davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22

steps. while a screen Of pear wood up
hoIstered IN purple and gold protects
the face from the blaze.
Narrow insettings of stained glass on
each side the chimney let in such dim
light as can filter through the hall IN
derneat tn a beautifully cut marble panel
at one side of the chimney piece "a low
seat of the pear wood upholstered in
dark. rich stuff extended and beside it.
stood the little table on which teposed
Mile Audrey's latest novel, III was
bound in vellum and otherwise richly
set up, so that I surmised Mile. De Ga
nays devotion to letters to be less Sc
rious than had at first suspected
Just then in sailed the princess and
her husband. She was arrayed in some
sort of apple green garment that swept
about a yard of train after her. hope
lessly entangling the little prince, her
husband. every time she sWirled it
about She wore some emeralds which
were said to have. come from mine on
her estate. and when she smiled her pa
trician smile she displayed two rows of
perfectly faultless teeth. Ionged to
ask for the name of her dentist. Short
" after the arrival of their highnesses
we We're led to the dining ROOM The
De Ganays had out their gold" plate
Git isn't really gold, you know, just thin
plated ware: even royalties haven't the
solid metaD, ana their table cover was
inset with real lace over old gold satin.
The centerpiece Of flowers also was yell
low.
The service was everything that
could be asked AS looked about the
board I missed the face of the Lestapis.
Nine Lestapis, I had been informed,
was the bosom friend of Mime. De Ga
nay I noted that. although Nine Lee
stapis was not present. her butler was,
and then I remembered hearing some
one say that a GOODNESS had sprung up
between the two ladies because Nine.
De Ganay had won away from her
friend the matchless Jean Joseph, ma
jor domo in ordinary and butler ex-
traordinary, by the offer of a larger
wage than could be afforded by the Lee
stapis- Could feminine duplicity be
deeper?
I was chatting most amiably to my
neighbor-a gray haired member of the
Academic Francafse-when some words
of a distinctly belligerent character
were waited to my ears. They came
directly from the buffers pantry. Nine.
De Ganay colored and chatted with
forced animation to the prince. who sat
upon her right, while NJ De Ganay,
who had taken in the princess, waver-
ed in his conversation and cast a scared
glance at his wife Louder and louder
grew the voice in the pantry. Present
ly there was a crash as of breaking
glass, and hastily murmuring his ex-
cuses, M De Ganay retired to the scene
of conflict His presence seemed to
only add to the confusion The walters
about the table We're so nervous that
one of them spilled a glass of wine
over the princess apple green gown.
Nine De Ganay even lost her aNtomat-
ic smile. Presently, as the storm ceased
not, she. too. apOlogized and slipped
into the pantry Her short, sharp tones
could be heard in the dining room, and
I fear even the old BarOnne De 9Iuyl-
der, who is oblivious to almost every
thing so long as she has a well cooked
dinner before her. looked disturbed
"Chef?" she queried, looking up in
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22
STRIKING NOVELTIES IN
BUCKLES AND BUTTONS.

Buttons and buckles-what an IN
cessant chorus these adjuncts make
On behalf of the former a good deal Of
applique work is employed. this taking
the form of a delicate tracery in gilt.
silver or aluminium on groundworls OF
smoked pearl, mother Of pearl and imi-
tatfon colored stones OF every sort. kind
and description.
Anethysts are wondrously Initiated and
have become a great vogue. Amethysts
and topazes have alike been out Of favor
and fashion for their allotted span, ana
the time is just ripe for their return.
Before the shrine Of the turquoise all
continue to bow in adoring worship,
but this pretty blue stone has become a
tribe too familiar to the sight to be al
together pleasant.
Many are doing their best to take 1is
coral seriously. Coral buttons appliqueo
with duh silver are especially decora-
tive. Brobdingnagian buttons are not
nearly so much in vogue as they were.
OF course, they are to be found here and
there when some particular period or
style commands their presence. But
decidedly Of more pronounced popular
ity is the small button arranged In de-
tached groups-two. three and four, as
fancy dictates. AS to buckles, their
story is a long and bewildering one
Scarcely in millinery can a buckle go
wrong, and in this department do they
seem to grow longer and longer and
narrower and narrower every day And
it is buckles that create a decorative
item in ones chic visiting toilet.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22
JUNE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR GOWNS.

