The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-24

crumble into dust. Through the rack and ruin of ages dress still reigns supreme. The cut of gown, the set of a sleeve, the tying of a bow-each tells it's own tale.
 The locker on realizes the potency of fashion when she reflects that it is not hy their great deeds or their foibles or virtues that the great personages of centuries past live in our memories, but rather from something which appeals more intimately to womankind.
 The world remembers la Pompadour because she invited particular fashion of wearing her hair Du Barry loved a vivid hue of rose pink Marie Antoinette revolting against the stiff court costrue was wont to wear a vaporous muslin fichu, while the unfortunate Charlotte Corday assumed the pretty little cap for ever after dubbed the "Corday."
 Thus the fact htat certain eventful eras are impressed upon our minds by some fashion. demonstrates the value ot a costume exhibit as a factor in educa- tion.
 History is Told.
 In the marvellous palais de costume at the worlds fair the history of eostuming for all time is told. The erudite student notes the correlation of costuming and history The manufacturer looks at 1t from another point of view, examining the textiles os realistically reproduced. The lapidary revels in the quaint set ting of scintillant gems, and the dress maker learns an obpect lesson In the styles of an almost forgotten past
 The styles of olden days are illustrated by the dress of the Gaulish women of primitive times; a Roman interior shows the ideas of costuming of the ladies Of the empire Painters and sculptors have immortalized their classic attire on can vas and in enduring marble, while the graceful draperies and rich emsroldery have been an inspiration to the costumer and the manufacturer. The old adage that there is nothing new under the sum- is abundantly verified. for on toil- cite tables lie mirrors of polished steel and silver, alabaster and lacquered boxes containing cosmetics and aromatic ungu- ents with which the coquette of ancient Rome enhanced her beauty or endeavor- ed to restore her faded charms.
 One of the most sumptuous pictures of medieval costuming at the world S tair, palais de costume emphasizes one of the most striking events described in Frois- sart's Chronicles It is vivid picture or '.The Field of the Cloth of Gold" The scene filled with life and movement. La dies in attire of quaint fashion bordered with minever, and studded with precious stones gaze down upon knights in armor Endless DfOceSSlOHS Ol fHtil at anu retainers clad in gorgeous raiment, for this was a period when silk velvet, fur and feathers were not the sole preroga- tive of the female sex, and is often worn by men.
 The etiquette of court ceremonial Is revealed in a tableau where the Duchess de Maine dauhgter-in-law of Louis XIV, is receiving her visitors in bed, which was a common thing in the reign of the gay monarch
 A Gorgeous Gown.
 Perhaps the most wonderful spectacle of modern times was the revival of me dieval magnifcence at the coronation ceremonies of the Emperor Napoleon, who desired to dazzle the world on the occasion of his assumption of the pur- pie and ermine of royalty. Napoleon, who was not above petty things. allowed not even the most trifiing detail to es- cape his vigilant eye. Josephine's coro- nation robe was subjected to his censor ship. although the coat was the occa-