Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-12
DREssMAKERs IN SESSION.

y
look in our eyes during the last day or
SO. 1t is not due to the fact that we have
lost interest in life. but because we have
been seeking to keep abreast OF the pro-
ceedngs of the Dressmakcrs National
| Convention now In session in New York
city. Indirectly the transactions OF this
body affect us far more deeply than
does the financial aspect Of the tariff
/ question, or even the price Of coal.
| The newspaper reporters. ever faithful
| but not always competent to grappe with
| all the subjects they write about, have
! struggled brave!y to tell us what the
| Dressmakers' convention has been and
| is doing, but we don't know whether they
| have made things clear or not. At times
the subject matter Of the discussions be-
fore the august body to which we allude
| has gotten beyond our grasp. For in
| stance one OF the fair speakers on Tues
| day enlightened her audience on THE
| Best Way Of Putting on Corset" The
| information dispensed was undoubtedly
valuable. and it was conveyed in a thor
| oughiy lucid way. yet even with all this
light before us we wouldn't undertake to
put on a corset for yellow gold.
Scarcely less important to those who
are subservient to the n7odes-and one
might as well be dead as out Of fashion
| was thrilling discourse bea utifully out
lining. both by models and verbal sug-
gestions, How the Necessity for Bustle
have had a few words to say on this
subject ourselves had we been at the con-
vention, but it appears that our advice
was not needed on this line.
At Wednesdays session Of the dress
makers many wildly exciting novelties
and ecccntricities Of fashion were intro
duced. Conspicuous among this class was
a '.Kimona tailor gown" and while some
body else will have to tell what the thing
is. we observe that one of the delegates
remarked that the term was ''incongru-
Gus and inapt.' This much we CLEAN
from the reporters, however, to-wit: that
sit falls to the waistline in the back and
dips down in front It is of gray panne
velvet and is semi-f1tting in the back.
But the front is laid in loose plaits and
does not follow a line OF the figure. It is
long and straight and has flowing eff
feet which. by the way. it will be the
most difficult thing in the world to sue
cessfully initiate"
1t was also announced at this meeting
that grapes appear to be coming into
4r;r
gowns are covered with clusters of silk
and velvet grapes and leaves till some
of the skirts have the applique fruit from
waist to hem, and a border about the
decollete bodice makes the wearer look
like fair Bacchante''
There is a curious and pathetic coinci-
dence in connection with the convention
The very day it was in session there
died in Yonkers, N. Y, the well-known
poet and lawyer, William Allen Butler,
who evidently knew and appreciated the
ways of women and dressmakers as much
as any mortal that ever donned trousers
There could be no more appropriate eulo-
gy of the departed poet and no more appo-
site compliment to the ladies than to APP
pend herewith an extract from Buffers
low:
Miss Flora McFlmsey, of Madison
Square.
Has made three separate journeys to
Paris
And her father assures me each time she
was there
That she and her friend. Mrs. Harris.
Spent six consecutive weeks without stop
ping
In one continuous round of shopping
Shopping alone and shopping together,
At all hours Of the day and in all sorts
of weather;
For al manner of things that a woman
can put
On the crown of her head or the sole
of her foot.
Or wrap round her shoulders or fit round
her waist;
Or that can be sewed on, or pinned on,
or laced.
Or tied on with a string or stitched on
with a bow,
In front or behind, above or below;
For bonnets, mantellas, capes, collars
and shawls;
Dresses for breakfasts, and dinners, and
balls;
Dresses to sit in. and stand in. and walk
in:
Dresses to dance in, and firt in, and talk
in;
Dresses in which to do nothing at all;
Dresses for winter, spring. summer, and
fall
All of them different in color and shape;
Silk. muslin, and lace, velvet. satin and
crepe;
Brocade and broadcloth and other mate
Quite as expensive and much more ethe-
real.
In short, for all things that could eyer
be thought OF
Or milliner, nnodiste, or tradesman be
bought of.
And vet, though scarce three months
have passed since the day
This merchandise went on twelve carts
up Broadway.
This same Miss N1cFlimsey. of Madison
Square,
The last time we met was in utter de-
spair,
Because she had nothing whatever to
wear.
'tThe Richmond Dispatch speaks Of the |
motives which prompt Us to make wry