The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

The advocates of the life strenuous
and those who preach the charms and
allurments of the simple life Will both
agree on one thing surely, and that IS,
that there is time and a place Tor all
things.
And the same will apply to the mat
ter of clothes equally as to the way IN
which one chooses to spend ones Gays
and ones energies. There are gowns ana
garments for the strenuous life, whether
IL be of the athletic or the social char
acter, and there are likewise gowns for
the simple life, for the afternoon tea In
the boudoir or drawing-room. the semi
informal toilettes for home and family
dinners. the comfort gowns for the rest
ing hour. and those dainty little negi-
gees that are quite the correct thing for
breakfast. be 1t enjoyed in the seclusion
OF ones own room or at the general
family breakfast table.
II Is with the latter class that we shall
p concern ourselves this time. Those
dainty but effective garments that the
French distinguish as robes intlmes arc
among the most recent recruits to our
wardrohes and we are quickly learning
to put each one of them to their correct
daily wear.
We often smile at the deficiencies of
the French language. We make capital
of the fact that they use the same word
to express their liking for a wel-eool5ed
leg of mutton and to describe the grande
passion. love We are wont to point out
that they simply have no equivalent for
our lovely word home. but In all that
pertains to that home and to family life
the French can teach us many things.
And not among the least If these are
those dainty and emnently becoming
little garments which they keep for
home and family life solely
Madame is decidedly both practical
and economical In the matter of these
charming little possessions Her silk
pettlcoat. or some one of them, il she
be lucky enough to have repertoire
in that line. is selected with an espe-
cial view to being worn with a dainty
little matinee for breakfast and even
for the midday dejeuner la four
Ghetto.
While there Is not the least hint or
semblance of a fit to the little jacket
or matinee, the looser and more bout
FAINT 1t is the better. the skirt or petit
coat on the contrary must fit sheath
like from waist to knee This applies
even to the lingerie skirt the top of
the best of which are now cut circular
and the ruflle Is cut after the same
fashion. Two three or even four ruff
flies are often mounted upon the foun-
dalton f1ounce. and row or two of
supple flexible featherbone Is run In
the hem. Anything and everything to
make the top close and snug and the
hem as fiaring as possible
For the silk skirts rows of ruching
in either matching or contrasting
shades. but chiefly the former. are held
in high esteem for assisting In holding
out the dress skirt at that fashionable
bell shape which is so much in vogue.
One of the latest Parisienne fances is
for plaid silk skirts. the pattern in a
satin weave upon the plain taffetas or
gros grain background. And a sensible
fad 1t is. for any number of dainty
coffee Jackets, combing jackets and
matinees generally will then so with
the one skirt.
For the comfort gown the very
lightest and sheerest of the WOODEN
weaves are preferred by those who do
not lose sight of serviceability while
pursuing style. There are exquistely
light and artistic challies, eoliennes.
fine meshed NOTES.-THE coarser weaves
are considered passe-to say nothing of
the Swiss elders. that are really the
acme of comfort, for they stand any
amount of crushing and creasing with
out showing 1t in the least. And the
way in which they show up every
effort at decoration, no matter how
slight or elaborate 1t may be. is not