The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-22

NEW YORK, April 21.-"Masie had on
her green grape trimmed hat and l got
near enough IN the scramble after the
bride left TO take close stock of its mate
rails Her grapes, like all the millinery
fruit this season, were small, pale, ten
der, green things and the whole hat is
lovely. but | hesitate between it and an
admirable coffee bean green straw as to
which was the most attractive at the gath
ering.
Mrs. Van Knickerbocker had been to the
wedding reception around the corner, and
overheated by the close pressing crowds in
the long drawing-rooms and the enthusi-
asm of her interest over the bride and the
fine frocks, sat by an open window IAN
ming and talking. and slipping ice tea.
That coffee bean straw sounds new"
spoke the hostess from her retreat behind
the palms in a delicate sprigged muslin.
so new and fascinating" confessed
Mrs. Van Knickerbocker. that when l got
a chance to struggle through the battal-
ions of friends and relatives at that mar
riage, l walked boldly up TO the girl who
wore the pretty thing and fatty asked her:
Where did you get your hat?' She told me
where, and ! am going to have one just
like it. The straw is loose meshed cane
bottom weave, and in folds and wings and
bows, deliberately trimmed with its own
material 1t takes the form of large bas-
ket tooue; perched skittishly on her blond
ish brown hair that was arranged in
Marie Antonette roll. and with one hand
full OF the brightest, biggest red and black
velvet cherries at the side. IT captured my
fancy. 1t is the first time I've seen those
cherries over here though I've heard they
are out for the season in Paris. There
4, -
sp-inkling in a scrap of foliage now and
then, but the clear scarlet velvet balls are
the notes Of color that invariably attract.
Don't talk to me about things to wear
that are attractive" protested Mrs. Back
Bay, who had drifted in, and half reclined
among the divan cushionE
What has put you into so ungrateful a
frame Of mind, Elizabeth Barrett Back
Bay" enquired Mrs. Van Knickerbocker,
jangling the ice in her long, pale green
goblet.
''Ginghams and such. You see, l take
my cotton things in hand early, for easy
as they sound they are difficult to secure
in perfection unless good deal of time
and pains is expended on them. Some of
my ginghans are not true ginghams at all,
but have a satiny stripe or a birdseye
damask treatment in the weave, which is
pretty and mOdish this year. Down in a
few Of the Shops / found most bewitching
bingham robes folded into boxes. their dec
orative treatment leaning toward the Per-
sian pattern and red or green or mauve.
the invariably predominsting colors. Aside
from these things l saw Bingham embroid-
cry that tickled my fancy greatly and
tempted as you see. on every side | have
gone very deeply into cotton costumes this
spring"
WELL do hurry up and tell us what
form some of these sweet fabrics Will
take" said the hostess from her corner;
''and here is our San Francisco lassie COM
ing in TO sit at your feet and learn"
oh I've a bit of a frock in green. Just
a sunshiny spring leaf green-etoffe de la
saison, as the French call it-and from the
waist down for a distance of at least foot
and half. the skirt is laid in close set hor-
izontal tucks; thence TO the foot it falls
plain, and saving Z space Of a few inches
in front it is all full gathered into the
waist band. My waist has its sleeves COM
pletely tucked. and tucks distinguish the
body OF IL as high as the bust but TO that
point from the neck comes down a lovely
yoke of green Bingham handsomely
embroidered in red Persian figures.
and with two wide bands of the plain goods
running up the yoke and the toque of green
that caps il all. l think. / am sure. I've
the prettiest cotton frock in America this
year
'-Of coure If is, but you canny Yankee