Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-06-21
PORTALS new YORK LETTER

lNbW JUNE Id nj viz
OF large steamship. the other day, the
Neptune, why is ii the christening |
right to break bottle of the tawny |
Juice of the tuscan giape'i over the |
bow OF the ocean craft making her |
debut Oh the waters? The brawny gods
Of the ocean, the mermaids and the |
wave sprites know nothing of the fleet |!
ing exhiliration of champagne; their
inspiration is drawn from the tingling |
of the salt spray and the freshness of
the salt breeze, the caress of the sun
and the butfeting of the waves. The
ocean must laugh at the baptism OF a
quart of wine whose merits it had not
been taught to, understand. Customs
are like slang, only enjoyable when
they are fitting; and this custom of the
breaking Of quart Of champagne over
the bow Of vessel seems senseless.
At this launch the other day the girl
who was to christen the new craft came,
of course. arrayed in her best froqs and
she was in grent danger of running her
tinery by the flying liquid. Then, too.
she ran the chance of cutting her haEds
with the ugly Jagged glass which breaks
as 1t pleases and not as it is expected
to do. AS consequence, the girl grew
ifouo aha NAV did iiOt ohSotf''p
think? They, according to their prin-
ciples, either deplored the loss of the
good material on the insensate steelt or
deplored the custom of introducing
VINE into SO solemn ceremony and SO
| you see, frankly, 10 one was really
| pleased.
At launch some time ago the Japan
ese custom was followed. And how
much better it seemed to loose a cage
of canaries or doves as the vessel took
| its fight from the ways. Could any
| thing be more poetic? At this particu-
| lar launch to which / refer, from the
shoreward end of the bowsprit was hung
| huge basket covered with flowers. As
the vessel slid down the ways the
basket was opened by a gilt-tipped
wand held by the young woman who
was honored assponsor for the occasion,
and out flew flock of doves into the
sunshine, some flying seward and
others settling down in the rigging in
confidence and safety. Surely this was
a much prettier ceremony than that OF
splitting quart of sticky wine upon
the how. At the launch were some de-
lightfully dressed women, gowned for
the occasion, who gave one an idea OF
what will be the proper thing for the
gill who is fortunate enough to be in
vited on yachting trip this summer,
or even the one who may be going to
the yachting regions, for 1t is now
always the girl who wears the most
swagger yachting clothes who goes on
board the yachts; she is frequently only
land -lubber and dresses simply for
effect. One costume of navy blue
serge, with pleated skirt and Elton
jacket elaborately trimmed with gilt
braid and buttons, attracted my atten
tion. In fact, gilt braid and Gilt but
tons are among the fads of the season.
Another costume was worn by a tall
blonde. The skirt was Of white duck,
pleated on the sides aud stitched to
just below the knee. The Elton Jacket
was of duck, and on the left sleeve was
monogram worked in bright colors,
under which were three cheyrons. The
shirt waist worn by this particular
blonde was of white linen, finely tucked
buttons with the New York yacht in
sigma on them. Her tie was navy
blue four-in-hapd soft silk, ard her
hat of Panama straw was somewhat on
the Ladysmith shape. round which was
twisted scarf of dark blue with Per-
sian ends. The whole get up was adj
mirably chic.
Dark blue and white mohair are
much use for yachting costumes, This
goods never Becomes s.inky and makes
up most stylishly, and has the advant.
age of being cool and yet warm enough
to protect one from Neptune's breezes.
The ld-fashioned white flannel seems
! to have become entirely passe. But
whatever you do, If you indulge in
costumes savoring Of yachts remember
it is the latest thing to have your mono
grams either on your sleeve, or the
, plastroon of your blouse, worked in
bright cclors. And yachtsman. told
rae the other day that the fourth hand
tie was more all fait on yacht than a
string tie Why, l know not; simply
one OF those nameless laws Dame FASH
ion edicts from time to time. Above
all things, do not be guilty of buying
a visor cloth yachting cap, which is
only good form when worn on the yacht
and then is usually the property of the
owner and has his private insignia On
it. For general sailing the soft light
felt, the straw Ladysmiths, or the
always stylish sailor hat, with sewing
silk or chiffon veil wound round, are in
better taste.
Tan shoes will be au fait at the shore
and on yachts. But they have been
taboed by the ultra fashionable, save
for these purposes and for goiting. One
rarely sees them now on addressed
woman on the street. Patent feathers,
uncomfortable and hot as they are, are
the only permissible and stylish shoe
for days in town. There is new glove
worn now, which, when bought in its
y best quality, has all the appearances Of
fine suede and yet is cool and com
I Portable for summer wear. 1t is made
y of silk and cotton, ana is heavily
: stitched and buttons ike castoi
0 glove. In tan and shades OF gray these
o gloves are much worn during the sum
a Iner days and have style of their own.
. The girl who would 10 thoroughly VI
: to date when she goes in town for Q
i days shopping must remember to have {
9 dash OF black about her costume ! dom
o mean all black, for this costume ha'
o been relegated to those in mourning
. and to we'll class of women who wcule
Q like TO make themselves conspicuous
! but mean that with her fresh whitt
. gown, or her dark blue foulard, or hej
j. plato gingam she must have touch o
o black either in the belt or the necl
v piece, or perchance only in a velye
IS bow on the hat, but black it must bl
y to give the desired chic appearance t,
% the up -to-date girl.
. / saw girl on Broadway, the othe
y day, who, when she lifted her duel
: skirt high to escape the dust in cross
}, ing, exhibited pair of the finest
| i .t.I ntnh 70