course undeniable. There are so many
ways of giving them picturesque make
ups that their seemingly eternal vogue
Is easily accounted for.
White bIouses. too, seem to have a
perennial popularity. They are made
OF the finest lawn, stitched and plated
and tucked and interset with the finest
of vaIenciennes laces. Indeed, it re-
quires an artist to design some Of the
pictorial effects achieved by the use of
lace and lawn. All sorts of figures are
outlined on the bodice. The white
blouse, too, is suitable for young and
old. Nothing 50 freshens a passe face
as a touch of white against the skin.
The use of sleeveless blouses with
the short boleros allows to women of
limited means a chance to acquire
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22

Clever workers who want pretty fan
cy work with which to beguile the wet
days spent at home should buy boleros,
collars or trimmings in either black or
white lace, selecting a bold design, and
then with small tinsel cord outline all
the larger designs and I'LL in the centers
of circles or flowers with three or four
loops, like a miniature rosette. These
items will be useful in the summer and
are costly to buy.
insertions for trimming gowns may
be treated in the same fashion. A COM
bination of gold cord and cream or ecru
lace is charming for cream, biscuit or
black gowns, or black lace treated with
silver cord is effective over white satin
for a black dress or on pale colors. APP
plique motifs of lisse or grenadine can
also be made by stamping the fabric
with transfers on the wrong side, plac-
ing the design over white cloth and
then outlining the edges with chenille
or tinsel cord and working out the de-
sign in massed jet beads and tiny ro-
settles of tinsel.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22
MODE OF WASHING
LACE WITHOUT INJURY.

Lace requires special and very partic-
ular treatment. If much soiled, soak it
for several hours in a warm soap and
water Iather in which you have dis
solved a teaspoonful OF powdered borax
for each quart of water It must then
be lifted out, well washed two or three
times in warm soap and water fathers,
squeezing and pressing it well between
the hands. But be careful neither to
rub nor to twist it, as this breaks the
threads. When clean, rinse well, first in
warm and then in cold water, if posi-
BILE letting it steep for an hour or two
in the latter, as this clears it.
If when washed in this way the lace
is still of a bad color, it must be bleach
ed or boiled For this latter you put
the lace into jar with sufficient cold
water to cover it, add a little soap jelly,
then place the jar into a saucepan with
water three parts of it's depth. Cover
the pot and let it boil steadily for two
or three hours. taking care the water in
the pan does not boil away.
Whether you starch lace thus washed
or not is a matter of taste. Some house
keepers think starch rots old lace
though it certainly improves the new.
The starch should be so thinned that It
feels only like rather tllickened water.
in which you soak the lace for some lit
tie time, after which squeeze it gently
to get it thoroughly Starched all over
Then spread it out between the folds of
a soft cloth and pat it out between your
hands or run it through the Wringer.
Now pull it out gently and roll it up
wrong side in. keeping the edge or
points away from you While pulling
out one piece keep the others well COW
cred to prevent their drying. Iron the
lace on the wrong side with a fairly hot
iron, keeping the points away from you
and being careful to iron them well out
Do not unrou much at a time and iron
each piece well till dry, pressing it gem
tly but firmly with the iron to raise the
pattern and being careful to keep it
very straight and even Air well before
putting it away.
Always lay a piece of soft muslin
over very fine lace and never touch it
directly with the iron. Crochet, tatting.
guipure and Irish or Greek lace should
not be irOned, but simply pinned out
on a we'll covered board, point by point.
and left till dry pulling it out gently
with the fingers as you unpin it If Il
seems too stiff.
If the lace Is to be pure white add a
drop or two of blue to the last rinsine
water before starching it, while if it Is
to be family coIored make the starch
with more or less strong coffee or tea
instead of water. Tea gives Just the
shade of old lace. Lace passed through
water or tea in which, while boiling,
you have dissolved good lump Of loaf
sugar to each half pint is preferred BY
many to starch.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22

