The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-25

Maisie sighed pensiveIy. Since l began
to give my whole mind to the seasons
styles" she said. They are adorable.
yet in a way dreaGfully disappointing.
Simplicity, as you know, is the back
ground best calculated to set off my
well. We will say my somewhat piquant
personality. There are simple things, of
course. The trouble is they are so ele-
gantly simple, they at once suggest New
port, American Beauties with stems two
yards long. diamond stickpins as cotillion
favors, and all that sort of thing. They
are so trying indeed. have been almost
driven to ordering things that miss being
fussy barely by the skin of the teeth"
Il shall never believe that until / see
it," the hostess said, casting up her eyes.
Maisie smiled a gentle martyr sort of
smile and said: Listen, l am hesitating
over a gown of this sort-and you know
she who hesitates is lost. The stuff is
all right-one of the new pastel green
cloths, so soft It cheats the eye as to
whether it is really green or blue. The
skirt is cut very long and very tight, but
there is a box pleat at the back and an
other, or rather a cascade, at the side,
where the skirt rounds up to show a
pleated silk underskirt, just a little dark
err The skirt is embroidered all around
in the same darker shade, enriched with
gold thread. That does not sound very
formidable Wait until you hear about
the waist
AT the back it is a plain, round waist
melting into the skirt. In front it is
jaunty jacket with deeply pointed ends
dropping over a wide folded belt of ribbon
to match the underskirt-which of course
goes only as far as under the arm The
fronts are heavily embroidered and the left
one bedizened with a big fly-away bow Of
ribbon like the belt. Above the belt there
is close fitting vest Of very dark green
panne velvet. with a collar so high and
stih il recalls the guillotine. edged at top
with the same gold threaded embroidery,
as are the flaring cuffs to the very long
tight sleeves. Then by way CT finish |
shall wear yellow straw hat. trimmed
with long black plumes and a stunning
bow OF green ribbon, very broad and en-
broidered with gold.
THAT does not sound so desperate"
said madame the hostess. Maisie flung up
her head tragically. Il know it does not"
she said. Some things have to be seen.
I tried on the whole rig. look myself over,
then covered my eyes and sighed. This is
what it means to be tailor made in 1901,
/ assure you, my dear, it is almost tragic
TO look back
hostess. Mzise smiled. q did ever SO
much better-I looked farther" she said.
Virtue had its reward. l discovered some
things that would heal broken heart. One
of them was the loveliest dressing gown,
truly classic garment with long, sweeping
folds, and no tag ends anywhere about it
that anybody can make at home them
selves. Mine is in pale ivory cashmere
with falls Of deep ivory lace in the neck
and glrdle Of rich salmon pink ribbon
fastening Just beneath the bust I shall
only need 10 put it on to forgive all my
sumner eremies-even those who have
bought the frocils ought to have bought,
or said the things l wish had said"
1t must be the result of inspiration"
the hostess said. laughing Maisie tucked
another pillow comfortably beneath her
hea6, stretched out slippered foot so she
could inspect the bow upon II critically.
fC ok a candied violet from the box beside
her, and said with the purple CONNECTION
between her lips: 1T does feel that way,
but | have had desperate experience
making up my mind between the lovely
new bl0uses. One OF them is Luxeull lace
as TO It's lower half, both in waist and
sleeves. The lace goes up to and opens
over a guimpe and sleeve tops OF deeply
tucked silk. The silk is pastel blue. So
Is the broad ribbon which comes from I'M
Ger the arms to tie IN rich knot, with
deeply fringed ends over the bust There
$ lace collar, very high OF course And
l have such pretty white neck, Isn't IL
a shame ] must swathe and hide it so?
The other blouse is truer to name. By
that ! mean that it really blouses ali |
round the lower part. And the blouse is |
lace big open-meshed lace with very |
rich flowers in it. The same lace goods IN |
10 tire neck, and shows as a vest there |
over the lace, there comes a sort Of odd |
boleio in the richest brocade fastening |
with q velvet chou very much at one side |
The brocade is apple blossoms upon an |
ivory ground. Beneath the lace blouse |
comes lining of ivory silk The belt and |
collar match the ehou-both are Of black |
velvet. The most fetching touch is at the |
top n the collar-a row of apple blossoms |
made in pink chiffon. and delicately ap-
piled. l shall feel like Flora. or some 9th
er classic person, rising up from a foam of |
flowers"
Venus rising from the sea, perhaps!"
the hostess said. smiling. Maisie made a |
Really | believe she would be /
enylous, for all her looks, If she saw the
irock l have just planned for an after
Lenten dance"
Tell me about it," coaxed the hostess
About my frock," said Masie, 'the be-
ginning of 1t is grandmammas black sat-
in that was never made up for the poor
dear IL is rich enough to stand alone. but
soft enough TO cling beautifully. OF course
did not waste 1t on the foundation skirt |
that is Just plain fairly good satin, long
and tight hitting, and faring no end at the