Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-04
VOGUE FOR GUN METAL
AS GIFTS FOR MEN AND DRESS
ACCESSORIES IN GREAT FAVOR.
Most Expensive Variety Manufac-
tured in America-Finely
Polished Purses


Written for The Evening Star
The feminine world, having created a
vogue for gun metal, has found it decidedly
to its liking, and the woman of 1905 values
her belongings in this silky metal quite as
highly as those in silver or gold As a gift
for one of her men friends some article in
gun metal will find particular favor with
the masculing fancy because of the ease
with which it is kept in good condition, as
we'll as because of its almost imperceptible
weight. But combined with Jewels mita-
ton or real the up-to-date woman pins her
faith to gun metal, especially for dress
cessories which require much care
when they are in silver, and are too costly
or fiashy when they are gold.
The most expensive gun metal Is that
which is made in this country, a perfectly
plain cigarette case selling at wholesale for
81. Before American gun metal reaches
the jeweler it has undergone three distinct
finishings, besides any number of scrapings
and polishings to render it smooth as glass.
The foundation is composition of steel,
but the preparation that gives it the sheen
and the subtle gray coloring is known only
to few men. Imported gun metal Isl less
durable and decidedly less costly
Innumerable conceits have been evolved
in handy receptacles for cigars and cigar
cites. Corrugated cases of gun metal hold
one cigar, and cigarette holders are con-
veniently shaped to carry in the pocket.
The latter may have the owners monogram
handsomely inscribed or set on in gold or
they may be inset with a small idealiZed
head carved from ivory. Narrow cases
for mems calling cards are convenient to
slip inside the dress suit pocket Cigar
piercers are a new device in gun metal by
means of which the smoker makes hole
In cigar instead of cutting off the end A
featherwefght ruler, six inches in length
holds very thin knife, which is backed by
tiny cylinder containing a red and green
pencil. These colored points are manipu-
lated by tiny green and red stones attached
to the pencils.
Frames and Boxes.
Small boxes of gun metal in most attrac-
tive shapes serve as picture frame on one
side, while the receptacle itself is intended
for jeweled pins and buttons. Dressing
table clocks, not much larger than a mans
thumb, are made of gun metal and have
circle of rhinestones surrounding the face,
which is the size of a shilling
Pocket books in this mouse-gray metal
look very much like seal leather. They are
attached to gun metal chain made Of ex-
ceptionally strong links, and the covers are
often beautifully inlaid with designs in
mother-of-pearl Chatelaine bags are made
of closely woven gun-metal links, and are
wonderfully strong.
big ametHyStS make a remarkably stun
ming long chain for the neck when inter-
spersed and held together with links of gun
metal. Cross pendants, enjoying at present
such vogue, are also formed of gun metal.
Ladies' watches have gun-metal cases set
with diamonds, and a durable fob has an
inch-wide ribbon of closely interviewer gun
metal links finished with a heart-shaped
locket or vanity mirror studded with dia-
monds. The woman of middle age and
quiet taste will take no end of satisfaction
in a gun-metal brooch of mistletoe design
set with water pearls.