Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-11
II ! ELLEN OSBORN's


Copyright. 1899. by John Rrisbcn walker)
Special Corresp, ndence Of The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, February 10. 1899.
Good for Miss Colgate.
1t is necessary for women. as for sheep,
o. have a leader.
Independence Of thought is even less COM
mon in a republic than elsewhere. One
American woman being good as another,
if not a little better she who rides in
street car is not to be surpassed in dress
b. an upstart in carriage
1t follows that the mania for long skirts
has played worse havoc in the United
States than anywhere else on the globe.
London and continental cities have cheap
cabs. The value of the velvet. silk, fine
cloth. fur. lace and embroidery destroyed
this winter 10y dragging over wet crossings
or along rough pavements would go far
toward feeding the citys poor.
The Rainy Daisies are good Americans.
They preach short skirts and wear long
ones
As reforme-s. Rainy Daisies are-not use
less. but Of moderate value. The daughter
of the new Countess of Stafford will lead
more sheep over the wall. We love ladies
and lords.
When the titled lady who was Mrs. Sam
uel J. Colgate sent for her daughter Adele
to present her in London drawing rooms,
that young lady took with her from New
York notable wardrobe. One of its fea-
lures was street gOwn-not rainy day
EOwn-whoSe skirt just comfortably COW
cred the boot tops. Pity its to be worn
in London. not here.
Such a dress merits description. The ma
terial was dark blue broadcloth braided
down every seam and about the hem. The
tabled jacket was nearly covered with
braid A sable collar and muf and sable
toque with white feathers completed the
costume.
What the daughter of the Countess of
Stafford can wear perhaps in time even Il
Rainy Daisy may find possible. Meanwhile
long skirts, if possible, grow longer.
Hind Side Before.
BeIlamy would have considered.
If he had known that because of Look
ing backward" he must name the most
freakish dance of the century he might
have held his pen. The boy who said that
1899 seemed like 1900 chopped down to
bargain price was not so far wrong. AL
most anything is good enough to finish out
the century.
The Bellamy dance. performed backward
with the hair dressed over the face and
masque worn behind, corresponds famous
ly with the new mode in dress, which de-
mands that the skirt fasten in front and
the bodice at the back. Masque and hair
dressing. in fact, only carry out the prom
Use of the twisted costume. leaving the
fashionable dancer completely turned
around
Truth claims the admission that the new
skirts are So tight it makes little difference
where they faSten; but to waists, while
women with maids may be indifferent. for
the rest Of US there are in prospect much
writing and wrggling.
The Braided Girl.
She is the most conspicuous young per-
son in town
The girl who is braided is distinctly one
of the spring novelties. In a sense, Miss
Colgate was a braided girl. but her street
dress diu not compare with some of the
early importations. which are crowded with
black, white, green. blue, mauve or shaded
silk braidS.
Fashion is insatiate. it demands quanti-
~. Hundreds of yards go TO a skirt, scores
and hf1ies To bodice or sleeves.
The designs are labyrinthne Large and
small patterns. paSSementerie effects and
lace effects are tossed together and mex
tricably blended. II is the braid ,Iat con-
stitutes the dress. the cloth is but an in
conspicuous background.
The craze for embroidery is responsible;
the new braided trimmings are really en-
broideries in braid.
Sleeves are covered from shoulder to
wrist BOdices and jackets are covered.
Skirts are latticewOrkS of braid. Among
the most effective examples are delicate
gray cloth street and reception costumes
covered with white or mauve, or white
and mauve braid.
Grip Gowns.
While the fever lasts the victim of influ-
enza may resign other cares; but In the
long days of convaIescence the grip gown
has its innings. Perhaps its charms pro-
tract the period Of Iassitude, of the receipt
Of sympathy.
The grip gown partakes Of the tea gown
and the r-glige. but in the hands Of an
artist II has special characteristics. 1t is
not allowed TO be so festive as the tea