The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-16


more apt TO take the form OF bonnet
for the "bonne femme" then than now.
Still women are not relinquishing the
right TO exercise this peculiar preroga-
tive. but have INDUCED their tastes In
accordance with their purses. but with
this difference: The Easter hat and
dress will not flock on the accustomed
day, but will have made their debut
Palm Sunday to obviate the transgres-
sion OF new social rule.
Judging from the dresses being sent
home from the smart shops for what
will always be termed Easter wear"
variety will not be lacking. One saw
OF violet cloth was an excellent exam
pie of the cut out cloth guipure which
Is pre-eminently popular. A deep band
bordered the skirt. under which could
be seen light blue panne. A bolero,
with sleeves similarly treated was 10 he
worn over pale violet chiffon bodice
all over tucked. A picture hat of tus-
can straw was provided. and on IL were
a scarf and fioppy bows of blue and big
punches of purple grapes.
Another charming model in dull blue
foulard demonstrated a new use for
lace. The entire skirt was OF coarse
cotton imitation cluny lace and stitched
on Il were narrow bands of the silk cut
I'm pyramid form. The point started at
the belt line. and each strip grew broad
er as II proceeded footward until IL
spread out into an enormous flowing
fiounce little less generous than II IL
were accordion plated. A big blue hat
of fine straw, shaped precisely like
leghorn flat. low crown and all. was
dressed i'm three fitted fiounces OF chif-
fon two inches wider than the brim.
These fell Imply over the edge like
border Of lace. This Is q millinery
freak but. strange 10 say, IL Is one OF
the most becoming and fascinating hats
yet exhibited. Ii belongs TO the sim
plicity" headgear cult and doesn't for
get 10 live up to its costly traditions.
Some OF the skirts seen were shirred
into points back and front This is a
pretty style for slim women, as the
chiefest fullness springs into being over
the hips, where IL is In most Instances
needed. Robe dresses which show dot
ted or lined borders viii be much I'm EVIL
dence. though such decided novelties are
usually short lived. Canvas weaves in
cotton and wool are enjoying vogue.
and lace and black velvet ribbon are
largely employed in their construction.
Flowers are always beautiful. and es-
pecially is this true at Easter time.
Figures are sometimes eloquent. as, for
instance. when one gathers them with
regard 10 New York's flower supply. In
spite Of the wealth of blossoms that
crowd shop windows and the hands OF
sidewalk vendors, il gives a faint thrill
OF surprise to hear that New York city
receives within the seven months that
IL. N
600 roses, $50. 600 600 violets and 5.0O0.-
600 carna tions, not to mention the loads
and loads OF other blossoms. A single
rose grower sends in more than 500, 900
choice blossoms: another man has IL
acres under glass for violets Flowers
come mere for sale from points several
hundred miles away. Altogether the
volume OF business runs between s3,000,-
600 and IS, 600, 900 year.
But there is much more in the flower
trade than the merely commercial side
OF Il, In the matter of orchid growing
alone there is a deal OF daring explora-
tion. More than one firm of orchidists
has expeditions forever afeld securing
tropic widernesses and mountain
steppes for new species. Often such a
party comprises $50 people--haif doz-
en- white men. the rest native hunters
whose woodland skill is turned 10 track
ing flowers i'm place OF beasts. The ex-
p'orers must be men OF parts and cour-
age since, aside from the direction OF
affairs and the Drawing OF many dan
gers. they must note understandingly
every particular of original situation
write IL out and attach IL TO the speci-
mems gathered. in order that the grower
may, so far as possible, duplicate the
conditions.
Thus il happens that in a great orchid
establishment you may step from
house hot and humid as the Amazon
valley into one that is relatively almost
frigid. In each you see strangely beau
tiful blossoms. unlike in everything save
i'm their common unlkeness TO every
other manner OF plant. And IL gives a
new scale of values To see a long. bios
SONY spray Of the most ravishng blue
and To be told carelessly that when cut
that particular bit of bloom will fetch
easily $50. and. further. that the plant
itself Is valued at $500. But that Is not
so amazing as to have your guide stop
with bated breath before a slipper shap-
ed. "greenery gallery" flower borne