Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-30
TOILET OF A NORTH HOLLAND
FRAU.

AS Much Time Spent on It as on That
of Modern Belle.
The toilet of simple North Hol-
land frau who wears her national cos.
tune requires as much time and
painstaking care as that of devoted
follower OF fashion. In the first
place, lshe must put on innumerable-
nst5rshts, so as tQ-mIa make herr her dress
skirt stand out as much as possible,
and this effect is often increased by
wearing beneath the last petticoat
a sausage shaped pad, which is placed
around the body just below the waist
line. The dress is really the simplest
part Of the whole costume, for it is
always made in the same style-a
very short, plain fitting waist, with
rather small sleeves and skirt,
breadths and breadths around, which
is fulled on to the waist in the old
fashioned way of our great-grand-
mothers gowns. The material used
for 1t is generally woollen, in plain
brown, blue or green, for silks and
brocades are reserved for the burgo-
masters family and persons of high
rank; but the woollen goods in Hol.
land are so charming in color and
soft in texture that one almost pre-
fers them to the more expensive i'm.
ported stuffs.
1t is really to the head dress that
the greatest attention is given. First,
the hair is combed plainly back and
arranged in as small coil as pos
sible, and then entirely covered by
close black silk cap. Next a broad
silver or gold band is placed around
the temples with queer looking hinge
shaped ornaments; and, in case of
great wealth or rank, a small chain,
studded with one or more Jewels, is
hung across the forehead between
these side ornaments. This addi-
tional piece Of jewelry is worn by
Queen Wilhelmina in her photograph
taken in the national costume. In
reality, however, in travelling through
the country one seldom sees this jew
elry, as it is considered an expensive
luxury.
After the black cap and the head
band are carefully adjusted blue
gauze cap is tied on, and then, finally
comes the white embroidered cap,
which is drawn we'll down on the
forehead and has narrow rufIle at
the back and small pointed corners
turned back over the ears.
If its a gentlewoman who still
clings to the old customs, for out of
door use she adds a scuttle shaped
straw bonnet, quite devoid of trim
mings and only bound around the
edge with silk the same color as her
dress. But, unfortunately, many,
having become too fashionable for
this sort of head gear, perch a mod
ern looking bonnet on top of their
national coiffe, with the result of
making themselves quite absurd.
To complete her toilet the frau has
only to put on black or colored silk
apron, the white neckerchief and the
coral necklace and earrings, when
she is quite ready to go to church
with her guide man," who in some
districts is as quantity dressed as
his wife and who, if he is thorough
Dutchman, will smoke his pipe turned
upside down as he walks by her side.
The headdress and coral jewelry
of Dutch woman are usually heir
looms, and vary greatly, according
to the riches of the family. The gold
fastening of the coral necklace also
may be anything from very small
plain clasp to one the size of a
brooch covered with expensive nil
gree work, and when it is large
enough to satisfy the pride of the
owner it is always worn in front.
One or all of these pieces of jewelry
form a part of every girls dot, while
the remainder Of it among the farm.
ing people Of the north consist OF
COWS and sheep. It is most amusing
to hear it said Of young woman who
is about to marry: "She has an ex.
ceuent dot; fifty COWS and sheep, a