Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-25
Special Correspondence of The Star.
PARIS. February

PARIS. February 10, 1906
@ o study the spring styles one must
visit the Riviera. All the smart
world is disportiug itself in this
sunny spot, and for a week 7 was
amoag the fortunate class-merely,
though, as an observer, "a locker on in
Vienna" What beautiful time one does
have in that land of dolce far nente,'
where it always seems to be afternoon.
These afternoons, by the way, are the most
strenuous parts of the day for the women
who, gowned in their stunningest frocks,
play bridge from to 6. usually for small
stakes.
Here and there, 1t is true. you Will find
women playing above their means-girls,
who after making $40 or SIS at bridge one
day, will naively inform you with flushed
cheeks that they are making at the rate of
so many hundreds a year. Their elation
subsidies week later. when, after a few
runs of bad luck, they realize that they are
losing at the rate of as many thousands.
The majority of women are too. cautious
to take serious risks either at cards
the stock exchange. To preserve her
youth is the aim of a womans life, and
speculative ventures are invariably ageing.
The confirmed woman gambler is a freak,
a creature of crows feet, hollow cheeks
and clawlike hands You meet her in the
't'rooms" at Monte Carlo and Biarritz and
occasionally in a drawing room. but she
acts as a solemn, awful warning to the
rest of her sex.
AS for the prevalence of gambling, which
among women we are told is on the in
crease, l do not think the matter is to be
taken seriously. To moraliZe a bit-what
is life, after all. but a gamble, lottery,
in which all stand to win some great
prize lose the original stake? If we
have any aim in life we must risk some
tbinl-athar health
happiness and often our reputation-to at
tain it. Nothing is to be had in this world
for nothing; some pay more dearly than
others on settling day-thats the only diff
ference. 1t is the belief in our luck which
helps the generality of us through the
struggle against fearful odds; the delicious
possibility of bringing off coup which
supports us throughout the otherwise
nonotonous round of our lives.
THE sermon is over, thank heaven" I
hear you say, and now to the world of
varities, which, In the nondaine portion
of it, takes the form of clothes, and best
of all of these Is spring finery, including
those lovely light, becoming costumes that
we confidently hope will make us young
and beautiful again after the strain Of
the winter social campaign.
II I were asked to state very briefly
the leading features of the fashions OF
the day after tomorrow | should unhesitat-
ingly say princess gowns. corselet princess
frocks, short coats and picturesque small
hats perched at d less rakish angle There
is no set rule, for we haze arrived at that
stage of the game where everybody does
very much as she pleases in settling say
torial questions Then. again, Dame Fash
ion Is so capriciods that size may have
up her sleeve some new mode with which
to surprise her Yotaries. But from present
indications these are the conspicuous fea-
lures.
I think l can speak one with author
ity upon the subject of the long coat This
particular variety worn with match
fr1crf NJ &c NOT f14 ia flffn in
the spring showings, so during the COM
ing wintry spring months wear out your
long coat and skirt gown. But when you
purchase your new spring suit be sure that