The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-12-25
POPULARITY OF MOLESkIN.
A Fur That Promises to Be the Fad Of
the Season

New York Times: With the intro
duction of moleskin, which is the fad
of the season this year, there have
been brought out two other low-priced
furs Of similar appearance, the musk
mole and petit girls mole, making three
practically new furs, which Is a rare
occurrence in one winter. The intro
duction of moleskin is an evolution.
Fashion works in this way, seldom
making decided jumps, but changing
in a way which makes representations
of what is to be worn from one season
to another possible. Last year the
market was inundated and the femi-
nine world clothed in squirrel skin, and
1t is still much worn alone and in COM
binations. The fur has not staying
qualities for general use, it was be-
lieved, but it had admirers, for the soft
gray was becoming to many complex
ions. Hence the French arbiters of
fashion have offered this year another
fur In gray, but of a Amer quality and
with a beautiful luster.
Moleskfn has been practically I'M
known in this country. 1t Is more ia
miliar to London people, and has been
used in England for coat Innings as we
have, in previous years., used the gray
squirrel. Many of the skins tina are
used for fashionable furs still come
from Great Britain. They may be
found in many parts of many countries,
for the mole is not a rare animal. The
finest skins, however, come from ST.
IBERIA, the colder countries giving, in
these as in other animals, the thickest,
softest pelts.
The new fur has a beauty that the
| squirrel cannot boast. Each hair has a
conformation like the cutting Of a fine
diamond, which produces in the fur,
as a whole, exquisite shades, and it
tones from gray into green n into
brown as it is seen in different lights.
For his reason it makes up delight
fully with gowns of green, and is fire.
quently seen in this combination and
occasionally. though less often, with
brown.
Furriers say that the fad will not be
of long duration, for the skins are ex-
pensive, not only from their small size
they are barely 5 inches long when
stretched-but also because of the
thinness and delicacy of the texture,
which causes it to crack and break.
The greater number, if not all, of the
skins must be mended after they are
| dressed before they are made up.
In it's wake the moleskin has brought
the two other furs which resemble it in
appearance and are sometimes said to
be limitations. They are really individ-
ual skins sold at much lower prices.
One of these, in plain language, is sim
lAJ " - - y VI iieoh ~ olIo
is what is known as the musk mole,
the mole lending its name to give it
standing. This is of a similar gray
color, a heavier, coarser fur, and as can
be seen in the made pieces a much
larger skin. 1t also comes from Rus
STA. 1t is inexpensive, and where at a
frst-class furriers a moleskin muff
will cost from $40 to $45, a musk mole
muff can be bought for $12. 1t makes
an attractive fur, II it's wearing quail
tiles are much better than those of the
finer skin.
The third fur is our old friend, the
squirrel, or, as it was called by the
French, petit girls, little gray. In its
new form this year it is called petit girls
mole. 1t is the squirrel skin clipped,
the shorter hair giving it a molelike
effect. The fad of last year., which has
by no means died out, and the clipped
squirrel is more expensive than the
long-haired. While a muff of the lat
ter will cost SIG. n of the new style,
Detit girls mole. will cost 500