The St. Louis Republic., 1904-10-02

Here we are again with that dear oi
question before us-low or high necks fc
the Fair?
Isn't II fun. And isn't It important
Much more so. indeed. than any oths" sc
cial fact that stares US in the face. Eve
more vital than the sad. sad truth th2
we will have TO spend one solid hour rex
Tuesday night getting from the Mer
chants Exchange to the New York Stat
building.
How did the decollete gown rise fror
It's tissue wrappings and demand recosni
ton?
Well. nobody quite seems to know. May
be some of the pretty women have com
back with relays derived from Paris an
New York importers, and maybe said re
lays. being all cut low in tho neck. sim
. ply won't be showed aside or ignored. lie
cause they're so pretty in themselves ar
10 vastly becoming. Maybe the deccllet
always did crop out whenever there Uas
chance for II. and all this hue and or.
about high necks being the only suitable
xarb while within the Worlds Fair en-
virons sounded nice and digpified. but hat
TO be changed around TO suit occasions
Maybe nobody wore high necks at all
Any Of these will cover the situation, pro
yided you don't want shoulders also GOV
cred.
But there are some obstacles and SOM
differences OF opinion.
Now that The autumn season is here an!
the SUMMER finer- can be laid aside. sine
most Of II is quite worn out and frazzly
women who frequent Fair functions arr
beginning to take sides" It's serious
resllyi
This week we have the important New
York entertainments ahead OF us. Now
New York Is decorauve-I mean the build
ing and its con;ingent-nnd the thought
Of 100 men and women sitting down to dine
on Monday night. formally and sumptu
ously. with the additional thought that the
next night brings big. big ball with all
that such entertainment implies. makes
those women who have been Invited and
those who have active supervision over
these affairs. positively weep when they
ponder Ger the possibility OF q mixed as
sembly.''
WOULD SPOIL MAIN PICTURE.
mean by that, half the women in high
necks. half in decolletage and some with
hats on their heads.
Horrifying, isn't It? Simply too dlscon-
certiiig for words. And to be prevented
ut all costs. 1t would totally and Instantly
spoil tho main picture that which used
60 count for 30 much out at the Fair, and
which still counts. cay what you will.
No. We must defend that main pic
ture" with our llves-I should say, our
necks, and preserve unanimity at all costs
But which shall it be, again-high or
low?
Mrs. Dore Lyon. hostess at the New
York building; Mrs. Daniel Manning, Mrs
David Rowland Francis and scores of 9TH
ers whose own words you will see in a
minute declare for low necks. They re-
serve the right 10 discriminate, but OH the
Two occasions OF the dinner and the ball
in this building they are all going with
uncovered shoulders.
Now. in c0ntraGistinction to this comes
potent rumor that Mrs. Benjamin i.
odcll. wife of the Governor of New York,
and the hostess par excellence on Monday
night. also one OF the hostesses on Tues
Gay night. has declared her preference for
the high-cut gown. Make IL as handsome
and as becoming as you like" so ono OF
her best friends In town reports her as
saying, but don't cut 1t without a col
1ar.''
Now, isn't that a predicsment?
What arc VIC to do about 1t? The New
York women In town unreservedly and
unhesitatingly for low necks, and Mrs
odeli taking exactly the opposite stand 1t
certainly ccmpiicates matters.
once knew two brothers (twins), who
were so devoted to each other, or more
likely. so mischievously inclined when It
concerned their friends. that they dressed
alike to the last particular in order that
no difference could possibly be detected I'm
their tout ensemble. When John went of
to school OF q morning and Hugh didn't
chance to see him In time to find out what
particular brand of ncclstie he had ON,
Hugh would quietly transfer his entire
necktie stock to his pockets and on reach
ing school, would then ascertain Johns
adornment that morning ard proceed to
array himself in its duplicate.
SOME OPINIONS.
T.lis is good method when Il concerns
neckties. I do not. however. recommend
II on the question of gowns. In other
words. We can't-we simply can't-takc our
evening frocks. all OF EN-. high and low.
out to the New York building with us to-
morrow night and Go some stunts n IN
the lightning change artist. when We have
taken peep at Mrs. Odell and found out
how her chiffon is cut.
Were wcll-meaning and socially disposed
women ever SO disturbed before? Was
there ever such an unfortunate problem?
And what on earth shail VIC do 10 solve f;
Let's see what Some OF the women who
are to appear on both dinner and ball &C.
casions say:
Mrs. Francis: Shall / wear a decoilcte
gown for the dinner to President Francis
aud myself. and again OH the evening of
the Dai! Certainly. / have no thought, |
and Fave not had. of any other sort OF |
costume" Well. that's final and a distinct |
relief. Ne know where Mrs. Francis Is en- |
the question. at all events.
Mrs. Daniel Manning: These two en-
are little different from tie |
majority OF others given on the grounds. |
t seems 20 nc. The building IL elegant |
and We will havs all the privacy that ones /
own house affords. Then We certainly owe /
L to Governor Odcli and his wife TO make /
Ihc AFFAIR as brilliant as possible. and |
gvcfrhody knows that full dress. in its |,
'nfIest acceptance. renders any function
sayer and much more attractive than half /
iress can ever do. ] shall appear in both
Instances In low-cut gown and jewels.