The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-15
THE WHITE FEATHER FRENZY.
A Champion Ostrich Plume Crossed
the Ocean from south Africa.

n champion OsNr1cn rune CrOSSeu
the Ocean from south Africa.
New York, Dec. 13.-The very long
est feather in millinery records came
across the ocean the other day in a
carefully sealed tin tube. 1t was a
white plume of unique fulness of fila
ments, and 1t was fastened to the brim
of a black velvet hat worn by a rich
woman at the New York Horse Show.
The ostrich who originally wore it was
a South African and the custom house
made a good thing out of the plume
before the lady got it. Altogether, the
ostrich farmers have enjoyed a boom
ing business this year and all because
the Czarina of Russia, who prefers
white to colors, wore some very splen-
did South African feathers in her hats
last Summer when she visited France.
The Partisan modistes, always on the
alert for ideas, heard about the En-
press feathers and they have done
their patriotic little best to cement the
Franco Russian ties by buying up all
the white ostrich feathers they could
find and introducing the graceful cha
peau Imperatrtce.
At this moment a lively struggle is
going on among the women to see who
can OWL Tie llllColS anu iOliSCob, anu
whitest plumes; for saving and except
ing an occasional baby blue feather,
those of an immaculate and wondrous
Wilderness have the advance all around
in popularity.
The record breaker, that made its
debut at the New York Horse Show.
was allowed to be one yard, one inch
and three quarters in length. 1t cir
cled the outside edge of very wide
brimmed black velvet hat and Tapped
over, and the owner is not willing to
say what she paid for it. However,
the milliners will show you plumes
ranging in price from SIS to $50 apiece,
and in length from eighteen to twen-
ty-eight inches; and they say that the
demand for these white feathers is far
greater than the supply.
The white feather frenzy is like the
gold galoon fever of last winter-it
is a one season fad, but at the moment
no woman is entirely satisfied with her
wardrobe unless it numbers at least
one plume wreathed hat. This is the
hat for special occasions; for ceremo-
Nous luncheons, weddings and we'd
ding receptions and for the theater. At
the late New York Horse Show thous-
ands were counted. The hat that sup
ports one or two, or often as many as
three huge white feathers. must be a
digniied structure of black or pale
grey velvet and a touch Of nice white
lace and a fine jeweled ornament is
the only other decoration the structure
needs. There is absolutely no rule
regulating the shape of the hat itself.
Some of them of broad dropping brim-
med Edgar Ravenswood models, about
which the plumes curl like light soft
cloud others are tip tilted Devonshire,
and others are turned off the face
with a shower of fragile feathers
sweeping clear over the crown TO touch
with their tips the back of their wear
er's shoulders.
In tens and dozens and even hum
dreds these stunning hats appear at
the matinee and evening performances
of all the popular theaters, but, though
the masculine half of the audience look
distinctly apprehensive at first, by the
time the curtain goes up not a white
plume is seen above the level of their
wearer's capes. AS rule the men
reciprocate this tactful generosity by
not asking permission to squeeze out
between acts II the laps TO right and
left or them are barrlcaded with costly
white feathers.