The times., 1901-04-08
FASHIONS SANNUAL PARADE
The Easter Promenade Along Con-
necticut Avenue.
Beautiful Gowns Displayed the
ThorouGkfnre Cosmopolitan
Crowd - Social Leaders Touched
Elbows With Those Less Fortunate

Dame Fashion in all her regal splen-
dor and glory of spring attire held high
carnival upon the principal public thor
oughfares of Washington yesterday after
noon. Debutantes in their becoming
gowns, some accompanied by the ever
watchful chaperone, others attended Dy
male escorts in their sleek silk hats ana
long Prince Alberts, mature matrons IN
their new but more modest garb, and the
other unclassifed daughters of Eve, TO
the number of thousands. passed In grand
review along Connecticut Avenue to ad-
mlre and be admired
No regiment OF uniformed soldiery with
| officers in gold braid and lace ever trod
the streets of the Capital with prouder
step than did that army of feminine pc
| destIians which marcned between the
! hours of ? and > o'clock from Dupont Cir
| Gle TO Farragut Square and return along
that fashionable residence thoroughfare.
1t was society's annual Easter prone
made. and the spectacle was one pleas
| ing to look upon.
! Women accustomed to riding in vic
! torias, and who disdain to mingie with
! the motley throng upon the sidewalks,
Yesterday tripped gayly along the smooth
pavements and brushed elbows with their
| less handsomely gowned sisters 1t was
| a cosmopolitan crowd, which represented
| all classes and conditions, societys faV-
| critics and fashions models, department
! clerks and shop girls, all dressed IN their
| Sunday best, so that few could distin-
| guish between the stations in life which
! the happy promenaders occupied.
! 1t was not exactly an ideal day for the
| gentle zephyrs of spring had grown into
heavy blasts of wind, and this fact went
| to make walking somewhat laborious-
Hat pins performed useful, as well as or
namentaI service, and saved many a new
| Easter bonnet from parting company with
| its fair wearer, and following the career
oil a kite Yet otherwise the atmosphere
was balny and pleasant Old Sol unyeii-
ed his smiling face and look down pleas
| anuy upon the passing pageant. The
warm beams of the sun tempered the
chilling wind and afforded comfort to
| those who had come out without wraps
in order to better display their fine raj
! ment.
What Fifth Avenue is to New York on
| a Sunday afternoon, Connecticut Avenue
| was to washington yesterday. 1t was a
grand parade where fashion displayed all
the artlfice and style of the dressnaker
! and milliner.
| With the song of many birds chirping
| overhead, the rustic of silken skirts. and
the busy chatter of conversation, prob
ably the texts of morning sermons and
I the lesson of the day were in most IN
stances forgotten, but these are only
! minor formalities OF Easter, while the
| greater observance of the day is found
| in the changes wrought by the fashion
| plates What custom has established for
| years was strictly Obeyed yesterday.
! If envy broodod in any breast she was
kept closely concealed, for there was not
/ a maiden or a matron in all that throng
/ which sauntered leisureiy up and down
the broad highway in the glittering sun
/ shine but thought that her own indt-
| vidual bonnet was the most becoming ana
I her own pretty gown the most stunning
and best fitting of any in all that brii-
| liant array of finery. Street costume,
unlike ballroom garb, is not TO be de-
Scribed save TO say that displayed yes
terday was all beautiful and superb.
| Up and down the street the pedestrians
moved for three hours studying new de-
signs in millinery, cleaning hints and sug-
gestions for new draperies. with their
/ handsomely gowned sisters for models.
/ Finally the shadows began TO grow long
er from the west gradually the ranks OF
the prOmenaders began to thin, society
sought shelter from the evening dew.
which does not harmonize well with
dainty laces and fluffy feathers, the seats
in the public parks and squares became
| vacant. and the grand spectacular Easter
pageant on Connecticut Avenue was at an
| end.