New-York tribune., 1900-01-07
NEW YEARS IN PARIS
JOUR DE Ian IS NOT ARDENTLY LONGED
FOR BY YOUNG BACHELORS
LITTLE GIRLS CLOTHES FASHIONED AFTER
MAMMA's-'e -'eRIDICULoUsLY SHORT SKIRTS


AGAIN THE LOUIS XIV COAT.
Paris, December 20
The shopping district of Paris has been one
gigantic toy bazaar. Christmas in France is day
for the little folks only. older people waiting until
New Years for their gifts; during Christmas
week there is little shopping done that does not
concern the children. The appearance of the
boulevards is quite spoiled by the line of wooden
booths erected along the sidewalks for the display
and sale of the cheaper kind of toys The pro-
pretors Of the shops object strenuously to the
presence of these sidewalk merchants, but the
custom is too deeply rooted in France to be easily
stamped out, and for some reason the children are
particularly fond Of buying the sidewalks and
watching those funny mechanical toys which are
agile while under the venders care, but which
stricken with paralysis away from it.
French people give and receive their gifts al
ways on the Jour de rAn as they term the
day of the year. But the custom Of exchanging
gifts is by extensively abused 1t is
apt to be in the United States, although it in
cludes detail likely to bear hard on young
bachelor with extensive calling list and limited
purse. This is that man is supposed TO send
either flowers box of bonbons that day
to every woman of his acquaintance who has
shown him any courtesy during the year. But
aside from this there is extensive gift giving
and the shops make little extra effort to display
tempting novelties.
FRoCKs FOR LITTLE FOLKS.
The principal form of social entertainment dur
ing Christmas week is afternoon parties for chill
dren, at which the little daughters assume the
role of hostess. These parties always include
Christmas tree with Petit Noel" at the top. And
how prettfly the children are dressed! Such
beautiful laces and embroideries and such ridicu-
lousy short skirts, that fare out from the little
bare knees if they wired. Little girls.
too wearing tunics and overdresses quite
elaborate their mothers. One child's party
gown consists of a tunc of Venetian point over
a underskirt of tiny ruf1es of mousseline de
sole. The tunic is comparatively tight about the
little figure, and ends in points, and the under
skirt is full and flares out in a most bewitching
fashion between and below the points. gown
for little girl of ten is of claret colored panne,
soft and silky Applications of guipure are
used to make tiny bolero and trimming on the
bottom of the short skirt. For girls little older
the peasant waist, fashionable for older peo-
pie. is often used. light blue wool, with dots
of white silk in it, is made in this way. The
skirt, rather full, is finished with a ruff1e edged
with frill of white silk The waist is a little
box pleated shirt OF white silk and over this is
the high peasant belt Of the wool finished and
laced with white ribbon.
The closeness with which chdren's fashions will
follow those of their elders is sometimes amusing
AS is only to be expected children are wearing
pleated skirts. most attractive costume for a
girl of twelve is made of navy blue red and white
plaid velvet The skirt is peated, but it is not in
the least ounchy, for it is not only shaped but the
pleats are stitched down for few inches below
shrred makes yoke and the, top of the sleeves on
the bodice. French children often wear absurdIv
elaborate costumes the street. and yet they are
allowed to play about in these costumes that sug-
gest the ballroom. There little sisters who
attract deal of attention the Champs Elysees
of a morning by their remarkable costumes which
are exactly alike These consist of long coat of
light blue brocade. trimmed with pale blue os-
trich feathers, a large blue bonnet of moussene
de sole, with feathers and blue shoes and stock
+n IA.
quite happy whipping tops and rolling hoops
Another group of sisters this time three in num-
, Der are dressed IN a manner equally extravagant
but certainly more tasteful The are of white
cloth. cut and finished in best tailor fashion and
the deep collars and cuffs of white aneora
The big bonnets, becoming to the pretty faces
are Of white silk tulle and trimmed with white os
trich plumes and bunch of tiny white rosebuds
tucked under the brims Shoes cloth CATERS are
of white These little girls must have several cos
TUNES of this sort, for they always appear unite
dainty and clean
EMBROIDERIEs OF FUR
For the more formal social life which in Paris he
gins after New Years. good many aborate call
ing and afternoon reception gowns are necessary
Perhaps the best things to be the dress
makers at the moment are models for dresses of
this sort Nothing is more fashionable than bands
Of fur used to make elaborate designs as one wouId
use wide braid ribbon. Here are two gowns on
which fur is used in this way: One is a tunc of
purple velvet. that joins without waistband a
high. draped corselet of the velvet. Both the
corselet and the skirt fasten the side and line
of sable marks the closing and borders the entire
tunic. About foot from the bottom of the skirt
the tunic rounds away to show a pleated panel of
white cloth. stripped with black velvet The corners
of the tunic trimmed with a clover pattern
made with sable bands. The upper part of the bod
ice is Of white CLOTH stripped with black and rises
to form high collar. lined with fur Over this is
tiny bolero edged with fur. with the fur embroidery
In the corners and on the top OF the sleeves The
skirt of this gown is cut long and the tunic has
two little box pleats In the back On the second
gown the fur used is the baby lamb and the en-
brodery is much more elaborate and done with
much narrower strips. The material is a reddish
brown cloth, and the gown Is made with q long
plain skirt and a smart little coat basque An elab-
pattern covers the back OF the skirt and ex-
tends in deep scalloped border about the bottom
Of the sides and front This pattern ia done with
fur picked with little JET. On the basque the
sides. the collar and the top Of the sleeves are
to show an open waistcoat of turquoise blue cloth