The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-02
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ideas for lWonnen

up the fancy Of wearing flowers at an
times. Time was. not SO long age, when
this was considered bad style. Then a
small bunch of violets was allowed, which
gradually Increased in size until ii became
absurd. Now, of course, a large bunch or
violets is still allowable, but the fad IS
to have some one particular flower, and.
never to be. seen without that flower Ihei
more expensive it is the better.
1t is said that for the initiated there Is
a shibboleth which can interpret just
what such flowers mean. Two women dis
cussing the probabilities of the rurnoredl
engagements of Miss Birdie Fair and Miss
Catherine Duer-tWo young women who
have always been reported engaged
were sileneed by the commanding tone of
a third woman, who made the assertion
that she knew Miss Fair was engaged,
for she wore a purple orchid every day,
land we an know what that means.
Probably they did know, for the discus
2 sion ended at once.
xxRnis is unfortunate for the young men.
Wien they begin to pay attention to some
wbman whose fad it is to wear an orchid.
a gardenia or some one of these expensive
flowers every day. They must needs be
sent fresh every morning and there must,
be two or three to choose from.
Then the long stem roses are a mere
matter of detail, but. of course, they must
be forthcoming. and the correct thing is
to send. TO begin with, a high silver vase
to hold them. lit may readily be seen that
such expensive tastes make considerable
difference if economy has to be consulted.
but economy and attention to a fashion
able woman are not synonymous.
The bouquets sent to the debutantes
this year have been wonderfully beautiful,
and there have been several instances
where the girl has received from seventy
five to one hundred each, and every bou-
quet of the most expensive flowers. One
girl had no less than eight bouquets of
the rarest orchids. Another received in
q glass vase, shaded from purple to green,
in itself worth an enormous sum, atbou-
quet of green and lilac orchids. The man
who sent this trifiing gift deserved to
have made some, Roadway. for it repre-
scented a goodly part of his monthly in
come.
1t is not so long since the carrying of
bouquets to a dance was vetoed. and it is
not now considered good form to carry
bouquets to a dance, or if carried they
should not be held in the hand while
dancing, for the obvious reason that the
petals of the flowers are apt to fall on
the floor and spoil it for dancing.
While the rage for expensive flowers
continues. there is still the fad for what is
known as greenhouse flowers. That is,
the palmer variety supposedly sent from
ones own conservatory on ones own
country place. All the florists have or
ders to send boxes of cut flowers two or
three times a week, and these flowers
are arranged by the lady of the house
or her butler. The buffers these days at
tend briefly to the arrangement of flow
ers. All this is easy and most satisfae-
tory. and it must be confessed it is a SEN
sible fashion, for the fragrance of the
flowers adds greatly to the beauty of any
-well-appointed drawing room.
Many of the new houses have small
Conservatives opening off the dining
( room or drawing room. J.. Pierpont Nor
gan has one of the most charming con-
servatories in the city. It opens from his
library. and the doors are always left
open. so that it seems to be part of the
same room
George Vanderbilt's conservatory, which
opens from his picture gallery. is also ar
ranged to look like part of the room, and
whether Mr.. Vanderbilt is at home or
abroad the flowers and plants are care
fully attended. Pots of daisies, Martha
Washington gerauiums and many such
oid-fashioned flowers are mixed in with
palms and green plants. until the whole
effect is delightful.
Never in the history of man or woman
have there been so many and such fas--
cinating things for the neck displayed in
the shops as at the present time. The
woman who cannot find something be-
coming amongst the variety must be
exceedingly plain. All during the winter
there have been ties of bright ribbon
shown. long enough to go around the.
neck and tie in front in a slip-knot.
These nave fringe at the ends, and are
very effeciiye; but such qualities of them
are to be seen now that it is a question
whether they will be among the smart
things during the summer, says "HarperS
n~~a~." However. they are extremely
pretty, and, as a rule, are not expensive.
Inc bright Roman eolers are very much
used. as are the figured ribbons and some
plain ~taffetas with pretty edges. One of
taffeta has an edge that looks like err
mine; another has a chine finish with
shaded rose buds. Even the plainsrfbbons
are to be used in this style of neck wear
the plain satins and the taffetas; and
with a black satin waist for general
wear a black satin tie looks very well,
but of course needs a little inside ruche
of white, because dead black against the
skin is very rarely becoming. To wear
with the new taffeta waists are most
charming Stockholders made of tucked
taffeta put on with hem-stitching.
These stock-collars all tie in front witt,
a big double bow-knot and no ends. Made
of chiffon, nousseline de soie, and such
thin Materials, including fine nets and
gauzes are dainty little collars and cuffs
suitable to wear with light gowns. These
are very perishable, but extremely becom-
ing. They are never cheap, and yet
there will be a great many of them seen.
for it is a fashion it will be hard to re-
sist. There is a perfect craze for white
ties, and certainly they look most effec-
tive worn with light waists and showing
when the coats are thrown open. Some
are of net with lace ends, but the greater
number are of sprigged net with lace to
match. Some are made of two pieces of
lace sewed together and then another
piece across the ends, the joining hidden
by narrow baby ribbon. The best length
is two yards. and half a ward the best