Evening star., 1901-09-14

people, and they will come to see the new
dresses. And then in helpless wrath I
burst out with: "Oh. of course! If we are
acting simply as dress and cloak models in
the 9TH avenue show room, I can't object
any longer. You see. was under the i'm
preston people came here to see us act
your play, not to study our clothes-for-
give me my error!' For which 1 distinctly
deserved forfeit, but we were far past
our unfriendfy days. and I received moth
ing worse than stern: 'T am surprised at
you. Miss Norris" and at my rueful re-
sponse: Yes-so am / surprised at Miss
Norris, he laughed outright and pushed
me toward the open door. bidding me hurry
over to the dressmaker's. / had a partial
revenge, however, for one Of the plates he
insisted on having copied for me turned
out so hideousiy unbecoming that the dress
was retired after one nights wear, and he
made himself responsible for the bill.
A Bitter Experience.
Sometimes a girl loses her chance at
small part that it is known she could do
nicely. because some other girl can outdress
her-that is very. bitter. Then, again. so
many plays now are Of the present day
and when the terribly expensive garment is
procured it can only lie worn for that one
play. and next season it is out of date.
When the simplest fashionable gown costs
$l2o what must ball gown with cloak,
gloves, fan, slippers and all, come to?
There was a time when comic artists joked
dDOuI Inc $lO DeSt nat 1Or wives the
shop that carried $40 best hats today would
be mobbed-$20 and $50 are quite ordinary
prices now.
So the young actress unless she has
some little means. aside from salary. a
father and mother to visit through the Idle
months and SO eke that salary out, is bound
to be tormented by the question Of clothes
for she Is human and wants to look as
well as those about her. and besides, size
knows the stage manager Is not likely to
seek out the poorest dresser for advance
ment when an opening occurs.
Recently some actresses, whose acknowl-
edged ability as artists should, 1 think.
have lifted them above such display, al
lowed their very charming pictures to ap-
pear In public print. with these headings:
Miss B in her $500 dinner Dress"
in her $500 tea gown''-and then later there
appeared elsewhere: Miss Ms s1OO par
asol." Now, had these pictures been given
to illustrate the surprising grace or beauty
have appeared gracious one a sort Of
friendly tip on the newest things out
but those Haunting price tags lowered it
ali. In this period OF prosperity a spirit of
mad extravaganza Is abroad In the land.
Luxuries have become necessities, fine feel
ing is blunted, consideration for others is
forgotten. Those who published the pic
lures and prices of their clothes were good
women. as well as brilliant artists, who
would be deeply panied If any act of theirs
should fill some sisters heart with bitter
envy and fatal emulation-being driven on
to competition by the mistaken belief that
the fine dresses had made the success of
their owners. Oh, for little moderation
a little consideration for the under girl in
the struggle for clothes!
Dress Models.
In old times of costume plays the man
ager furnished most of the wardrobe for
the men (oh. lucky menD, who provided
but their own tights and shoes-and, judg-
Ing from the extreme beauty and richness
OF the costumes Of the New York plays of
today, and the fact that a lady Of exauis-
lite taste designs wholesale, as one might
say, all the dresses for production after
production, it would seem that the man.
agement must share the heavy expenses
OF such costuming, or else salaries are very
much higher than they We're few years
ago In France the stage no doubt partly
fills the place of the departed court in pre-
senting new fashions to the public eve and
doing 1t with the graceful aplomb that has
carried many doubtful innovation on to
sure success. Those beautiful and trained
artists take pleasure in first presenting the
style other women are to folIow-and vet
they share the honor 60 with another
class, whose most audacious follies in
dress, while studied from the corner Of
downcast eye, are nevertheless slavishly
followed
How many Of the thousands Of women
who years ago wore the large, f1aring-
back felt hat knew they were following
the Wh1m of women known to the half
world as Cora Pearl? Not pretty, but of
very beautiful figure, and English by
birth, she was, one might say, "of course"
a good horsewoman. She banqueted late
one night-so late that dawn was graying
the windows and the sodden faces Of her
guests when, they began to take their
leave. She had fndulged in too much wine
for comfort; her head was hot. She was
seized with one of the wild whims Of her
lawless class. She would mount then and
there and ride in the Bois! Remonstrances
chilled her whim to iron will! Horses were
sent for-her maid aroused! She flung on
her habit and held her hand out for her
chapeau. There was none!
"Mademoiselle should recall the new rid
ing hat had been too small-had been re-
turned for blocking!"
Tires bien, lie vieux done! Vitew
"Oh, mon Dieu-il fut donne-" A quick
blow stopped further explanation.
Rapid Trimming.
"Quelle que cruche que cote fillev Then
moments silence-a rowing about Of the
small hot eyes and with bound she tore
from an American artists hand his big
soft felt hat! Turning the Tapping brim
up, she fastened 1t to the crown In three
places with jeweled pins, tore a bunch of
velvet from her dinner corsage, secured 1t
directly in front, and, clapping it on the
back Of her head dashed downstairs and
was in the saddle with scrabble and a
bound and away like mad, followed by two
men, who were her unwilling companions.
Riding longer than she had intended, she
returned in broad daylight. All Paris was
agog over her odd headgear. Her impu-
dent, laughing face caught their fancy yet
again, and she trotted down from the Arc
de Triomphe between two ripping little
streams of comment and admiration, with,
'Comme ellie est belief" "Quel aplomb!'
"Matin! Quel chic!" Ellie est fort gentille!"
"C'est la coup de grace!" lie chapeau! lie
chapeauv La belle Perl! Ia belle Peril
reaching her distinctly every other mo-.
ment. And that was the origin Of the back
turned, broad-brmmed hat that had such
vogue before the revival Of the Gains
borough, or picture-hat.
Fine Acting Best.
If 1 were young actress would rather
be noted for acting than for originating
new style of garment-but 1t is free coun-
try, thank God! and big one, with room
for us all, whatever our preferences! And
though the young actress has the clothes
question heavy on her mind now and finds
it hard to keep up with the others, and at
the same time out of debt, she has the
right to hope that by and by she will be so
good an actress and so valuable to the
theater that a fat salary will make the
clothes matter play second fiddle-aS is
right and proper it shouId-to the question