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

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC
While the ressimistic may bewail this
a. an era Of exceptional extravaganza in
dress-in woman's dress especlally-there
are stfll q few sane souls who can and
will point out with rlec that the cxtrava-
gance is merelp a cleverly contrived i'm
preston. q will o. the wisp. SO to speak:
and that this so-called extravagance is
really true economy masquersding I'M
der another euise.
True II IL, and even the most confirmed
grumbler and pessiment will not dare to
contradict. that wofnan's dress is to-day
more sane. more artistic more comfortable
and more suited to the requirements of
health and society than It has ever been
before.
II Is all surmed up In that one word
that the Frcncn use so cleverly. 80 ex-
pressively. the word convenabie. Would
we had some equivalent in English for
all that It % tersely and fully expressesi
However. to get back to the charge of
extravaganza.
There ID absolutely nothing. not one item
IN the wardrobe Of to-day that will offer
u
tion than the So-calied raincoat.
Starting on its career as an adjunct for
the rainy-day toilet solely. II has grad
uaIly widened the bounds OF It's useful
ness until to-day there is absolutely no
viii not fiIl. and that without a hin. Of the
bizarre or the unsuitable, either.
CRAvENErTING PROCESS
The best Of the seasons silks and satins,
the smoothest and sheerest OF the chiffon
6roadcloths, the tailored thibets ana serzes
and cheviots Nhese last the very same
a. our brothers are wearine). to say moth
ing Of the mohairs and the siciliennes, all
Of these. and, perhaps more. have been
submitted to the crayenetting process-for
cravenette is a process. not cloth-with
the result that they take on even a finer
finish than before. ana are thoroughly
waterproof as well. Talk Of the proverbiaI
ducks back for shedding water, Well, It
is hardly to be compared with the new
cravenetted silks and cloths.
Not only does the water not sink
through or penetrate. but II slides of,
leaving not trace not drop. to Indicate
where It fell upon the garment.
What wonder that the fashionable wom-
an has taken TO them for all sorts and
descriptions Of purposes. And ably have
the manufacturers seconded her. The
multitude and variety Of designs that the
shops exhibIt-cven the small shops OF the
small towns have their goodly stock OF
raincoats-make it dificult TO choose the
right one: and the temptation is not to
have q raincoat. but to make one. or at
the most two. iIl your needs.
The very newest and best productions,
those that have been prepared in anticipa-
fion Of the chill days Of the late autumn
and winter. simply cannot be told from
the ulster Of the expensive made-to-order-
only tailor.
The cloths are all the same. the cut,
the fit, the trimmings OF the syndicate
garments are In every way UP to the most
exacting requirements: and the fact that
they are in every way waterproof s. an
item that adds muchiy to their value.
though not at ali to their cost
Ali Of the features OF fashions, current
and to come during the next season, have
been cleveriy incorporated in these smart
garments. (
This scribe wishes fervertly that mora
Gpifable and distinctive title could be
fw t1lssn. 1of The name raincoat
r