For yelling floral trails a very fine
gossamerlike chantilly is employed and
is undeniably effective, the while It
hints at an Importance somewhat lack
ing in tulle. An all white tulle illusion
toque is sweet yelled in this same fine
black chantilly, worn well tilted over
the eyes with great jet butterfly serv-
ing as a species Of cache peigne at the
back. This is the very ARREST, fairiest
piece of millinery conceivable and emf
nently before the hat decked with many
feathers in the affections Of the smart
woman. Bizarre wings, when found,
should be made an immediate posses
sion. That these mostly figure on the
best and most exclusive French models
accounts FOR the long price asked for
such creations. But now and again
the fates alone know how or Why-out
of a boxful of mediocrity there may be
turned up something out Of the ordi-
nary happily passed over by hundreds
of unseeing eyes.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22

The tub should be two-thirds filed
with we'll enriched soil which is then
covered with an inch or two of sand.
and the vessel is filed with water. It
is not necessary to sink the tub into the
ground. as that is done merely to give
the plants the appearance of growing in
a small pool of water. A half barrel or
hogshead will also make an excellent
receptacle for the plants The water
supply must be so regulated in the tank
or barrel that stagnation will not be
possible. In a small vessel the water
may be dipped out and renewed by the
pouring in of an equal quantity.
Larger vessels can be made by a car
penter Stout planks are nailed togeth-
er SO that the sides afford a sloping
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22

place the princess seemed to wake up.
She smiled, she scintillated with wit,
until those Of us who were fortunate
enough to be near her end of the table
We're fascinated. Since the great lady
took the matter so lightly every one
else was at his or her ease. and the
dinner went off beautifully After
ward in a corner of the drawing room
I heard her sympathizing with Nine.
De Ganay in a subdued aside, and what
do you think heard her say2
ITEMS, items, Nine. De Ganay, what
we do suffer with our servantsl Let
me tell you of our last steward at
Cherni1of.' But I did not hear the
tale. nor do I feel that I should have
been much enlightened thereby, for I
believe it was nothing but a polite fic-
ton to relieve Nine. De Ganay's en-
barrassment.
I have noticed how universally be-
coming are those gowns with the mar
row plated arrangement over the hips.
The modiste, too, is able to fit such
gown to much better advantage. In
the case of summer gowns insettings of
lace and ribbon bands give the portion
of the dress about the hips a remark
ably rich appearance. The ornamental
ton is usually applied so that it has
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22
SATIN EVENING cLoAKs.

The hard, thick, stif kind of satin has
almost completely vanished, and the
soft liberty satin meets with popular
favor. This makes most excellent foun-
dations for embroidery or applications
OF lace, while it may successfully be
called upon for evening dresses, tea
gowns or theater coats. And theater
coats are worthy of a few words today,
when we have cast aside from US our
heavy trappings and now want to take
our evening walks abroad clad with ele-
gance. A very picturesque coat is made
in the sack shape. reaching to the
knees. of white satin traced with black
chenille round black lace designs inter-
spersed with silver paillettes and ruffied
at the neck with white net spotted with
black chenille, while the sleeves are of
the bell shape ruined in the inside to
match this. Quaint pieces of embroid-
cry or crepe de chine may be used most
effectively to form hoods to pale col
ored satin coats. Such pieces Of en-
broidery, usually OF eastern origin and
bordered with a. fringe. win also lend
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22

the appearance of a pointed or rounded
basque. The plating is of course con-
tinued on the waist and usually on the
shaped hounce about the skirt.
All the latest skirts are quite close
fitting. any fullness being reserved for
the back, where the skirt is plated or
gathered to the waistband. Three piece
garments are much used in the making
up Of wash materials A circular frin
is generally added as a finishing touch.
Pique skirts with overlapped seams
lined with fanciful rows of stitching
are a part of every summer outfit This
season the skirts are very attractive
fitting as they do with all the perfec-
ton Of a tailor made garment and sIop-
ing out elegantly at the knees Ducks
and hannels each have their advocates,
and the usefulness of these fabrics for
summer rough and ready gowns is of
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22

