The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-01-20

When all the world OF fashion was
struggling out of a prismatic chaos Of
color she stood serene in the very center
of hight and allowed Its brilliancy ITO
glance across her. The colors found a
resting place in the knot OF black which
adorned her and from that they harmo-
nized the whole.
One day young artist sat in a gall
1ery In Paris painting. In front OF him
stood an almost hopeless canvas The
master, passing an hour later, stopped
TO admire.
How did you do it?' he asked.
Il pulled VI togeeher with a few
blackss said the artist, laconically.
Black is considered by many who study
color the keynote TO effect. Sir Thomas
Lipton, looking down into tho water on
the side OF his yacht, pronounced %
black guest, holding UP a diamond.
turned 1t until 1T showed ebony in its
depths. Unless in your color scheme
there Is chance to see black from one
view point or another yon may as we'll
hesitate before pronouncing your gown
completed.
The ways in which black Is used this
season are numerous. Some of them are
so novel that you must see them to be-
lieve; others are qulte stereotypcd, yot
none THE less pretty because cast In an
ancient mold of fashion
Take the little rosette which is as old
as the recent hills. Ut is made Of numer-
GUS loops OF velvet, some long and some
short and all joined together with little
loop in the center to form a tight hard
middle This rose5,e. in just this form,
Is used upon gowns in all sorts OF ways,
upny nf them gtainr worry oIl indepd
a SKIRT of lace and tuclIs, with nounce
around the foot has its knots OF black
velvet placed ait intervals upon the skirt.
They go round and round il, roeSette
beng PLACED every eighteen inches or 50
and are apparently without motive. They
hold nothing; they merely decorate.
Black is singular in its decorative re-
spect. 1T is used as an ornament sel-
dom is ut a utility agent Upon The bust
unere will be a great bow, sometimes
a squash bow of Jlacle satin, but H. lie
rot there Tor service. a whole yard OF
black satin is shirrcd around the outside
edge and then caught down i'm the mid.
die ito make ibhg soft OF ornament, n is
placed or ''plankCd" directly upon tho
bust high and li{tle to one side. but
II has no part In tho economic scheme
of the gown.
so with the black side streamers, nov
so fashionable. They are caught upor
the side. of the belt and are allowed tC
dapgle low upon dhe skirt. They are
from six to twelve in number, most o
them finished with a gold ornament o
spike" The ends hang straight, il
varying lengths, all the way to the knees
and are fastened to the belt with q hi,
broad gold pin. belt OF any color a
all may be finished in this way
The black sash Is another recent IA
OF fashion 1t consists of strips of blac'
ribbon. about -four inches wide Thes
are fastened together at the top with
gorI ornament; tho ends hang. Their
are as many OF them as may be desired
sopstimes -four. sometimes ten; enc
Is fpiehea with an ornament and AMI as
allowed ITO hang straight
Velvet. ribbon rs much used; so ais
is two-faced satin ribbon; besides thes
there are the fancy ribbons with thei
open work stripes: and the ribbons tnu
are merely glace without any attemT
alt velvet or satin effects. In tho fame
rsbbons the variety is great ana fame
oan be suited.
But n Is in other ways that black
used besides THAT OF rosdttcs ana sash,
and rYbbou bows. which, however pre;t
req,bire no ingenuity II Is upon II
other uses of black THAT the mnlial,
han spent their dime and upon wlpch N
couturleres have devoted their hours
Thought, assisted by the artists who,
Paris ait least, arc so Important an az
jrre't to every dressmaking estahl lshmen
Tho artist does moro toward tho gowi
in+s than most women imagine Selho
IL handsome gown finished that son
artist has not outlined a color schen
Tor IL; never Is there n plaid turned o
OF the loom that an artist has not pr
nollnced III correct from color stan
point
In tine uses Of black the work of {
artist us always needed and, in III
black novelties that are this year plac
before women, the finger OF THE arti
is plainly seen.
AN ilhfstraton OF this was seen r
Gently at one OF the most elegant fun
tions OF 1.-THE new year, The occasion vi
farewell reception given by q wealtl
women for her daughter. who was to
marred AT these farewell reception
the hostess can be elegantly gowned. an
indeed. Nike THE bride at a wedding, II
expected that she will outshlne her CUES
In the matter OF toilet.
~
The gown worn by this woman WAS
black lace. very fine and very rich
silky feel and luster, Though its varle
was not plainly apparent, NJ was figur
with roses. and THESE roses were ha,
painted, detcate lovely shade OF 70
pink being chosen. The effect was bea
ttful, though rather odd-the soft. op
Fabric OF lace. encrusted with the paint
roses.
To paint lace well Is one OF the mo
uifhcult OF tasks, and Thorough arts
must be employed for 1t. OIL eolors a
used an1 THE fabric becomes stGffen
aud quite contrary to the nature OF La
Very frequently a bit OF satin, of /
very same shade as the roses, ds SIS, n
der the painted parts thus giving IN,
depth. Painted lace has been used
fans end on panels aud small portions
the gowns, but this season II makes
debut as whole gown fabric.
A delighful fancy in the treatment
black is by the use OF chenille In
Is applqqued upon silk or satin and a al
rim OF chenille is run around tine Ia
gown Of this description was mos1
tereshlng II was OF unstlffencd taffe
which is enc of the softest and sikh,
fabrics known.
The skirt was cut quite conventionh
with flare around the foot, and G
tending around THE Fare WAS a gradual
ruhfe, rather marrow i'm the front, I
wide I'm the back. Lace pieces were a
phqued upon ghe rufIle, and around /
lace pieces OF figures ran very narr