The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-03
NEWS OF THE SHOPS.


 A beautiful umbrella handle is of ivory in the design of a full-blown rose.
 Linen couch covers are among the sea- sonable offerings and can be purchased from $1 up.
 Among the attractive belts are those of scarlet silk elastic, studded with steel or gilt nailheads.
 Delaines the real old-fashioned delaines, are coming in again and are appearing in charming quaint and old-time patterns.
 Brooches in French gray or French gilt | that in form represent several different flowers are to be purchased as low as 50 cents each A hand-painted brush and comb set is shown in a cream-tinted china decorated with roses. The set consists of the brush, comb and tray.
 | A pretty child's hat is of airy white | straw and is faced with shirred pink chif 1 fon and simply trimmed with a bow and | | long streaming ends of pink liberty silk. l Sash ribbons are in great demand this | | season. A very lovely one is of cream | white, with a rose design, the edge being 1 banded with narrow edge of red satin. Bracelets are now shown shaped like finger. rings wide and massive on the | 1 ensions. They have rich settings and heavy gold chasings.
 | wrist bag of lisse leather has trim- | mings of gilt and has a large imitation | amethyst set in gilt attached to the chain This is held between the fingers in car | rying the bag.
 The more old-fashioned the jewelry the better, for the fad is for old-fashioned styles and the shops are showing brooch es, bracelets, etc, that closely resemble those of our grandmother's day.
 A chair which is decidedly Frenchy in appearance is in gilt, both the framework l and the cane seat being of the gilt It Is not only graceful In shape, but is more comfortable than the gilt chair usually shown.
 Belts are shown in sufficient variety to satisfy all tastes. They come in the mar rowest widths and run up to the broad directoire belts, made of black silk with a large square buckle of velvet or one of silver rope form.
 Umbrella handles grow most gorgeous and many freak handles such as bird, dog and cat heads are shown. In fact, nearly all the animal heads are to be had. Ball heads which look almost topheavy and fill even generous-sized hand are still popular and are made in all sorts of metals as well as crystal and enamel. It almost seems to the casual observer that these umbrella handles are made to be seen, not for comfort in carrying, for most of them are awkward to hold.
 Point d esprit Is used for children's shirred hats and bonnets and is trimmed with narrow baby ribbon.
 For $1 50 are to be had some beautiful belt clasps in rose gold, oxidized and French gray finish, having turquoise and rhinestone settings.
 | Crosses are rather modish for wear on the long chains and are to be had in gun metal with amethyst settings or in French gilt and enamel for $2 up.
 Grapes are still favored in embroidery and are to be seen on linen waists and suits as well as in the lovely straw ap- pliques that come for hat trimmings.
 The maline neck bows are being super seded by those made of white net dotted in colors. These dots come in nearly all the colors-red, blue, green, pink and yell low.
 Partly made robe dresses are to be found in all the shops and are all complete save for the finishings which can be done even by the amateur dressmaker with very lit- tie trouble, waistband put and sleeves and collar fitted. They are to be had in all white embroidered and lace trimmed robes, in dainty colored linen ones and in the loveier and more expensive lace robes.
 The figure of a greyhound resting is in- tended to be used as a paperweight and makes a good gift to dog lovers.
 A small metal turtle very lifelike in de- sign conceals tape measure which coils and hncoils by means of spring.
 For the summer cottages are bedspreads that match the window curtains, the lat ter being In white muslin futed in gay figured muslin upon the border side. These bedspreads match every curtain variety of this kind and are usually made with a valance,
 Small fans four or five inches long in white and black as well as the colors are sold for 50 cents and are worn attached to the long chains, milady affects. A more | expensive but lovely one of blue was at tached to blue bead chain while white ones are shown attached to the popular | pearl chains
 In the shoe departments one sees low cut shoes everywhere and it Is said that the high cut shoes will not be at all worn | during the coming summer; it is to be | oxfords, first last and all the time. | Among the new ones the Butcher tie, | the Du Barry court tie and the Butcher | having the large eyelets. The court tie has large eyelets worked buttonholes and is tied with broad ribbon bows.
 Delicate green ferns are arranged around the upper brim of large hat of Neapolitan straw, This is white, and it Is made in tiny circular ruffles with a | couple of folds of white maline between | each row of straw. Toward the front and | again at the back are punches of large | white cherries just touched with pink, l and far out on the brm are long twists | and knots of white liberty satin ribbon. l An imported white Swiss has blended | stripes of light blue and black silk half | an ich apart. Every short distance a | green trailing vine runs through the ma- terial. The Swiss is 30 cents a yard. Flow | cred organdies for trihe less than this