The evening times., 1899-07-20
FEMIEINE ExTRAvAGANCE.
The Influence Of American Luxur.
ON English Women in Lnte Years.

OH IiSh omen III A4-te
G.ady GreviIc in the London Teiegraph.)
When our gracious Queen came TO the
throne a decided stand was made against
extravaganza. With the advent OF railways
and increased means OF locomotion habits
changed. Ladies ceased to inmerss them
selves in housekeeping when they lad once
tasted Of pleasure. or course ladies chang
ed too. Fragile, beautiful creatures, ex-
ouisitely dressed, appeared soma ten or if
teen years ago, hailing FROM America,
clothed in the latest Partisan garb and
daintily coifed by the French artists.
Their faces were pretty, their manners
easy, their tongue glib. Society sUccumb-
ed. The girls received their batteries with
gracious smiles; they were rich, they knew
| the value of clothes, and they came pre-
pared to have a good time" Then the
/ hearts OF the frugal matrons who had hith-
| erto contented themselves with one Sunday
and a couple of week day gowns whose
| dinner dresses lasted sometimes two or
| three years lone lady, the mother of a
| grown-up family, prided herself On still
wearing the black velvet of her trousseau
| and looking well liz it,, and whose daugh-
| ters dressed mGdestly in white tarletan
| waxed sad and consulted together The
| result was, frowns OF the fathers and hts
| bands, discomfort, occasionally debt. But
| the Englishwomen were patriotic and felt
! it their duty not to be outdone by Yankee
| millionaires.
| Presently another invasion hove in sight;
| this time of hairdressarS and millinsrs
| manicures and massuers. Like swarm
| of hornets descended upon US a multitude
| of fashion papers. varying in price from
one shilling TO a halfpenny. The miIIiuers
who. with the wisdom OF the serpent, had
| inaugurated this great revolution pros
pered and became rich. When dress was
| tight and scanty il was ruincusly expen-
siye: when it grew full and flowing 1t must
be proportionately dear. The stage shows d
itself great moral factor in the education
| of society, and dressed up to the models
| The most Insignificant woman now pos
sesses a tiara. the poorest assiduously cop
les the latest and most expensive Paris
| fashion. and everyone change them with
| the season. Tea-sowns have become giori-
| fed ball dresses. and ball dresses are be-
| gemmed like court suits. Imagination runs
| riot; velvet and laces. fur and chiffon.
pearls and morning robes and blended to-
| gether in curious confusion.
| After the dresses came the houses. Wo-
men needed a background. The environ
| ment of life forms complete study Dull
| curtains, ugly carpets. hard sofas scarcely
appealed TO luxurious pleasure-loving vo-
| men. An artistic room, as described BIZ
| William Morris containing only a large
| bookcase filled with books, a strong table
a lounge, and a few chairs, failed 10 sat
| isfy them. That would have been Spar
| tan only, and the modern woman is a
| sybarite. French furniture, at tip-top
prices. not always genuine, must be
| bought, the love for art cultivated in the
shape of fine brocades, expensive pictures,
| china and a multitude of silver Grna-
| ments. Women wear gold and jeweIed
| purses at their waists. and hang them
| selves with pearl and diamond chains.
Hothouse flowers scent the air of rooms,
electric light plays the part of sunshine
Luxury has increased; it has crept in
everywhere-in the clubs. the restaurant.
| the boudoir. even the stables-until the
| love of it has become an engrained part
Of wOmen's nature