stitching. The blouse worn beneath it
is of foulard in pale blue patterned with
gray and white. while the skirt is cut in
a corselet style, with the center of this
slipping downward, making a sort of ",
whence the folds of the bodice emerge
becomingly- Corselets are indeed very
trying to the figure Ones waist needs
to be round, and then, too, ones figure
above should be round without being
full, and it would be better If the Shout
ders were square than sloping. A very
pretty hat goes with this costume It is
made of folds of gray tulle with stripes
of white straw sewed upon it, and the
crown is, again, of tulle, with a single
quill resting across the top held with a
steel ornament. while beneath the brim
is bow of black velvet ribbon.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22

spring social season thal II you
enjoy no more than negative
social popularity there is nc
time for thoughts Of dinner
breakfast, luncheon or tea, ex-
cept as lady elects to send you cards
for something Of that sort at her house
For week I've nearly starved I've
endeavored to keep up with the process
sion a Ia Parisienne and have almost
famished in consequence The French
hostess doesn't allow much in the way
of appetite to her guests-better a bowl
Of mush and milk at a wayside cafe
than banquet at the great houses on
the Avenue du Bots de Boulogne-
Which reminds me of the De Ganays
and their dinner. ] was invited They
are a new family, with a great deal OF
wealth, to judge by the recklessness
with which they part with it. They
have an imposing mansion on one of
the fashionable thOrOughfares-
TIE dinner was to be given in honor
of people the De Ganays met this
spring on the Riviera. where owing to
their money and the indisputable beau
" CT one OF their daughters, they had
quite a success AS the aristocratic
settlement of Paris has hitherto known
them not at all. the honor of en-
tertaining at their homes a Russian
prince and princess. even though the
princelings have no particularly great
status in their own land. was highly
gratifying to the De Ganays-
The list of guests was the best at
their command. and every one Of US
wore his best clothes in honor of the
prince and princess. The cuisine is i'm
maculate at the De Ganays, so they
had no difficulty in filling their table.
Madame was magnificent in a gown
from Roun's. It was built of ivory
white satin overlaid with a foliage en-
broideIy in silver painted with green
The deep, pointed hounce was framed
by the embroidery and spread out its
foamy drapery of point lace and white
chiffon well over the floor. The pointed
corsage, also inclOsed in embroidery,
curved back from her shoulders, which
are very handsome and almost as white
as the rose point that encircled them.
From the shoulders fell a vatican plait,
which supplied the graceful train, sof-
tened with lace and glittering with rose
point.
She had the good taste to wear few
jewels-nothing but string of magnifi-
cent pearls about her neck
We were received in the grand salon,
just beyond which is their famous hall
bibliotheque. Its decoration is said to
be considered the masterpiece OF a
great artist who does that sort of thing
for the rich While Nine De Ganay
was absorbed in some new arrivals
was left alone with Mile. Audrey. and
she offered to show. me her books I
fancy I was invited at the urgent re-
quest Of the young lady. who aims at
literary success and thinks I am a
great American novelist. The great
chimney piece of the library is rnagnifi-
cent The open fireplace is framed
in a carved chimney piece Of mar
Bile. the arched upper portion sup
ported by two human figures The
tiled interior, with its utensils of
wrought iron, is faced by two marble
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22

many apparent changes of costume
The use of a fancy bolero. il long
enough to conceal shortcomings In the
back Of the blouse. Will permit many
waist combinations, which any woman
can make up for herself at home. Rem
nants of silk, lace, chiffon and velvet
ribbon are capable Of conversion into
numerous biouses of the sleeveless
backless order that serve admirably
with the bolero for outdoor and even
for indoor wear.
CATHERINE TALBOT.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22

