The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-07-22

Paris. July 1--tspecial Correspondence
OF The Post)-Loitering along the Rue
Rivoli any pleasant day one sees the most
exquisite costumes. Yet 1t is q fact that
the mind wanders away from the styles.
away from rufne and truck and insertion,
into 9 contemplation OF the enchanting
materials from which these costumes are
made.
That which at first appeared to consist
OF row after row of silk and lace, care
fully Joined and aterated with bands OF
satin. proves to be. upon closer ins2ec
lion, a fabric, woven in one piece; and
bought by tho yard for the fashioning OF
handsome gowns. Sometimes the ap-
pearanoe will deceive you. and it is only
uopn actually passing the fingers over
the fabric that you can detect the differ
enee between applique and woven goods,
between insertion and cunningly cut and
stamped goods.
II is as II the manufacturers OF all ma
lions had suddenly awakened to the pos
sibili,ies Of machinery. aud were deyot-
ing their entire time and labor 10 the re-
production Of elegant fabrics Useless nov
the modiste's art. idle the EMBROIDERY
needle, for the goods can he purchased
by the yard for less cost than a single
hand width could be worked and the
whole is immeasureably more elegant and
chic.
The painted muslns, the embroidered
ehiffons. and the metll appliques are the
substitutes in goods that are shown b.
the yard.
One instance OF this will show the ex-
tent to which the art of manufacture has
been brought. Into the very center Of
piece Of pearl grey cashmere was woven
lace figure. The figure was repeated
at intervals Of few inches. making an
exceedingly rich goods. BY this art the
necessity for applique with the cutout
work underneath was entirely o5ylated,
and the rsult was even better
But these goods are unfortunately ex-
pensiye. Instead Of being for the want
ing many. they are for the fortunate
few. From 50 to IS per yard they run.
and no one can accuse a S fabric. nor
a 81 one for that matter, o. being cheap.
when applied to the making Of a summer
gown. with It's perishableness and its
snort life. AS the season advances, The
gown fades In color. It's material a
comes Inappropriate !ts weight made
q1ste. and with the hrst kaen Of Septem-
her 1t IS dead-dead as the leaves upon
the trees.
With winter gown It is different:
and a dress we'll selected as 70 color ami
material can be carried through several
seasons without becoming an antique
II is on account OF the shor, life OF the
new summer fabrics and their expense,
that the modistes have devised clever
little ways Of Initiating The more costly
materials. The SILK muslns for exam
pie, which come lnlaid with punches aad
sprays OF flowers, are nicely simulated
at home by sewing SILK sprays over a
silk muslin or It's cheaper limitations.
To avoid much needlework these sprays
need not be placed close together, but
can be set some Inches apart. not more
than two being needed for The back o
bodice and only four for the shire,
front The skirt can have a spray ap
plidued here and there at Irregular IN
tervals.
The most elegant rlqle come with laig,
polka dots embroidered in silk. The dol
are o. different sizes, and OF various
colors, ell shades bling seen upon on
dress. Pique Of this description Is *
peDslv'. but. II The dots ara embrolderc
By hand, the work is rot nearly 50 dea
nor IS Il as ditf 'ult. Even satin applique
that most expensive OF ell fabrics, eau D
initiated
The satin applique consists OF a sati
design brought ou' uror white back
ground. Stripes and flowers are usej
Bat an ir'iotion satin antique can b,
made by 1ppliQuing oEtin stripes upon
plain t1ffeta background, and by ap
pllauine satin flowers-which have bee
cut cut Of old bits Of matcrial-to tn
white ground
1t Is lot OF work, grant you, IN. IN
gowns OF today are by no mela5 plai