Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-16
Evolution of Style as Shown in the
Palais du Costume.
QUAINT CUSTOMS OF BYGGaE DAYS
One of the Most Interesting Sights
at the Big Fair.
LIFELIKE REPRODUCTIONS

special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
PARIS, June Z, 1900
The lights burn low in the Palais du Cos
tune. Coming from the noisy sunlight Of
the Champ de Mars the visitor is moved by
the serenity and almost religious peace OF
the vast central hall, whose paiace-ilke
proportions loom up vaguely. As We stood
beside the Baths OF Julian We came to I'M
derstand how sentiments of reverence and
wonder should be raised by mere wax
works show. No such waXworhs ever be
fore were seen. The art of the modeler
the scene painter, the stage manager. the
historian the archaenlo-ist, the collector
the historical romancer and the portrait
painter are employed together not only 10
illustrate the history of costume but TO
bring back the daily life of bygone CEN
turtles.
Apart from the central hall, whose height
In the dim twilight lends TO the interior a
FIRST architectural impressiveness. the
Palais runs to rather narrow galleries CIR
cling round and round. Great square holes
IN the wall III intervals present the wax
work tableaux. Those of the central nall
the baths, the Roman atrium and an tgyp-
tian scene-iutrUduce the subject Hat
way up the winding stairway the great
scene of the byzantine empress receiving
the afternoon calls of her chief mobiles and
rather hastily. TO the middle ages by way
of a ainte-Clotiide teueen Of Cows Civ
ing aims at day break in Gepresslnely bat
tered old doorway to a group of the most
wretchedly clad. grovel!nG peasants ever
Imagined by & stage coStumer.
The Egyptian scene is the more effective
when 1t IS known that the garments are the
actual ones recently dug up III great
archaeological find" The visitor looks
into a windowIeSS square Stone room, dim
ly lit from rude stone dep"rway at the
lett. A snake charmer-lfesize IN wax IKE
all the others, excepting only the fair
nudes Of the Ciallu-Roman baths-is seen
putting wicked, stubby customer through
his evoutiOns for the delect&;ion of four
Egyptian ladies, seemingly Of the lower
middle class. three Of whom seem 10 nave
dropped In for a friendly gossip. The lady
of the house, reclining on a curious W.chtr-
work lounge 1alSo declared to he authentic
displays come neat embroidery The en-
broidery is real Egyptian. from tomb
And one cannot help falling into day
dream. with perhaps one of those strange
reminiscent shocks, as If the shadow of a
recollection Of some scere exactly Ike this
fitted past subconSc.ousntss of many
centuries ago. when We We're there.
Reminiscent Shock.
1 have heard this reminiscent shock. with
which the mind struggles vainy TIL it dis
appears spoken 0f by half dozen visitors.
If one can remember himself Of The
visitors 70 the Byzantine empress the re
grei for his changed circumstances must be
poignant. 1t is the greatest scene of the
whole SHOW. great stpn@-vaulted throne
room, long and narrow, with many broad
Steps leading Up to the imperial canopy.
There Stands Theodore or EJ!GoX.a "a. stiff in
her l--n!bToidered draperies, her arms
proudly CutstreJCheu as Il TO bless or re-
assure The -rcnbliag Cuurtie-S, who crawl
UP to her, bent nearly double, some bump
Ing the steps with their foreheads. 1.nrse
costumes are magnificent, all sewn with