The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-27
Social and
Personal.

- I
Warm weather has come at last, and.
with it. Che opportunity to wear the filnly
gowns that have been In process OF max
Ing during the spring That the greater
number nre over elaborate cannot be de-
MED II is an age of luxury, and, APP
rarently, any real sense OF art In matters
Z sartoriai Is dead, or sleeping SO sounols
4 us to eive little evidence of existence,
4 Yet, while all this is true beyond DIS
p,,te, there hre some really attsactlVe
Il things to he seen. and there do teinain
those diessmakers who remember celt"i'
fundamental laws, and refuse ehhe' w
Overweight the Individual or 10 TOD iao-
rics OF their effect BY senselesslS over
laying che thing with another. until only
4 a curious effect remains, with beauty
lost ard forgotten
Essentially. the season is one of dain'l-
ness, and when some of the better WIS
are rightly worn, they possess charm
difficult to resist. even while one may
deplore certain tendencies. INN "n,.e ,
muslin.s made With frills and flounces ana
much lace are lovely in themselves, anu
SIRE having great vogue. but why cannot
,be rirIs who wear them leave the man
,er Of the golf links with their Sticks
and walk with something Of the sou
grace their grandmothers knew!
We have gained much both IN freedom
nnd III health since the day of the gowns
"a nre copying to-day, but Is 1t all
,rain? Have we not lost DIT OF uhe ~
traoiveiy feminine, which we might nave
Retained and which seems to belong pS
right with dropping shoulders run skl ,,,.
and undersleeves? Strensth anu he 80 :,
,nre boons beyond any price. But is II
N eceseary to stride and to swing the
anna like boy because. forsooth, We
have learned to swing the golf sticks
{r7ith yigor to tramp over hill ana dale
land to enjoy a sail in a stiff breeze, as
&l.yell 9 any man? Rather would IT not
fshow al, adaptable spirit to do all these
lfadngs, and to do them well, Set TO DC
hble to wear our 1880 gowns WIN true
feminine grace and to avoid the curious
tronbina lions that now meet one at ever!
Jti1rn? .
IN Amonr the most attractive and most
,rensible OF the summer gowns seen upon
ana street are the really Fascinating suits
Of linen in varying colors. The day when
such costumes were sent to tho tub pc
longs 10 a far past To-day the material
M treated after the manner Of WOOL or
lsilk, and, when soiled. is sent TO be ar!
.rleaned. AS a result, we see many el-
ifects that otherwise would be impossibe.
j,ro.dax 7 noted a suit Of natural color
with threads or red forming an ndistinet
maid that was piped with black silk
and made with plated skirt and plated
zion worn over full blouse OF White
lawn. ee.,
The combination was singularly cffec.
,t,ve. and the style thoroughly goou
ihroughout. but washing no more 70 %
,thoueht Of than had the SUIT oeeh o.
silk. Light color, that Is, almost cream
or straw flecked with black. is ess 80
tiallv smart and is made with plplnss q
ss,1,,'.n trimmings Of braid. ana many
mercerized sorts are seen both IN pam
color and dotted In contrast Win tne
Ground. A suit made Of the latter Varle-
~ is eminently simple ana elnil,en..S
smart and also is made with waist anu
sr,rt SO making a variation from .he
nunherless Jackets and blouse coa'ts. ~, : 10
Foundation color Is pale plue' nv S.01s
set dots are black and the tlln.. lin. s,,,,
r,n,ngs Of black silk with black SIX
yhuttonS. =, go,
.JNNAn light and pale tints are mucn seen'
hoth In carriages during the hour of inc
aftarnoon drive and on the coaches tHat
carry narties of smart folk to Morris
4 park A most exquisite beige wolfe WAS
worn over white and trimmed win veiy
full ruches of pinked SILK, which were
so treated as to give mover erect - -
In reality, not new. Ihe sklrt WIS nl mn
after one of the best models OF TINS ulW-
cult season, and cut with narrow. plain
front gore and yoke in one, While sidcs
and back were shirred at their upper
edges and laid In wide tucks, forming
two groups of three each.
Below and r\tween these last the
,ruching was applied in loop design.
while the end of each tuck was held ny
a rosette of the wolfe made full, but nat
and with a dull gold center. The blouse
was one OF the prettiest OF the day.
ct1,Na vat -
aggeration that marks SO many cos
tunes OF the season 1t was open IT
the front, over full vest of exquisite
tucked muslin, with inset rows Of Valen-
ciennes lace. Above the deep, soft belt
it was laid in three wide tucks, each
finished with a roaeste. Above these
were the ruchings.. and the sleeves were q
very moderate puffs above the elbows,
laid in tucks, on line with those of the
waist, above snug fitting mltten cuffs Of
the muslin and lace, while epaulette-like
pieces over the shoulders gave the droop-
ing effect The hat was big, of the pic
ture order. and of beige colored straw,
with white roses galore making tho
trimming.
Hats worn with these elaborate gowns
are mostly OF the picture order, although
toques suit some women so well that they
wear them for all hours of the day,
edllefS are HucN IlReQ ana nuCn WORN,
and give undoubted grace, but flowers
and soft draperies OF chiffon and lace
share the honors Later many lingerie
hats will be Worn, both with muslin
gowns and with the chiffon woods and
silks
novelty Is big, with a wide fiat
! brim, and is all of Valenciennes lace In |
which Is wide tuck round the entire
hriIn. through which pink ribbon is run.
! About tho crown is a plated band of
the same soft ribbon. with lunches of !
apple blossoms here and there. Another |
| is fiat 70 the crown. very broad as to
ibrim at the front but narrower al the
back. and is made entirely o: rcpouse
F lace and pale pink roses the lace being
shirred over the brim, while the flowers
and their foliage encrcle the crown.
MAY MANTON.
Tea at Art Exhibit
Tea will be served Friday afternoon
at the exhibition rooms OF the Richmond
Art Club, No. II West Main Street, by
Miss Ella Buck, Miss Martha Robinson,
Miss Carrie Rennolds, Miss Ellen Ander-
son and Miss Louie Whitlock.