Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-07
BECKY SHARP AS
A FASHION LEADER
THE heart Of the real BECKY sharp-

HE heart of the real Becky Sharp
the baleful eyed little heroine Of
Thackeray's immortal book would
swell with pride could she hear the
words of admiration that greet her APP
pearance daily on the stage OF the Fifth
Avenue theater in Gotham. The excla-
nations of approval emanate from
members Of Becky's own sex, which IL
the more remarkable, considering the
fact that Thackeray's Rfbecca was
by no means beloved Of her own
kind. This admiration, however, is
largely due to the skill Of the
designer in fitting the pretty wo-
men of Mrs. Fiske's company with be-
coming costumes and may be ascribed
to the popularity Of the empire or Geor-
gian fashions in this country at the
present time. I,
The success OF the costumes in any
play depends more than is generally
believed on the carriage and appear
ance Of the actresses. One notable thing
about the Fiske company is that the
women wear their clothes as II they
were used to them. as IL they. were ac-
customed to dine in silk and gems. and
as il lace had long since lost Its novelty
for them.
The bewitching Becky makes her APP
pearance In the first act In a gown that
is a distinct success. Evidently Miss
Sharp understands the moral signif-
canoe of the gospel OF clothes, for the
sweetly simple garment OF gray which
she wears upon her plump body and the
quaint bonnet of decorous gray upon
her naughty little head are az obtru-
sively dovelike and innocent as can be
imagined. They are distinctly fetch
ing, and one can readily understand
the infatuation and trust OF the
ardent Rawdon, to say nothing OF
Sir Pitt, Pitt junior and a host OF
lesser devotees. In her role Of the
modest. clinging vine Rnbecea real
ICES, as have many females before and
since, that the apparel doth not only oft
proclaim the woman. but the resource
full woman may make 1t proclaim what
ever she chooses.
The high turban OF the aristocratic
and unamiable Miss Crawley, for ex-
ample. gives an air OF great dignity
and hauteur to that wicked old spin
ster's head. What boon 1t would be
to many ladies Of our own period
whose top hair is beginning to be a tri-
fie thin and discolored! The turban
might be made q most effective instru-
ment in expressing states Of mind. In
an encounter with ones interiors Il Is
set high aloft on the head, every fold
inflated to express dignity and superb
GRITTY; gracefully and moderately nd
justed, 1t stands to meet ones friends
and equals; tremulous and agitated, It
expresses deep emotion, while, erected
high and menAcinR II prOclaims that
an enemy Is to be called to account.
So. on the whole, the fippancy Of the
bird Of paradise plume on Miss Craw-
ley's headdrecs imparts the touch Of
chic malevolence necessary to repre-.
sent the character OF this terrible old
woman. S
The simple Amelia seems to have q
penchant for pallid blues; they express
admirably her wishy washy character.
Her bonnets. her gowns and the long,
pointed shawl she wears draped over
her shoulders when she comes to call
upon Rebecca at the aristocratic home
Of Miss Crawley are quite as lacking In
individuality as her poor, simple little
self. Il
But 1t is in the ballroom scene that
one notes the real charm OF the empire
fashions with which Parisian modistes,
as we'll as American ones, assure uo
that we are to be blessed for several
months at least. Gowned in the gar
ments Of Josephine's court, the flower
Of English beauty and chivalry are sup
posed to be gathered at the Duchess OF
Richmond's ball, and among these brill
liant DANES the Hon. Mrs. Rawdon
Craw1ey nee Shnrn anuanra tho ynnak