The times., 1899-12-17


began with expressions Of sympathy and
opinions on the Boer war and there was
some danger Of bitter words and serious
controversies arising between the pro-
Dutch contingent and few enthusiastic
Anglo maniacs present The hostess. how
ever poured oil on the troubled waters
by asking Maisie's opinions concerning
a nice material for an an around house
gown.
Now, Maisie is bit of an Anglo maniac;
her brothers sister-in-law married last
year the fourth cousin of a baronet. and
with tule turbaned head proudly erect
and flashing eye she was about to deliver
very tart retort. defending the British
claims when the hostess seemingly limo
cent remark turned the point of her anger
into a smile of pleased and diverted in
terest
Why for my part replied The Up
holder OF the British aristocracy. II think
there is nothing like cameTs hair. if your
gown is for real service as wen as beauty"
Just what I was going TO say, TOO.
cordially broke in Mrs Van Knicker-
booker who really knows more Of the
qualities Of camel's hair than OF Boer
wrongs and British rights. For wear
there simply is nothing like the new
camels hair goods The shops are showing
this winter. ] am quite Wild to have one
Of those new gentian blue satin faced
camel's hair cloths that are made of
weight particularly adapted for indoor ser
vice and TO trim it as / saw an ideal little
nock worn by Mrs Herman OeIrichs.
Tell us about ii. demanded Maisie,
Complacantly observing her reflection IN
q long mirror across me room and afrec-
lionately adjusting her tulle and Sc
auined headgear.
The skirt was quite simple 0rnanented
with a few lines OF stitching that pjuched
up the goods in fine ridges thai are some
times called tucks. complied The visitor
from New York. 4 took care 10 observe
that The box pleajs at the back OF the skirt
were stitched down fiat and hrm TO the
skirt itself SO that an the fuliness they
made cld not appear as high as the hip
region 10 thereby create q heavy bung-
ling expression. The waist was the dear
est, simplest and most becoming little
affair imaginable. tucked like he skirt on
he fronts, but opening over the bust 10
reveal q small butloned vest OF cream
white French flannel White silk covered
ball buttons held these fronts together
and then up near the throat there TUNED
back, from a yoke of white "a series Of
shallow crescent shaped reverse Of plaid
SIX. ana tapping one over aEotgeT- Dark
blue was the background OF his Highland
plaid on which stripes Of lighter blue.
cream white, and pale yellow crlss-crossed
Enclosing The base Of the small yoke
these rerers then lei run line Of color
down between the blue and white of the
vest and on the cuns touch Gf plaid
gave 9 piquaut effect 10 the sleeve Take
% All in all ] have not seen more satis-
factory little home gown than this The
eentian blue thai s0Ius Of us cali bIuette
and some OF us peFveuche. in imitation of
{ a. French. is by all odds the most fash
lonable color for house dresses his season
"a I have met one I've-7--eJ Ten women hold
ing committee meetings. giving luncheons
oF having morning lectures ID their draw
lng-rooms, and every one in some shade
81 Diue-uoW and then my eyes have been
refreshed hy the sight Of a blue gown Trim
med with THAI neW sOutaghe braid .bsf has
an edging thread woven in il OF gilt or
silver or white, and liked the consequence
ot Ns application very much
Well. DO sou know. confessed The
hostess witb delicately HegretuI sigh
That my heart really and truly goes our
70 tea gown-a genuine tea gown 4 thing
aA trailing clouds OF tinted spauzla-de- I
dewed glory but my husband hates Tea
gown
All men DO. my dear. solemnly aver
red Mrs. Van hnickerbocker They don't
understand them. Tney never have ana 1
They never VIII The charm. The grace /
the fragile elusive poetry Of q Tea rov1 /
ls one 0i those qualities no man has ever /
eenBIehendea. To man a tea gown
p . cross between The peiguoir and a lalI 1
dress a curious hybrid thing in he grss 1
enoe OF which be is not quite -4re ,ybatb.-.
70 feel duly embarrassed or convention /
any awe struck Therefore he compromises
by being mlserably uncomfortable. and IN
consequence no dutifuI sensible wife ever
wears one in the presence of her lord.
That Is where We lovely spiusters fnd
2 few drops OF comfort ia our isolated
state, c0Oed Maisie. now thoroaghly re-
stored % good humor. we can live be-
1ond, not 10 speak Of above. masculine I
prejudice, and today my newest Tea gown I
came from the hands of the sewing girl Z
who made il every stitch for m- IN +ba
house, and the whole thing cost me pricz
you would refuse 10 believe il ] gave IL
70 you. Vow picture 10 yourself 8 long
loose flowing thing. Of the s0fiaef willow {
green, began Maisie. rising 10 display
her brown EowueG figure 10 the c0.etaans
gaze OF the Two ea-gowniess mafreue -Tr !
ls green because woman who has inst
arrived from The other side tells me that
The eiegautes Iu Faris who can Law any
claim al ali 10 youthfulness are WearfDsr
The april tints oi greens The idea Is
eharmingly symbolieal. ard so Z purchased
my green robe in silk warp Henrietta
which you know IS as luscious in its folds
as the more expensive and Himsy crepe
DC cnine over which women make such
a bother and Big bills
Aly sleeves are cut exactly on the pat
tern used for shaping those Of an Epis-
copaI clergymaD's white robe though 10
closely ht my arms are inner sleeves Of
gathered green chiffon. There Is an ac-
Gordon pleated front OF chiffon bcuil-
lones OF il run round the skirt Of he robe,
2 Tucked yoke of il fills in the throat at
back and front, while the dominating note
of contrast is an arrangement OF Liberty
satin stoles with fringed ends that pass
narrowly over either shoulder and running
through buckles Of cut steel drop their
wide friuged ends nearly TO the floor
These great shoulder sashes are OF a
darker green than the gown itself and faced
Hith cream white china siiE and. il I
say it myself, it is the dearest thing in
tea gowns I've seen in twelve month"
i am SO glad dear murmurad the
hostess and though ] should love TO
have green Tea gown or a blue house
dress like a duuful wife ] ann going otter
al 10 chose grey. You see George has q
great liking for grey. though he doesn't
know it,"
Then how on earth" began Naisie
inn rising eyebrows
DO ! know he likes it2r asked the hos
tess Oh that E quite easy ne proposed
10 me one day when ] wore for the drst