Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-03-02
"PORTIA'S" Now YORK LETTER

heaviest goloshes, rs we were last
week, how very grotesgue it seemed to
sec the shop windows arrayed in sprig
ged muslins, sheer hatiste and lowered
cottons. What shiver it does give
one. And then like every other woman
within sight we press our ruby noses
against the frosty window pane, forget
the ICY air about us, grow oblivious to
the sleigh bells iargling by, and
imagine ourselves under sultry skies,
bare-headed, uniacketed and daintily
cnstumed this or that fairy creation.
Whether these summary exhibits
slammed the atmosphere or whether
the weather man got in league with
the shopkeepers, don't know, but
nevertheless l like to look at these
printed muslins such as Martha Wash
ington wore, and dainty colored fabrics
such as belonged to Marie Antoinette
ut Trianon. She is wise woman who
buys now, she can get first choice, and
spend lot of time selecting way to
make up her summer gown.
Everywhere you go the sheath skirt
oonfronts you, and it will remain the
thing even in thin goods. That re-
minds me that not one-half of the
women who are wearing the sheath
skirt give enough thought to the pet.
ticoat. Last years petticoat wont do
at all. 1t is absolutely necessary that
ones petticoat should fit MS smoothly
and snugly over the hips as the dress
skirt. Some women wear tights under
their gowns, but this is scarcely u
dainty idea and does not appeal to me.
Neither do silk skirts please me. They
never seem thoroughly clean. A gar
ment that comes in such intimate con-
tact with the filth of the street should
be on equally intimate terms with the
wash-tub. Fashions may come and
fashions may go but, like Tennyson's
Brook" the white petticoat will go
on forever with dainty women.
The most notable change in fashions
is in the sleeves. They seem to
diminish visibly. Redfern is making
cloth ones to fit like those in mans
coat. All fashions are for slender
women; the "hippy woman" isn't
in il.
Winter gowns for Florida are more
elaborate than ever. Braiding is used
on everything, and as for spangles, the
rage for them is so increasing that the
up-to date belle dressed for show occa-
sions looks like the little gold fish that
'.glit Gilt glitters.'' Jewels are worn
indiscriminately even milady of mil
lions has no scruples about wearing
mock ones. She wears three or four
chains, and pins and rings galore. In
the evening everyone is crowned with
jewels, and when l look at some of the
poor wallhowers think of that apt
quotation Uneasy lies the head that
wears a Crown A tiara is becoming
to few women; it gives most of them a
rakish appearance. Flat bands or rings
L.
Hat bands studded have a dernier cri,
but they must be worn by woman
who looks like a saint. However it is
easier to look like saint than to be
one so the velvet bands will be worn.
Indeed, speaking of jewelry, never
since we have called ourselves civilized
have we gone so daft over them. 1t
seems as il women cannot get too many
rings on their fingers The love women
have for rings is as old as the hills.
You remember the story of Solomon's
ring, which he left on a shelf when he
went into battle, and -Amina, one of
his wives, stole it The devil tlattered
her, knowing what wins most women,
and got her to give it TO him and
throw it in the sea. You know the rest
: of the story, how a fish swallowed it,
how a fisherman caught the fish, found
the ring and gave il TO Solomon.
There are SO many fish stories, so
many stories where rings, women and
fish seem TO go together. have often
wondered if the apple in the Garden OF
Eden didn't have diamond ring
hanging to it.
But to come down from jewels to
gowns, and rainy day gowns at that, /
am delighted to see that our women are
L. -, -,
/ think this recent dreadful blizzard
and thaw has done as much to deYelol
this feminine fad as anything else.
During the past few days the streets
have been filled with fitting figures
trinity clad in short skirts, plainest OF
coats and stout boots. 1t has given .
passing note Of novelty to the streets
1t takes a snow like the recent one, oil
a heavy rain, to emphasize the uttel
Inconvenience, unheaithiness, and in
appropriateness of the long skirt fol
women on stormy days.
But women must remember that the
short skirt must hang absolutely cor
rect, no sagging. If it must be bi
shorter in one place than another, IL
il be in the back. This will give
more graceful effect than any othe
defect can. 1t must be very smootl
over the hips and not too full an,
place.
Then, ali, ye graceful Atlantas, Y,
must learn to walk well. Nothin
shows an ungainly walk so soon a
the short skirt. Walk from the hips
walk smoothly. Practice the custom 0
the italian and Southern women, VIII
carry heavy burdens on their head
and yet walk about as easily an
llthely as sylphs. Keep the feet we
together and the effect of the short
skirted woman will be a pleasing sight
1t is impossible TO manipulate a
umbrella, packages and dress Skin
1t the same time, and so sufterin
feminity was compelled TO wade throue
the slush with bedraggled skirts dang
ling round her ankles that threatene
both the pocketbook and the healt
until few determined members of til
fair sex started out, not ashamed {
the fact that they had legs and ankles
and decided that they must show then
1t was better to show them neatly dor
up in leggings or high shoes than /
now and then give peep of an il
congruous silk stocking, or dragqe
French heel through a too highly u
lifted skirt.
A long reign to the short Skin
They can't make woman look home
il she has her ankles neatly dresses
In fact, few things can make a woma
look homely; as gallant Southern
once said, mo woman of my mother
sex could be homely; some women m,
be better looking than another, but |
woman homely.'' Like the Ke
tuckian's idea of whisky, ''Sou