Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-03-03
DAINTY And AIRY FABRICS
The New York Shop Windows
Filled With Them.
ELEGANT EMBROIDERED MUSLIN
Contrasts In Color in Cottor
Materials.


Special correspondsnce Y Gazette MI Journal
New York, Fob. 9j.-Whila the air
Ia raw and cold and the ground still
showing traces nt the beautiful snow,
nc il ia known 10 Now York, the shop
windows are filled with the daintiest,
ARREST and finest of fdbrics-wonderlu
embroidered muslins such as we're
brought years ago from the mysterious
countries beyond tho seas, printed
musins such as Mary Washington
wore, wonderful contrasts in color in
the dainty cotton materials that seem
TO have belonged to the days Of Marie
Antoinette aut Patti Trianon. And
with it all they are gu cheap! When
our muslin gowns weru brought by
come travelling cntisiu from China,
they were really worth their weight in
gold. When domestic manufacturers
were unkn1wn, cotton frocls was
almost as expensive as II wooden one.
But nowadays, whom clever American
girls draw the designs, when wonder
full American looms weave the material,
the beautiful, artistic fabric is within
the reach even OF the woman who has
to econUml2e.
She is the wise woman who buys her
cotton frOcKs while 1t is yet winter.
Why? IiecausB she has her choice of
designs and because she can get her
material while IL is yet fresh and be-
fore it shows the effect of passing
through many hands Then, getting
the materials sn early tho wise woman.
can devote plenty Of time To choosing
hor decorations and TO seleciing the
nudes in which her gowns shall he
Perhaps she has chosen dainty white
muslin with little dots tbickly em-
L.. IA he
pdtternhouse for her design. A month
ago there came to her from PARIS some
photographs uf famous French beauties
in their summer toilets, and it Is these
she will imitate Her dotted muslin
will he made after the fashion of that
worn nv Mile. fahne rs she energies
from between two velvet curtains. The
skirt ia finished with three tiny rufles,
while the bodice has tucked yoke
ana coraage decorated with frills of
yalenciennos lace and insertion. The
Hleeves are glove fitting, but trimmed
with the lace, while the crush belt and
soft collar are of white silk. Chic?
Immensely So And yet willis it is in
the style il does not after servile
fashion initiate tho gown worn by
Dorothy, Gwendolen or Cynthia.
Another cotton il made after ono OF
Anna Iiel,l's newest frocKs. This shows
q decoration Of the dainty rui1lea, edged
with marrow lace, while big white
parasol is nlade-in the photo, at least
to seem special part of the toilet
But it ia her jacket of which the wise
woman 10 proudest this Hpring-the
jacket over which all Paris ia raving.
IL is the dainty little coat worn by
that wonderful beauty Marsy in her
hast new play. 1t is OF bright red cloth,
showing lapsl facingH of whito. but the
coat itself is go cut that, though il fits
the figure, there is a certain lRxity to
the 'front.' which ia an ingenious com
promise between the hagging of the
ubiquitous blouse and the severity oil
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
eets the mode. 10 England anG
America the aGtreBs initiates the ladies
of the greut world. In Paris the mos
artistic dressmaker brings all hel
genius to Dear upon toilet for tht
stage, since she is sure that it will hi
extensively copied by the most fashion
able women. AS natural sequence
the French actress seldom overdressaB
and she takes special pride in suit
ing her toilet to the exact time ant
place. When she is supposed TO b,
the daughter Of poor hat honest parents
Hhe docs not come on the stage wearing
Felix dinner drssa, hut she thing
out what, under such circumstances
would be proper, and she assumes 1t
Who of us hasn't soen the exact oppo
site on the English speaking stage?
By the by. to leave the stage, whicl
few people are willing to do. do yo'
realize that just about now everybod
is taking to Delsarte again. AM
young women are black and blue frou
tumbipg up stairs and tumbling dow
Rinirs and learning how to decompos
themselves? Thnt'H an abominabl
word. But it's received one, DE
composition, you must know, is tn
ability to becume suddenly limp an
then Just al quickly TO use whateve
part OF your body you wish in the mos
graceful way, One of this best Delsart
teachers anEounced before class til
other day thut abe could tell Il Souther
woman tho minute she entered roof
and sat down. She claimed for be
that she sits naturally and her limE
fall in easy poses. 1t seems unnecosaar
to say that after this was told blushet
But at che same time | credited it
my natural Incidence According
this teacher, the great trouble wit
the woman of tot lay is that she hui
Ties. Every movement expresses hi
haste, and there is no time for gract
You know you can get TO a place {
quickly by walking well and evenly |
by trotting and stumbling It's funn
how the novel OF the day talks AhoI
the bearing OF women. At the tin
that Mr.. Henry James novels We
believed by some people to have ce
tain amount of interest all the womf
in them were 'Htanding round" i
niade them stand and stand, with occ
eioually the privilege OF leaning on
mautashelf until thoy fell into matr
mony because they were no tired. NOT
Ouida very complaceutly and We
kindly, too, let's her heroines re
among piles Of cushions, while Il
heroes bring to them good things
eat and drink. In reality they a
thoroughly at their ease Miss Bra
don had rather an inclination that wa
too, Though her majestic young wom
occasionally got up and walked aero
the room and served somebody wi
tea and SO displayed their I'VE
shaped hands and flashing rings.
The Duchess invariably made all h
young women wave large feather fan
which calls for certain amount
muscular strength, and then she US
to let them ''sway" wherever IN
might be going.