The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-08-26
DAINTINESS FR0WNED ON.
ENGLISH WONEN'S ATTITUDE TOWARD
LACE AND FINE LINEN.
Contrast between American Lingerie and the
Fashions In England-Criticisms OF the
Open-Nork Net oke-Attcmpt In Ger
many To Have Momen In Orchesiras.

Contrast between American Lingerie and the
Fashions In Engiand-Criticisms OF the
Open-NOrk Net Ioke-Attcmp In Ger
many To Have Women In Orchestras.
English underwear was spurned 10y American
women before there was any Consular dcclara-
ton on the subject and none Of them ever
thought Of buying II under circumstances that
left them any alternative. An American woman
who has lived In England for some years was
telling her eN Experiences tho other day and they
suggested that there might not really he a de-
mand In England for the American lingerie,
superior as 1t Is TO the homemade article, Paris,
where the most beautiful linen IN the world II
made aud worn, il not far from the English
shops; but there i little or no importation Of
the French work. The homemade article seems
entirely satisfactory to the average English
woman who has never seen or heard Of any
thinc else and has no appreciation OF the deli
cate and dainty effects in which French and
American women revel.
English lingerie Is made entirely for utility"
the American woman said. land there Is evil
IDENTIFY no other idea in the minds Of the manu-
facturcrs. Occasionally a tuck or u bit Of em-
broiderv may be added. but even that Ia con-
sidered unnecessary and is seldom allowed TO
interfere with the extreme pIalnness OF these
garments which horrify an American woman.
They are made of coarse linen or cotton. they
are roughly sewn. and the whole style OF their
making Is Objectionable TO American women.
who. next to tho French, are able to buy the
d~aintie7t things Of that kind in the world.
The English woman. reared TO be satlsiled
with the kind OF lingerie that she has always
seen, iiuagines that exquisite linen, laces and
ribbons are In some mysterious way improper.
j shall never forget the day ] sho we'd an Eng
lish friend a lot OF lingerie that | had Just got
from Paris. She gasprd when opened the
box. OH she said. a II she had just got into
a tut Of cold water DO ladies In America wei
things like those?' ! told her that they did
most assurrdly. and that the pretti"r they we're
the better satisfied we always felt. II she
hadn't known my family for years. I'm sure she
would have thought that my morals were in
danger. brcau-e | took TO hose combination.
Of delicate zoe and diaphanous linen In place OF
cotton and tuCkS.
lyon know ! asked the question. she went
on, 'becnus' In England ladies do not wear such
things. In fact, / never saw anything Of the
kind before except on th" stage and did not be-
lieve that anybody hut Hctresscs ever wore
them anywhere | took care 20 assure her that
IL was "a national custom In the United state,
Tor women IT, wear the most attractive lingerie
they could find. as | was afraid that her sus-
picions OF me might grow more decided IL she
thuuEht that II was merely a personal feature.
The English actresses in burlesque always
wear such beautiful Lingerie that ] have Won
dered how they could find 1t In London. 1t Is