Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-04
THE QUEST OF BEAUTY
Fair Woman POLITICALLY
Likened to the Rose.
WHY IT MAY BE so
WEAR WEDDING WREATH BE-
CoMINGLY.
The Blossom Girdle is Fad
Among Flower
Lovers.

Copyright. 1908. BY T. c. McClure.)
Written for The Evening Star by Katherine Morton
The highest praise that can be offered to
beauty is to assert its resemblance to the
rose.
Fair Helen had cheeks like rose. Aa-
| FORA had rosy fingers. and to the fairest OF
| goddesses, Venus. this fairest OF MOWERS
| was dedicated. Sappho. who crowned the
rose the queen of flowers, was herself the
| Rose of Poesy."
All classical writers-HOmer, Horace,
Anacreon, Theocritus-tell US of beautiful
| women who were like this queen OF howers'
| who had rosy arms. rosy necks or rosy feet
| The monarchy of the rose Is. absolute. AMI
| her throne is the most ancient and the
| most secure Her supremacy is acknowi-
edged everywhere by all.
The woman who is worthy to be nkened
| to the rose should be fair and pure. Hoii-
ness in the ApOcryphal Scriptures, Is com
pared to a rose growing by the brook OF the
| field, and the flower is ever associated In
sacred writings with acts and thoughts Oh
holiness.
The discreet maiden, who takes no part
in gossip may be likened to the rose,
symbol of secrecy and silence AS such, 1t
was fastened up over the table at entertain
ments, in order that the sight of the mower
might remind the guests that the mirthfui
salies in which they INDUCED were not 20
be proclaimed in the market place. tbs
custom gave rise to the saying under the
rose" which was equivalent 10 an lnJunc-
ton of secrecy.
The fresh, pure gentle girl whose bushes
cannot be bought may also be likened to
rose. "She only wins the wise mans heart,
together with st. Medard'S wreath Is an
old saying.
St. Medard of France. in the sixth CEN
fury instituted festival at Salency. with
prize for the young girl who was &C,
fn no
modest. The prize was a wreath Of white
roses. This custom still survives the
crown of roses being yearly awarded to the
most modest of the village maidens
The flowers dedicated to brides are bride
roses and garlands Of roses are sent to q
betrothed maiden. II friend wishes to
convey her belief that the sweet maid has
won a lover as a reward Of virtue pink
roses are sent mingled with corn flowers.
which signify riches. Austrian roses say
thou art all that is lovely" China roses
are for joy. JacQueminots exhale tender
| love. Tea roses mean always fascinat-
| ing
If they choose other flowers than the
| rose the friends of the prospective bride
| have a practically unlimited field from
which to Gull sentimental messages. The
! rejected sutton. for example. may take his
| revenge by dashing the lady's happiness
with pang when she receives his bouquet
| of glowing marigolds, with their hldden
! messages of cruelty. or he may send mari
| colds and cypress. which wall despair.
| Perhaps he will be more merciful and send
some yellow roses to speak OF his mingled
| feelings of pleasure and pain.
The flowers with which a bride may adorn
| herself, besides roses, are lilies of the val
| ley. sweet peas and the fragrant stepha-
| motifs
Jasmine Is Worn, Too.
| Although orange flowers have been the
| accepted blossoms from time immemorial
for the bridal wreath. Jasmine is often
| worn. The maiden of Tuscany always
| wears a wreath of jasmine on her wedding
day. custom which has given rise to the
| saying "a girl worthy of wearing jas
| mine wreath Is rich enough to make a nus
| band happy.
| The wise bride will wear her wreath in
| the fashion that most becomes her. NOW
| that the couture wreath Is so fashionable.
| the fiat wreath arrangement OF the veil Is
the accepted mode, but it is not obligatory.
| particularly If the style does not happen to
| suit his face.
The artfuly artless grace of the spray
bouquet or the shower bouquet makes
| either style a favorite with brides. The
spray bouquet is held by the right hand.
falling over the left arm The shower bou-
quet is held directly in front, with both
| hands about the stems.
| A dainty conceit is for the flower girls
| to scatter before the bride rose leaves in
stead of flowers, the flower baskets being
| piled high with fresh rose petals. which
fall slowly from the flower girls hands.
| with the dancing ITOCk, MOWERS are the
accepted mode of decoration. and often
| the only touch of color given to the even
ing dress is its floral adornment Small,
| clustering pink roses are always charming
| forget-me- nots are lovely. and brown-eyed
daisies are becoming to dark-eyed beau
ties. The blond maiden may wear a bunch
of orchids. mingled with maiden-hair fern.
on the corsage the whole being tied with
long ends of velvet ribbon matching the
flowers in color. A spray Of the maiden
hair fern is worn in the hair.
Nothing Is more charming than floral
wreaths for the hair. For very dressy oc-
casions they ieweled. A wreath Of del
icate rose foliage. sparkling with crystal
dewdrops, has lovely pink rose on either
side: an orchid wreath has white aigrette
set with precious stones: and half wreath
| of snoWdropS glistenS with diamonds.
| A chaplet of laurel leaves entwined with
pearls is especially designed for Titan
tresses. and for the dark-haired woman
there is beautiful decoration in the form
of rings made of seed pearls with flax blue
ribbon velvet run in and out through the
rings or sprays of forget-me-nots.
A most fascinating flower decoration fol
raven tresses is the dainty wood violet In
half wreath or a mass at one side, quite
low down. or a deep red rose nestles II
the hair. contrasting charmingly with
| snowy throat and shoulders.
| 1t is a picturesque fashion to wear huge
| flowers over the ears This Is style be.
coming to most pretty women, although
only certain refinement will save The
wearer from the epithet bizarre"
The wearing of flowers at the side of tn;
head was the invention of Lady Henry Ben.
, timex, London beauty, who dresses In
an unconventional way. Recently she ap
peared at ball in gown of Iemon-coloret
, chiffon: the skirt was accordion pleateG
!, and the sleeves flowing masses of chiffon
Over each ear a large yellow chrysanthe
. mum was fastened. At a fancy dress bal
!, she impersonated Cleopatra. wearing lotu.
. | flowers in full bloom.
The blossom gtrdle. or shower girdle. /.
another artistic notion. a ribbon scarf cir
: die being finished at the left side by a loos,
, knot of tiny blossoms. from which falls {
shower of the same blossoms fastened II
. tiny ribbons of varying lengths. A whit,
. silk mousselne dotted with blue may hay,
: gtrdle of tiny overlapping green leaves
: with shower Of forget-me-nots and leaves
clustered In the bertha and around the Skin
; nounce and in the hair.
a Uesful Suggestions.
, good nursery powder is made Of:
/ Powered Fullers earth. -. -. 4 ozs.
D Powdered orris root. ....h OF.
: Powdered boric acid. -. %. %. drains
q | I'll Oh DeTB0mOL.... 70 0rOD0