Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-10-04
PORTALS NEW YORK LETTER.


creations, / found myself quite lost |
in the contemplation of the women
buying.
Did you ever thoughtfully watch a
woman buy hat? A woman will pick
out and turn around and gaze at 20
hats she has no idea of purchasing. A
deInure- locking woman, sober In mind
and sedate in manner much given to
heavy. soled, heelless shoes, walked in
and picked up a Fright cerise hat with
a huge white plume on IL, one Of those
bold hats that flare right up in front.
/ watched her, watched that woman's
expression, and saw at once she was
going 10 buy that hat. She did, and
when she walked out with this Knight
Tempar looking affair on her head |
wondered if her friends would know
her.
Now, what led this demure woman to
buy this hat? She was not tired of
being good, but something ir the
jauntiness and color of the hat pleased
her. She was probably tired of the
gray things in life. Now, | am think
ing that that woman will have 10 live
up to that hat. 1t is curious what in
fluence inanimate things have upon us,
but will wager you IN a little while
if you meet this plain little woman she
will no longer be plain little woman
but will appear IN flamboyant array,
read parer-covered novels instead of
treatises, 60 to matinees instead of
lectures, and maybe-remember | only
said may be--banish her cup of tea for
seductive cocktail with cherry.
But was speaking of the way woman
buys hats. She tries on dozen, sits
down, walks about, looks at the side
and then at the back, doesn't know
what coiors abe wants, refers constantly
to the two or three friends she lured
to 60 shopping with her. Finally with
two much handled hats in front of her
she says:
Nov. dears, which one would you
take? Which is the NEST becomingP"
And when her friends, with aching,
yearning looks, which come of wonder
ing how socn that promised luncheon
will be, suggests the brown enc as their
choice, she says:
"Well, guess / will take--no, I'll
take the purple one. You may send it
up"
And then she goes home and walks
| the floor in front OF q mirror while her
poor tired husband has to give his
opinion on the new hat
| Invariably she returns it the next day
with word that she will be down In the
afternoon to try another one on. You
think / am very hard on the woman,
my dears, and YOU are probably won
dering il do not do Just this way.
In the first place / never take a
woman with me when buy hat. l
generally go alone. If you want com.
panion, q man has o much better eye
fer selection OF headgear than
feminine friend.
A word about buying hats don I buy
one of those gay, flaring, birdlike hats.
Your milliner may assure you they
are just the thing, but mark my word,
before Christmas they will be passe.
And then, for morning wear they are
wretchedly lad form. 1t was clever
French woman who said: In the
morning let your hat shade your eyes
a bit, and that tired look which comes
after the opera and a supper will not
be so apparent"
In the evening, an, then, let your
show the brilliancy that always comes
to a pretty woman's eyes when the
lights are turned on.
But enough of hats now. Next week
I'll tell you Of the dernier cri in head
gear.
We remarked how many short skirts
we're seen. They are everywhere en-
evidence. You seq them on the trains,
boats, in hotel diningroomB and on the
street They are not bicycle skirts or
golf ITS, but have been made for
| oh ha
utility business by most excellent
tailcrs. Double-faoed cloth is used
for them aim, st invariably, and the
checked of plain surface is on the out
side, according to the taste Of the
wearer. Many OF the skirts are made
so that either side may be turned out.
ward at will. 1t must be confessed
that the effects OF this general abbre.
Walton ale not altogether pleasing.
The regulation length for these skirts
requires that they should ccmo With
four inches of the gfound-no more, no
less. They are supremely comfortable,
but far from beautiful, and on d stout
woman who has "a large foot they are
apt TO be ludicrous.
After all, things are pretty well
"evened ur' In this world. To one
who has an impressive income the Gift
of taste is often der led, and most OF
her income gees to the buying of taste
from her miliner, tailor and dress.
maker. On the contrary, the woman
with very little more than Becky
Sharp's nothing year" will be
lowered with deft fingers and an eye
that will enable her to make quite as
good appearance as far as the charm
of her clothes is concerned. as hel
more richly endowed neighbor. The
little tasteful things you can make for
yourself will go a long way TOWARD
accomplishing this desirable result. II
is the small accessories of dress thai
make the alarming threads on slender
allowance.
Take, for instance, the matter o.
stockings aud cravais. And really these
chiffon and lace always cost tremen
dously il bought lieady made up. The
cheaper ones will be so coarse Of tex
ture, and adorned with such obviously
inferior lace that they will hopelessly
ruin any costume At the same time
an outfit OF smart daintily made col
lars and ties adds immensely 10 tn,
attractiyeness of gown. As thu
jackets and coats that will be most il
favor this autumn and winter are IL
he open 10 front and turned back with
revers, jabots, crayats and little EN-
broidered waistcoats will DO mure thar
ever conspicuous These may be mad,
at hone by anyone who will exercise {
little taste and ingenuity, and whit
will use her eyes in the study Of few
good rnodels
,, If you would be well dressed, m,
,, dear Beth, be careful Of details.