Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-11
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
PARIS, September q 1902

PARIS, September % 1902.
Winter hats are to be adorned with wings,
feathers and quilts. Even entire birds will
be introduced crowns. Milliners claim
that these trimmings are manufactured and
not genuine birds or natural plumage. This
statement is intended to soothe the
sciences of prescriptions patrons who
have an interest in the teachings of the Au-
dubOn Society, and I very much doubt it's
reliability. After all, genuine feathers
required to make up an artificial bird, and
1 cannot see that anything is gained by the
change. However, when odering a hat one
who would be fashionable must not fail to
say that real bird a genuine breast
must not be used in decorating the frame.
Milliners are getting a little weary of the
stipulation, and l yesterday witnessed in
one of the shops on the Avenue de IOpera
an amusing scene in which a woman's wit
won. The head of the establishment was in
attendance upon the Comtesse T., who de-
sires to be considered a philanthropist.
The beautiful velvet chapeau which the
titled lady was inspecting bore a handsome
~ colored parrot upon Its crown.
The prospective purchaser prodded the
plumage with daintily gloved finger.
IF L were quite the bird was a
manufactured one" she said hestatngly,
Il would order the hat at once. But 1t is
very tender heart that l have, and l
would not be able to hold up my head If l
knew carried about dead bird
Most assuredly, madame; but to a lady
OF your intelligence IL is quite unnecessary
for me to point out that such a parrot as
this is OF no genus known to ornitholo-
gists."
The customer wavered, and the milliner
smiled furtively.
"Oh, of course; 1 had not observed 1t
closely" said the lady. She had to my
knowledge been devoting fifteen minutes to
a critical scrutiny OF the hat. But now
mi I hur has III
an unnatural look. You may send it
home"
The brown chapeau for Comtesse T."
called the milliner triumphantly, and IL was
carried away by an attendant.
The Ruse That Won.
AS the lady of the parrot episode whisked
away TO her carriage the astute shopwoman
turned TO me.
81 knew she would take it rather than ad-
NIT that she knew nothing of ORTHODOXY.
Oh, these blue stockings amuse me! have
sold a half dozen hats in just that way.
A woman comes in, demurs over the birds
and I am almost required to supply a GER
tificate OF manufacture with each one.
Then / say Of course clever a lady has
observed that the bird is OF a kind not
known to science. She buys my hat"
But why use birds?' l asked. Surely
they are not artistic trimmings"
with that have nothing TO do. 1t is the
women themselves who set the fashions.
Some fine lady appears with a magnificent
bird hat and. behold the next season mil
liners shops are required to look like avn
aries. This is TO be a bird winter; birds,
breasts, wings. quilts, feather pompons and
similar trimmings Will surpass everything
else In popularity. Velvet draperieS and
birds are combined with very rich effect,
and I have yet to the modish woman
whose scruples sufficient to deter her
from receiving what fashion has decreed to
be acceptable"
'Are feathers to be the only trimmings?''
I asked.
NO; for those who will have them there
are velvet flowers, velvet grapes berries
and even peaches to adorn hat crowns and
brims. Then, too, there are smart cabo-
chons to secure draperies in position. These
are usually very large and are cut out In
beautiful openwork patterns. Dull gold,
silver and cut steel sometimes set with
gems. Outlined against the rich fabrics
they make very fine appearance. Plumes,
wings and osprey sprays are clasped into
position by these jeweled ornaments Small
buttons OF steel, gold silver or crystal hold
straps and ends Of trimming in position.
The Tailored Hats.
"On the so-called tailored hats these
small ornaments are particularly effective
Women sometimes fail to realize that a
good cabochon is a wise investment, and
that cheap ones are worthless even for one
season The inferior metal furnishes upon
exposure to the air for few times, while
the really fine ornaments look we'll season
after season"
What sort of ostrich feathers will be
fashionable-the long plume the short
tip7'
.The plume" replied the milliner. show
ing me very elegant one. "Plumes will
trail over the backs of hats and fall over
the hair. The latest Tudor hats are imi-
tated by the makers. and long plumes are
feQSired to soften the outlines of their Sc
verely simple draperies."
During this conversation we had been
str~lling about the shop, the milliner point
ing out certain hats which in some partic-
ulars illustrated the remarks she made. In
enc show case ] noticed small crane was