The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-10-27

snecia, Correspond nee at The Sunday Republic
New York. Oct. 2o.-Dear Girl Gracia: "A
bomb has fallen in our midst. The Rainy
Daisies, those strong minded creatures who
first started the fad of wearing short skirts
in the street, and whose heroism antedates
the bicycle days, have abandoned their
ankle lengths and gone INTO trains. Al
their last meeting hardly one but wore a
swishing skirt with cascade rufies around
the foot. and not one but Ind fitted hips
and a tendency to tie back. / believe they
talk of turning the Rainy Day Club into a
elee club or something of that kind now
that they have abandoned their se.t-lm-
posed task of reforming Gotham.
But think. dear girl. of the fashion
moral to be drawn. When this. the most
distinctive club IN Gotham. goes into long
skirts. thus abjuring ali former principles.
who of us shall dare to refuse them? My
own gowns are long to the point of trip
ping. and when / got into the street I
must hold them up with all the strength
OF my hand.
l heard such a strange thing the other
day from a great physician. one whose
opinions are accepted as woman truth.
This man declares that the custom OF
holding up the dress skirt from the back
the new and universal lifts very health
full. and that the shoulders are thrown
back and squared wonderfully by 1t. He
says the weight of the skirt upon the
UdIu Is IOl ut an ilolS " lic hiustsNs.
Now. with this authority. We can go on
lifting and lifting with never an excuse
for letting them swish.
/ tell you again hat the mouse lift is
seen in Gotham. To accomplish it stand In
front Of the glass and try. Gather up every
thing In one hand. right in the middle Of
the back. and keep on raising. cautiously
and with discretion. until you expose the
whole foot and part of the ankle. That is
the mouse lift.
REMODEI.ED ETONs.
I have taken two OF my Etons. and made
them over into bodices. They have been
universally admired. and. as they were not
hard TO Go. 1 will tell you the secret. for 1
know that you will want to try the same
little dressmskinG trick.
The first one l transformed was a navy
blue Elton. with gold braid down the front
and many rows of little black worsted but
tors. With two yards of wide blue satin
ribbon ] made Positions and fastened them
On the back of the waist. Two wide bows l
stood straight up, to rest against the small
OF my back. while below the belt / ar
ranged two tabs with slanted ends. The
knot was a big one. Then I took a little gilt
braid and ran it along the edge OF the rib
hon. You cannot do this before the ribbon Is
tied: you must do 1t afterwards.
Finally. / fastened a princess belt OF gold
braid. very narrow. to the back Of the
Elton. and. bringing It around to the front.
/ pinned 1t very low down to make a point
1t was ever SO pretty. and makes my Elton
look precisely like q bodice.
Ny other achievement was with q gray
blue Elton. rather long and very tight Mt
ting. To this I afflxed q Louis ekirt, long
enough to come over the hips. 1t was made
cut of blue ~taffeta. in a strange grayish
tint, and tho ''skirts.' as the plain bias
band is called. were tight and smooth, and
fitted the hips like a glove.
WILLY X. As A HOST.
Willie X. Vanderbilt, Jr., IL one Of the
most popular men in society, and is accred-
tied with doing the most delightful things.
He quite out-Lehrs Harry Lehr, and some
OF the dearest stories are told OF him. One
IL to the effect that some guests were in
vtted one afternoon. and when they arrived
Mrs. Vanderbilt. who was. you will remem-
Der. Virginia Fair. found herself cutie un-
able to see them. Willie was about to start
out upon one Of his wonderful mobile spins
the Red Dragon stood at the door. but
without an ~instant's hesitation he gave up
the afternoon to entertain his wife's guests.
he talked to them, showed them some
newly imported Louis bits of china, and.
finally. as a masterstroke of masculine
genius. he had her maid bring out Mrs
Vancerhilt's newest gowns for them tn Gee
one, q little dream in pink tafreta. with
waist tucked in front and trimmed with
white lace laid on fat. was buttoned in