Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-16

special correspondence or The Evening Star.
PARIS, March 6, 1901.
Here we are again with spring fashions
all but staring us in the face and the per-
ennially battling question of what to wear
Or what not to wear ready to bother US
anew. Happy those halcyOn days when
the ladies of the race were content with
fig leaf aprons! Then there were no nerve
racking questions of cut and lit and adorn-
ment to harrow the heart, absorb the time
and empty the treasury. After all. the
serpent displayed true genius in evil in
that historic coup de main in fruit that in
trOduced dressmakng into the world.
When one goes shopping there is every
where an indefnable anticipatory excite
ment, behind the scenes the new modes are
In preparation, indeed, are being shown in
part to the fortunate few.
The pretty little saleswoman in charge
Of a lingerie department took me aside the
other day to show me some of the newest
effects. For definite novelties this seems
to bid fair to be the red letter season.
Petticoats. or, to put 1t less indelicately
In the yelled French, jupOns, are distinctly
smart and original. Fashionable women
have never taken with much enthusiasm to
the black underskirt, be it of silk or the
economical sateen. Therefore to own a skirt
of that sort was TO make patent the fact
that ones means We're limited which heav-
en- forbid, since in this age poverty is on
par with crime. The spring fashions indi-
cate that the black skirt is no longer to
be outlawed. Instead It will be one of the
smartest adjuncts to the wardrobe. The
fashionable black petticOat is made of the
finest qualities of black muslin, and is
trimmed with costly ChantiIly lace in
white, black, cream or corn color When
hon l. 4fafs s1,l
are run behind the rows of insertion to
match the prevailing color of the costume
Bows and knots of ribbon loop up the
lace LOUNGES and set off the Softness of
rows Of lacy ruching. The white muslin
pettIcoats are treated with ribbon in much
the same way, although the effect is not so
chic or striking.
Fancy Muslin skirts.
There is every prospect that the wash
petticoat will be Worn more than it has
been for years. The blanchisseuse who
looks after my soiled linen first appraised
me of this with a chuckle of profound de-
light Her daughter works in one of the
great dressmaking establishments and
brought the news home to her hard-work-
ing parent, whose thrift, 1 am told, has
laid by enough to set up Susette in a dress
making establishment of her own when
death hands over her fat bank book to the
aspiring young woman.
holy of HOLES of one of the great -coutu-
riereS, / learned that the white petticoat
of the coming spring and summer will be
not unlike the coat which Jacob made for
his favorite sOn-nOt of one but of many
cOlors, and In harmOnizing shades of fancy
muslin. EmbTOideTieS, too, or dyed laceS
will be set into the white foundation in
quaint and novel designs. The best jupOn
models are made with one deep ffounce and
given flare below by the use of a full frill-
ing set near the hem, the fiounce occupying
about twO-thirds of the length of the skirt
and usually plated to a fitted yoke. The
use of several separate fiounces is not ia
bOOed, but such a trimming is much less
pretentious than the new one-founce fash
Ion.
SILK PetticOats, Too.
SILK petticOats will. of course, not be en-
tirely shelved. They are too useful and too
luxurious to be done away with since we
have learned how well they will support
the outlines of trying skirt. With tailor
,1,,,.- cill