The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-11

NEW YORK, March 10.-"After all, onl
evening al the opera is worth a dozen in
terviews with dressmakers and columns q
the fashion papers. so far as acquiring
realizing sense OF what is really being
worn The hostess leaned back in hei
easy chair and yawned prettily behind her
white fingers on which a galaxy of rings
twinhled like a miniature row Of foot
lights.
ayes. she answered, in reply to an en-
uuiry OF Miss ChicaEoese, seated in peDi-
tents grey at her feet: 81 did so last
night. in spite OF the fact that il is Lent,
and must admit l found myself very much
in continuance in my sin. The cream OF
The monde was there in its bestest bib and
tucker. all in obedience to the dictates OF
reason that says there can be no harm IN
music that is famous for soothing the
savage breast. II it so quickly appeals tc
the furious life, OF course, to the civilized,
highly approciatiye soul it is a spiritual
tonic So / felt il to be as / sat in nay gilt
and crimson brocade chair in a spacious
parterre box and listened with tears in my
eyes to the remorse and reformation Of
Tam hauser.
There was also, admit something
else in my eye occasionally particularly
powerful glass that swept the house; and
/ thrifty took note of what my fellow
woman was wearing. Once in a season /
do dearly love to view the field Of fashion
DER from a parterre box. It may not be
the best point OF vantage for hearing. but
one sees from it everything. and, like the
ancient mariner. ! have a very Teteulive
eye and memory. and what I see I hold.
''Last night | saw bookfuls of entirely
priceless information wholly with regard
to the proper toilette to make after 6
O'Clock" continued the hostess. "All the
ultra-smart women and those well-to-do
also. were wearing embroidered gowns OF
chiffon, liberty silk. or mousseline de sole
draped on satin. or lace pure and simple
on underdresses of soft killed stuff All
OF them wore their hair high with span
gled flowers or wings therein: all wore
short sleeves, long gloves, and, as Tar as
my detective glance went carried their
suede-clad fingers in languid, idle empti-
ness. No fans, no flowers were seen. and
colors were high and clear. else white or
black, wholly undiversifed, gave the re-
quired distinctive expression to the va
rious costumes.
"Now. to get down to particulars, I may
women who took my fancy nightly and
who seemed to me the incarnation Of all
freshness and originality. One Of them
sat In a box not far away from mine with
Mrs. Gould and was radiant in a robe Of
black satin worked in mingled black and
silver spangles, laid so close together from
her shoulders to her knees with no broken
line at the waist that she very nearly re-
sembled some lovely reincarnation Of the
LAMA or a mermaid from the African
coast with the moonlight playing On her
splendid cleaning dusky scales From
the knees down, about her satin shod feet.
fared an accordion pleated flounce that
waved and fiourished in the most beEitch-
ing manner as she passed me in the foyer
hooded and shrouded in black velvet.
'Out Of this cloud with its silver streaks
rose her handsome white shoulders, inno-
cent Of all Jewels save a strap Of brilliants
arching on one shoulder. and between the
hard brilliancy Of the spangles and the
tender whiteness Of her arms and neck
the clever dressmaker had twisted a scarf
OF chiffon at the top Of her bodice. Tong
pearl white gloves and in her hair a couple
OF black tulle wings glistening with silver
spangles brought the details Of the cos
tune up TO the perfectly correct standard
When had satisfied eyes and envy on
this creation my eager gaze royed on to a
perfectly brand new adaptation Of the
princess idea, from the memory Of which
viii get no peace until ! possess in per
haps less costly form an exact reproduc-
ton. The instant my eagle eve rested
upon the gown I marked it as something
entirely out Of the course OF common
things, a new star in the armament Of
fashion. and one that is destined to have
many limitations.
1T was blue. Ny dear. have you any
notion. by the way, that women are given
over wholly 10 blue in one shade or an
other Not waiting a reply. the hostess
hurried on. Blue silk muslin. pleated in
straight lines from shoulder to foot. and
pleated as full as the gauzy goods viii al
low. was the dress proper Upon this went
robe Of Lexeuil lace that covered only
the back. and sides OF the celulean clouds
came forward 10 lap in imitation Of a figaro
Jacket on the bust and let fall one grace
ful lacy figure on either arm and so leave
the whole front of the fr0ck as pure azure
as the skies in June save for a sash OF
cream white stuff that fastened directly in
front and waved its long ends to the wear
er's toes"
Miss Chicagoese. having hardened with
due patience to these rhapsodies. drew her
supple length erect from the stool beside
the tea table and smiled She was wearing
a good grey gown OF zinc col0red bunting.
deliberately embroidered over in grey silk
sprays About the throat and over the bust
appeared touches Of yellow that would
match a daffodirs petal. and she prepared
TO festoon gracefully about her throat a
boa Of ostrich feathers exquisitely tinted in
grey and yellow
'HCw well and how promptly your cos
tunes echo the first motifs Of an approach
ing season" sighed the hostess. 1T viii
be quite a month yet before ! get into one
OF those smart cloth or grenadine en-
broidered frocks. conscious as l am that
they are the great and prominent feature
OF the present moment. At the opera I saw
my first love in an embroidered evening
gown. worn by one Of the sweetest debu-
tantes Hers was a pale ecru liberty satin.
worked 60 that mysterlously lovely ribbon
embroidery in the same tint. with just a
coral bead and a few threads Of a cream
light showing among the ribbon flow
ers here and there. The lovely robe was
dropped upon an undcrdress of coral pink
chiffon and coral pink velvet finished the
top Of her square cut bodice to the most
becoming perfection
Tt must have been IMPRESSIVE" a5-
mitte1 Miss ChicaE0ese. but T am OF for
long tramp and investigation OF the fu-
sure OF chailis Somebody tells me that
the satin-striped species is not 70 DE worn
and thar only the Persian pattern effect IN
rich mingled Oriental colors. are worth
the attention OF a woman who keeps her
head above the level Of mere pots and pans
have got one 10 my minds eye made glo-
Tious with appropriate person ribbon Just
as shall dare the possible pateraal wrath
by ordering a suit Ia pale brown cloth
having the skirt and coat garnshed with
long lance-shaped bands Of grey-green
velvet I have seen one the skirt in side