Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-08

NEW YORK, November 6. 1902.
This is pre-eminently a lace season, and
the belle of the hour is Irish crochet. The
exquisite laces made by the peasant girls
OF Ballyshannon are the ones preferred by
French costumers, whose rarest models are
laden with the spoils of the hooked needle.
Preferably in the purest white. these ra-
dIant dentelles combine a marvellous dura-
bility with great delicacy of pattern. Scat
tered through a webbing of light knots and
airy threads there will be heavy flower and
fruit designs these shaping set pattern
for collars, cuffs and vest pieces. In the
insertions. which are much used in four
inch widths. the shamrock Is a frequent de-
sign the emblematic leaf showing up beau
tifully, thick and close against the fairy
backgrounds. In truth. never was crochet
carried to such point of perfection as In
these laces, and. commonplace as the name
sounds, the pieces are treasures to be priced
forever. For of course. you know Irish
crochet cannot be bought by the yard. 1t
comes in gown lengths-pieces of ten yards
usually-an of which must be taken by
single purchaser, who is lucky indeed II
she gets the chance to do her bargaining on
the other side. Bought directly at the Bal
lyshannon Convent, considering the toll and
the time II has taken to make it. this won
derful lace seems ridicuiously cheap. Once
It has passed the customs and gone into
New York shop 1t is the privilege
of the few. pattern of unusual love-
liness-great pond lilies tangled in with the
most fragile webbing-cost on it's native
heath but S12.
And now with this preliminary, let me
tell you of love of house frock lavish
with Ballyshannon crochet. The dream
had come from Paris for the special adorn-
ment Of bride in the smart set. who like
wise includes in her trousseau some charm
ing StOcklpSS waists Satin 10 chine
in a rich ivory white was the material of
the gown. which was made with princess
back and belted front. Over this the
fronts of the outside hung loose al the
waist with band of the lace edging, then
stole-fashOn to the bottom of the gown.
There two bias foot founces were headed
with the entire deuX. whose passion flower
design was repeated in shaped pieces on
the bodice portion of the garment One of
these outlined iaunty bolero effect. topped
by deep rolling collar. and two others
formed an edge for the flowing sleeves.
The top of the sleeves were In short puff,
from which the lower sections fell in
shaped fiOunce, elbow length.
The Touch of Blue.
A delightful detail of the jacket arrange
ment was a bias scarf Of pale blue velvet,
which ercircled the body under the arms
and knotted in a bunchy rosette at the
bust. This blot of color also appeared in a
crush belt holding down a full vest Tiny
tucks fitted the princess oyer-effect at the
waist.
Torchon is another lace in which fash
iOnab!e interest is being revived. but the
new webs bear little resemblance to the
hOmely founders of the family. Made of
black and colored silk-these last in deli
cate tints to match the new gown stuffs-
the torchon laces seen on some of the
French fTocks are yeritable garnftures de
luxe. The old square meshes diamond and
Maltese designs and ragged loop edges alone
attest their right to the name, for the wash
threads in which they were once made are
conspicuous by their absence. Blue, in the