Gently swept the country Mneh
a certain paper took the trouble
to cable to this side a bit Of
news years old in England-viz, that
the Countess of Warwick had a gar
den of friendship wherein grew flow
ers, shrubs and trees planted only by
the hands Of friends.
The love of country life among Eng
lish people OF refinement is SO wide
spread that it is often spoken of as
national trait. The Englishman's love
Of open air life and rural scenes is the
real secret of his sturdiness in charac-
ter and physique It is hardly too far
fetched in his case to say that oxygen
is the backbone of the empire.
English homes, with their beautiful
parks or more restricted gardens, are
the sources Of inspiration for American
landscape gardeners. who have steadily
grown in numbers and prosperity as
wealth and culture have increased in
the United States.
Travel has partly served to form the
taste of the American people in this
respect. and education has had its
share in improving them American
women. however. have always been
fond of flowers. Even the Puritan wo-
men. although other vanities were es-
chewed. loved to plant about their
bleak dwellings the dainty blossoms
across the ocean.
There is not a cottage or a villa in
the suburbs which does not make some
pretensions toward having a garden.
Flowers are luxuries in which rich and
poor may, if they VIII, share with about
equal success
While the rich woman's garden may
be larger and may contain more ex-
pensive plants. it can be no prettier or
more interesting than that of her next
door neighbor who tends her flowers
with her own hands, with only taste
and good sense as her assistants.
While it may not be possible to emu
late the English women who have their
gardens of friendship and their Shake
spearean plots. in which grow every
plant mentioned by the bard Of Avon
any one may follow some original idea.
Possibly one OF the oldest gardens OF
III is the mermaid's garden. As any
enc might guess, the mermaid's garden
is one containing only aquatic plants.
It is popularity believed that a water
garden is possible only to the rich. who
can afford to build expensive glass
houses to cover the tank in which the
water flowers bloom only after high
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22
PARIS FASHION LETTER


the midst Of her entire. and when she
was assured that it was scarcely the
De Ganays' unimpeachable cook who
was guilty of such conduct she again
attacked her food.
believe Nine. De Ganay finally had
the rnenservants carry out the drunken
butler and send for the gendarme, but
her dinner had been hopelessly spoiled.
and she knew it. Moreover, she knew
that the next day the story would be
discussed in scores of boudoirs. Social
" such a contretemps meant perhaps
ruin
The princess proved a trump, how
ever She had not before made any
special effort to be agreeable. but when
Nine. De Garnay glided back to her
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22

Although every one cannot attempt
the cultivation of the magnificent Vic
toria regia, whose leaves are like dining
room tables, the lily family presents a
great variety of plants from which to
choose. Any of the hardy nymphseas
is easy to cultivate. So, too. are the 10
fuses or hardy nelumbiums. The water
hyacinth, wild rice, water snowflake
and the water poppy may all be raised
successfully by the amateur.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22

A charming afternoon gown has the
new corselet skirt made in silver gray
crepe de chine cloth, trimmed with gui-
pure lace. The underbodice is OF pale
mauve mousseline de sole and guipure
lace. The straps over the shoulder are
ornamented with large gold buttons of
quaint design. With this goes a pic
ture hat of tuscan crinoline trimmed
with shaded stocks in natural tints and
large tulle bow at the side, the brim
lined with tulle to match.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22

space can be dug directly in the ground
and filed in with closely laid bricks.
The ground should be taken out to the
depth of about three feet, the bricks
covering the earth to the depth of about
nine inches. The surface of the bricks
should then be covered with a good ce-
ment. In the center of such a pond
there may be put up a small rockery,
which viii diversity the appearance of
the water garden. When the artificial
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22

Water weeds must be carefully taken
out of the tank OF pond, and the inroads
of insects must be watched Washing
off with water win usually effectually
settle these pests.
Altogether there is no more fascinat-
ing form of Horticulture than the water
garden, and the fact that now almost
every florist has or can supply on order
any variety Of aquatic plant indicates
that its popularity is increasing.
ELLA MATTHIESSEN.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22
To Render Cloth Waterproof.

Stir one ounce of sugar Of lead and
one ounce Of powdered alum into gal
lon of rainWater, and when clear pour
Off the liquid Soak the cloth in this
for "a hours, and when dry it viii be
found quite rainproof- Material treated
in this manner should not be worn more
than necessary.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-22
JOUR FRONT
YARD


priced gardeners have exercised infinite
skill IN their development
On the contrary, any one who has a
small plot of ground and a water tight
tub, cask or a stout box may enjoy the
distinction of owning a water garden
If a tub is selected. a coating of tar