Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-05-13
The Sweet Girl
Graduates Gown


G. sanford, Miss Gilmore and Miss
Pickle gave very delightful recep
ton and musicale to the city teachers
and members of the school board at
the Sanford residence on Fourth
avenue. The reception room and par
Ior, were decorated with great bowls
Of fragrant apple blossoms. beaud-
ful sitting for the bevy of charming
young ladies' who were receiving.
Purple pansies and ropes OF smilax
decorated the dining room table where
Mrs. Biggs and Mrs. Vale pre-
sided and Miss Winnie Roberts,
Miss Edith Rawlins and Miss May
vandegrift assisted in serving the
salads, ices and cake. Miss Margaret
Jackson and Miss Helen Balster pre-
sided over the punch bowl in the back
parlor. The musical program was very
fine and much enjoyed by the guests,
and assisted In making the reception
delightfully."- informal as every one lin
gered until the last number was over.
Mr.. and Mrs. Sanford have one of the
most beautiful little homes in Du-
range and possibly more in the way
OF heirlooms than any other. Among
other things our attention was attract
ed to a spinning swift" made of
whale bone by a greatgreat-great-un
Gle of Mr.. Sanford fully two hundred
and fifty years ago. 1t was the work
OF odd moments when the maker.
captain OF whaling vessel, was on a
four years voyage. When Mrs. San
ford discovered we we're interested.
she very kindly took us upstairs to
Mr.. Sanford's den and library where
among other antiquities Is an ancient
warming pan." as solid and heavy
az the day 1t was brought to Ply
mouth. about year after the first
voyage of the Mayfiower. Hanging
In an obscure corner we discovered
q photograph Of the original coat of
arms, three lions couchant, belonging
to Mr.. Sanford's family. This is a
possession most highly priced and ex-
tremely valuable to the owner, tho
we have known him a great many
years without discovering he possess
ed 1t. We spent very pleasant half
hour with Mrs. Sanford in the library.
leaving the young people to gay up-to-
date chatter. We discussed ancestors,
family and heirlooms and discovered
by the way. that Mrs. Sanford. too
can boast an authentic coat of arms
OF German origin. It was a great
pleasure to meet all Of our schoo
teachers together, and we are posi-
tive that no town, can boast of finer
group of teachers than we have.
Pueblo Chieftain.
II for no other reason. woman is
needed on school boards because she
recognises the futility OF regulation
commencement frocks. Every now
and then set Of school directors de-
crees that every high school graduate
must wear cap and gown at the
graduating exercises OF her class. Per
haps some Of those men were fathers,
and were moved to this innovation
by an Interior regard for the privy
purse but it's safe to say their preach
ments on extravaganza do so little
good as to scarcely make 1t worth
while to deprive girlhood Of one OF
its tmc-honored privileges-a fluffy,
becoming commencement frock.
Undoubtedly, there is justice in the
criticism that the dressing at gradu-
alton has been carried to excess. and
that some Of the class, perhaps, face
the alternative OF an uncomfortable
feeling Of shabbiness or an expense
they can Ill AFFORD. But things have
changed much for the better from the
days when commencement gown
meant heavy silks and rich laces and
chiffons. Now the filmy lingerie frock
Is the only one considered for such
an occasion, and 1t is surprising how
cheaply really charming gown may
be made.
OF course, 1t must be white. Who
ever heard of girlhood making her
first bow to the work-a-day world OF
grown-upness in pink or blue or Law
ender? Such white, lovely fabrics
ther are to choose from. too. for this
all important commencement gown
As 1t does duty for best dress all
summer and for many an informal af.
fair next winter. 1t Is not such an ex-
travagance after all. Null, handker-
chief linen, embroidered muslins, dot,
ted baustes and swiss are the fa-
varite materials but equally fresh,
dainty costumes can be evolved from
plain Indian linen. dimity or Persian
lawn. A very lovely soft sheer dress
can be made OF Paris muslin, which
is wide and can be had in a really
nice quality for 35 cents yard.
When 1t comes to trimmings, natur-
ally the cost of a gown may be ex-
-