Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-06-04
THE EMPIRE GOWN.

+ clotheshorse:
II don't think | understand said
Miss Maturin, hesitatingly.
Perhaps | should say clothes prop
lay figure. dressmaker's dummy, some
! thing 10 hang clothes on. in short Or is
she woman with neck and shoulders
I and arms and-and--"
oh, OF course, she is" said Miss Ma
turin. hurriedly, and vigorously waving
her fan.
Very well then, that clears the
ground, sail Lord Francis, cheerfully.
we have established this point, that
/ women are not primarily intended for
Don't You think it's rather hot in
here? interposed Miss Maturin, making
as if TO rise
But clothes for women,'' concluded
her companion.
Miss Maturin sank back again. "Oh.
or course, she said, with little superior
smile, people are silly if they will dress
/ themselves without taste and she east
a SLOW glance down ner sim body in its
evening gown.
Well. that takes me to my second
point, he pursued, evenly, (which is
precisely taste. We have agreed that
clothes are not necessary
Indeed, ! have not" said Miss Ma
turin, quickly and measily.
Not essential TO beauty. | mean. :, ex-
claimed Lord Francis.
Not to 4 really beautiful person. of
course, assented Miss Maturn. but,
then, of course. they're so rare
ihey are rare, | will admit" said no
with his eyes on her. "But still ono
finds them. you know. One finds them
cen IN 4 ballroom like sometimes =
MISS Maturln was busy fastening her
gloves. oh. there ale some. of course
81 e admitted But l should have
thought yoH oftencr found them, we'll
III Il ballroom, than-well, than in other
places YOU know"
NAT because you believe IN
clothes. said he. You're a hereto on
Clothes and sometimes the most beanti
Lul women won't deny that taste in
dfPsS can enhance beauty he confessed
letting ms glance so down her Gown.
Oh; 1t 5 pretty easy to dress" sad
Miss Maturin, in2ifferently.
But You must have natural agyan-
t2ges for the best effect" said he. IN
s!Stently. What would be the use of !,
woman with figure like IA stick. 1r
IA bolster dressing well? 1t would be
preposterouS Miss Alaturin laughed
gently. You see, the art of dressing
not to conceal it,
y think it mus. be nearly time. The
hnrrledly, peering ut her card.
Please" he pleaded. Il dom. get
many chances of talking with anyone
CT such taste IN these matters. DO tell
me, Don't you agree with me?"
II don't think I've thought about IT."
said Miss Maturin, vaguely
But You must with your" He
glanced again Mt her gown. The peg 10
hang clothes on might have been all very
well for our ancestors. but we have bet
ter taste. Beautiful contours outlines
4Itr md fhn |,
and not smothered up in swaddlinc
clothes. Take the question of sleeves
How odious is the bell-b0ttomed sleeyew
Il always did think short sleeves are
more becoming, observed Miss Maturin,
III an abstract voice.
"Of course, they are. They discover
the beautiful lines, the modelling, the
rounded curves, the
I'm sure that's the music stopping"
interrupted Miss Maturin, listening to
the sounds of the ballroom attentively.
NO, it isn't: it's going on for ever so
long yet said Lord Francis, decidedly.
Then there's the corsage."
Miss Maturin rose and gazed anxiously
toward the door of the conservatory.
I'm sure you're wrong" she said.
No; I'm not, really" said he. And
the hair. Fancy women using artificial
hair and wings and hideous head dresses
under the mistaken idea that they en-
large tnelf beauty.
Miss Maturin h@d apparently decided
against her suspicious; she sat down
again. Yes. aren't those things hide
ous:'' she said amiably, They're just
dreadful
And the way people fluff their hair
with tongs and curriers' and the rest of
the trickery," said he.
"Ye-eS," said Miss Maturin. doubtfully.
but to come back to the corsage
VIII anyone deny that the Empire fash
ion was infinitely more beautiful than
the nipped-in-waist and the crinoline:
II only know the crinolines by the old
pictures in Punch" said Miss AIaturin.
pleasantly, "and | have Il picture Of an
aunt who looks dreadful"
The abominable and wicked thing
about the crinoline," pursued Lord Fran,
els. lis that it conceals everything.
Miss Maturm shifted her fan about I'M
easily. You might as we'll have six legs
for all that anyone knows. | can mag
ing il being of ineStimable service If you
wanted to smuggle, but it reduces all
women to Il common neutrality of figure,
and leaves the Shapely aud the crippled,
the meager, and the stout in one boat
Il don't suppose we shall ever get the
crinoliue back, remarked Miss Matnrin'
after Il pause. "Of course, the Empire
dress was much nicer"
All" said Lord Francis, enthusiast
cally. 1T was nicer because mt only
was it in Keeping with nature and natur
al lines. hut it allowed lovelinesS to shine
with its own radiance. Ii | ever see
pretty girl and he suffered his eyes to
rest on his companion, II think how di-
vine She would look in empire dress
with the long flowing lines. with the high
giulls. with the admitted liberty OF fig
urc
Miss Matarn Sazed demurely at the
arum lilies opposite It's nice at fancy
dress balls" she said, hesitatingly. II
have worn it twice there"
Il wish | had seen you" he said fer
vently. Miss Maturin toyed with rer fan.
Your proportions are SO just for il"
Miss Maturn was very much occupied
with her gloves. You see, it's this hor-
rblc construction of the body in the
wrong part that is masSacring our civil
ization."
Miss Maturin'S eyes stared at him with
some gentle wonder
"Of course, mean the waist he eX-
planned, How much healthier, more be-
coming and beautiful 20 leave the lines
free and resume the 2onalM
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