The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-15
HER ILLUSTRATED ACCOUNT BOOK
One woman's Way Of Keeping q Record OF
the Gowns She Wears.

One Womans Way Of Keeping q Record of
the Gowns She Wears.
When one has the artistic soul there are many
ways In which 1t may find expression besides
painting hangings. Ono clever woman gives
this talent full rein in her personal account book
Not only the cost Of clothing herself is therein
tered. but a beautiful water-color sketch is made
of every important gown that she possesses For
a long time her gowns have been greatly admired
and among her friends il Is generally known that
she designs them herself, and does much of the
embroidery and bead-work that gives them such
q costly appearance Often she has been heard
TO say: THAT gown cast me Just $50; could not
have had II made at ono OF the importers for less
than $500"
The first gown that this woman designed was
the one she wore at her wedding. At this time
also she began TO keep her account book. She
called II starting fresh" II then seemed TO her
quite natural. along with the account Of the gown
to make sketch of it as worn by herself Her
veil and coronet OF orange blossoms, her fan. bou-
quot slippers and In fact everything that she
wore on that day she accurately sketched on the
page next to the one with the figure of the bride
Following comes the page of expenses and here
not the smallest item is overlooked. Just how
much time was by her expended. and how often
the gown was worn are also recorded.
The next illustration in the book is her going
Of lis noticeable features. II is revealed BY the
page OF costs that it was made Of two fox skins
which were bought in Canada at the astonish-
ingly low price Of So, Tho lining was entered at
S2.I5, and the stufiing at thirty cents The
up IS. IS. II was twisted into shape by the girls
own nimble fingers Another costume entered
in the book is Of orange satin and it is also record
ed that il had upon 1t 002 spangles.
For four years now the book has been faith
fully kept 1t has In II 100 stunning costumes.
Hats slippers OF mony shapes, buckles and hair
ornaments have within its pages all found place.
Every new piece Of jewelry and lace is also most
artstcally represented on square OF black back
ground up in one corner.
The book Is really a most interesting chron.
icler Of the changes in fashion that have swept
us in 30 short a time. Should this lady
smile upon her grandchildren, II would be
to them a book Of interest Each one Of the water
Colors is In itself work Of art and the gowns
mark periods in history quite as well as those we
in the very expensive costume books that
have come down TO us from the time Of Louis
NV.
Although the loss OF color would be consider
able. il is quite feasible for those that not
artistic 10 carry out tho scheme by the Of photo
graphs Much Of the effect Of the gowns would
be preserved and tho path Of fashion surely
followed The mere idea of illustration OF an
account book, however, is ono that makes tho
task pleasure
The particular account book that has been
referred 70 Is large with pages Of fine water color
paper IL Is Handsomely bound and has in
scribed upon the outside the name Of its owner.