The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-29
HOW K1MoNos ARE MADE.
Charming Costumes of a Japanese
 Visitor.
.rA. vA.,. ,r.,,.....

New York Tribune.
 | Rightly made and rightly worn, there | is nothing more comfortable or more lux urious looking in the way of a negligee 1 than a kimono. But the kimono must have the requisite width of shoulder, the real long sleeve, the whole dainty finish of the Japanese garment. to be a thing | of art. Just how to give the inimitable necessary touches only the Japanese themselves know.
 A visitor from the far eastern country recently como to this part of the world equipped not only with useful store of English. but with twenty or more be- witching native costumes, has been help Ing g new-made friend to evolve one of these attractive garments out of some
 queer blue and white Japanese material. All Japanese girls are taught at home
 how to sew, by the way. Naturally. the little Japanese woman took the lead It
 must all be done after certain order
 first the two long pieces cut. and sewed
 together half way. to form the back, then
 left for the front: next a slash must be
 cut on each side where the seam stops,
 to form tho neck opening-Iust so far;
 and tiny bamboo measuring stick Is
 brought into use for this and other di-
 mensions; then two narrow strips must
 be added to the fronts, just how far up
 off toward the neck; the sleeves, long and
 wide, set on square to the shoulders, are
 imperatively next, and the folding collar
 last of all.
 There are certain inexorable ''musts"
 of finish about kimono; the sleeve front
 corners must be made square for a child
 and rounded for a woman. The front
 edges of the hem at the skirts bottom
 mIrst be turned in at an angle: the collar
 mus h made to fold by tying three tiny
 drawstrings When worn the kimono
 fronts must be crossed with the left side
 cut, tho two-inch belt. or "kimo," must
 go around the waist twice. and be tied
 in {. square knot. with short ends, in
 front and oyer this the more elaborate
 girdle. or "obi.' with cushionlike bow
 behlpi. Because. forscoth all this is as 1t was in the beginning.
 To one who has struggled. who has
 watched ones maid struggle to pack summer wardrobe into even capacious trunks, there is something most appeal small space 1t couples. Another must" kimOnos must always be folded in one way, which produces a compact. flat re- suit about the size and shape of a linen sheet folded from the laundry, and a dozen or moro kimonos, in flat piles, re- quiro amazingly little space.
 And the cost of these unique garments? In Japan a charming silk kimono silk lined and beautifully made. costs five or six yen, which equals &. 50 or 8 of our money. Other kimonos. in linen, silk and crepe, range in price from Sl to S4 or $5, crepe being usually the most extensive
 Although the Japanese visitor dresses In conventional American costume by day. she Is only too glad to appear at the even Ing dinner in native costume, as her hostess urges. Tt is so much more com rortatle." the dark-eyed guest answers, In her child-like voice. Her outside kim ono is oftenest soft gray or dull blue striped silk, or pale green crepe. one and all lined with delicate toned silk: but this rather sober outer gar ment are worn two. three or four silk or crepe kimonos. in exquisitely rich colors We are proud to have very beautiful our kimonos that do not show" the soft voice PXDlaina and indaAd fhaU Hn 0f show. except for the bits of color which their ample sleeves reveal at the wrists. To the practical color and fabric-loving American, all this hidden beauty seems an arrant waste.
 The dainty little foreigner is in her finest when she wears a delicate pearl gray silk outer kimono with her family crest inconspicuously woven in white at cloth or "haneri," just showing, a sump-