselves. That,
an abominabIc word. But it's n received
one. decomposition. You must know i
IN" abllt( t. become Suddenly linn and
then just rs Quickly 10 use Whatever mart
"f your body YOU wish in the most
graceful way, one Of the best Delsartn
teachers announced before a class the
other day that She could tell a South
"rn woman The minute she entered =
room ana sat down. She claimed for her
that she sits naturally and her limbs
1ill IL easy poses. 1t seems unncccsSa-
ry to say that after this VAS told I
hIushcd. But at the same time | credit
III II 10 my natural indolencc Accord
IllS 20 this teacher. the great trouble
WIN the woman Of to-day is that she
Htifl'S Every movement expresses her
IdStr. and there is no time for grace
h"H know You can get to Il place as
quickly by walking we'll and evenly as
ny irotting and stumbling. It's funny
now the novel Of the day talks ahout
y, S.'ilHS ol women. At The time
lhat Mr.. Henry Jamcs's novels were
p'HeF"d by some people to have Il certain
amount Of interest all the women in
Them We're standing round" He made
'tcln stand and stand, with occasionally
IN" privilege Of leaning on q mantle
NHeIl, untli they fell into matrimony be
cause they were so tired. Now. Ouida
very compiacently and very kindly. too
IetN her heTolnes rest among piles of
cushions, while the heroes eat and drink
In reality they are thoroughly at their
case. Miss RradGon had rather an in