Evening star., 1899-03-11

sheath-shaped skirt may be adapted to the
pettfeoat by making il a trife narrower
about the bottom. Elsewhere it could not
be narrower than 1t is. But at the foot
there are always ruff1es to hold it out, as
something must support the narrow cling
ing skirt with its trailing lengths in order
that its hampered wearer may be enabled
to put one foot before the other. The very
latest ruffie is accordion plated and is half
yard deep. 1t is pinked on the edge and
often caught UP with festoons of bright
ribbons 1t is claimed that this looping up
makes the trimming wear longer Certain
ly something of the sort is needed, for ac-
contemplated taffeta silk has a genius for
cutting. The corded ruffles which are SO
pretty and look so substantial are said to
wear very badly indeed, so when plated
ruffles are not used the trimming is usually
wide f1ounce with fiat hem and several
clusters of narrow tucks. Deep graduated
1ounces. covered in their turn by narrow
ruffles, are used by tail or slender women
on their silk petticoats.
China Silk Wears Rest.
Economical women, to whom a silk skirt
is delightful and desirable luxury not
lightly to be acquired or to be replaced
when it succumbs to the cuts and Sits
which make tafTeta so short lived, have
discovered that lining their silk skirts with
a soft and fine quality of lining makes them
wear twice as long as they otherwise would
do. Fortunately for our purses, rustling
taffeta has fallen more and more into dis
favor during the last year. 1t has not been
left TO the women's clubs alone to protest
against it's disturbing frou frou. Good taste
has pointed out the inconsistency of its
adoption by women who gave up white
starched muslin skirts on account of their
annoying rattle. A soft finish taffeta for
petticoats and Innings has been gaining
ground for some time.
Next summer many graceful, clinging,
trailing skirt will, when daintiiy lifted, show
a petticoat of China silk. China silk is a
most desirable material; 1T wears better
than taffeta and can be washed. 1t can be
trimmed with all sorts of dainty laces, for
enc has the comfort of knowing that when
it is soiled 1t can be put into tub and
be brought out fresh and clean. The use of
elaborate trimmings or of trimmings which
suggest rather regular visits TO laundress
has always seemed questionable taste on a
stiff taffeta petticoat. For the softest of
silks for their summer peticoats women
have hit upon foulard, and we may expect
to see 1t made up in all of its pretty pat
terms and shades and worn under summer
SILKS ana Ssasssv sss'sss Too.
! One of the most Sd hctory petticoats 1
ever beheld was made of pongee in its or
dinary natural shade. The petticoat was
constructed of the remains of a pongee
gown. and it was the most faithful servant
1t was mud-proof and dust-proof, and al
though 1t was not rain-proof, yet 1t only
had to be put in to the wash after a fearful
tussle with a storm to come out fresh and
clean and as new-looking as ever. Pongee,
Ike gros grain silk, is an attribute of every
well-ordered family which has a sartorial
past worth mentioning. And there is no
time like the present for resurrecting any
of that past which has to do with pongee
if one is in need of a silk pettfcoat In fact
now that we have cut loose from our mo-
notonous allegiance to taffeta, and taffeta
alone, We are at liberty to take any old
silk skirt and fashion it into the coveted
silk petticoat. Brocaded silks and satins
are always handsome and always wear
we'll.
The shades of silk one sees made up for
spring petticoats are very gay. The bright
est pinlxs and reds greens of emerald hue
and blues which are anything but pale are
displayed. Stripes have ousted plaids from
favor. Black and red striped petticoats look
amazingly well with the accordion-paaited ,
ruffies described above. As long as silk
Innings to gowns are indulged in the-silk pet
ticoat is a necessity, for silk lining which
would wear well for a season over a silk
petuceat will be cut as If with sharp knives
after few weeks rubbing over moreen
petticoat. 1t must be silk to silk. But there
are excellent substitutes for silk for lining
gowns and there are excellent materials for
fashioning petticoats outside of the product
Of the Industrious silkworm. The silk or
cotton moreens were never made in more
beautiful weaves than they are today, aul
dcoat as wool moreen- One can find them
in soft and gay Roman striped effects which
are really beautiful.
Corsets snd Skirts Match.
Petticoats and corsets to match have been