Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-20
MAID KEEPS GOWN BOOK;
LATEST FAD OF SOCIETY
SOCIETY TAKES 1T UP WITH A
VENGEANCE
Mrs. Shonts, Followed by other WASH
ington Women, Creates New Idea.
Detailed Accounts Placed on Paper
for Future Reference
Special to The Herald.

Special to The Herald
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 10. -
book in which to keep a description
of ones clothes is the latest thing in
the fashionable world. The pace of
society's devotees is becoming so stren-
uous with such a multiplicity of func-
tionS that an extensive wardrobe is
required, so extensive in fact, that the
fashionable women cannot keep track
Of it without the aid of some record.
Hence a book in which to catalogue a
seasons wardrobe is the latest ad-
junct to social necessities.
The social secretaries take from the
shoulders Of their employers all bother
of remembering the dates of their en-
gagements, the calls to be made and
the social obligations to be met and
paid off, and now comes one more
burden to be shifted to other shoulders.
Now the ever patient maid is in charge
of her mistress wardrobe book.
1t is generally conceded that the New
York woman is the best dressed of her
sex in this country but the Washing
ton woman can challenge that asser-
ton, for she may well claim not only
the smartness of the New Yorker but
the style and chic appearance of the
best goWned woman of London and
Paris. The society woman of the cap
ital buys her gowns at the best known
couturieres OF the world, whether in
Paris, Vienna, London or New York.
The result is that no prettier clothes
can be seen anywhere than are those
that are worn by the women who
stroll UP and down Connecticut avenue
after church on Sunday or drive by
in carriages or automobiles on week
days.
The wealthiest and most fashionable
women seldom wear an afternoon or
evening gown more than three times
at the most. and it is no unusual thing
for hostess to be undecided up to
the hour of an entertainment what
gown she will put on in which to well
come her coming guests, which implies,
of course, that she has so many she
cannot decide till the last moment
which to wear 1t remained for Mrs,
Shonts of Chicago wife of the former
chairman of the Isthmian canal COM
mission, to startle Washington society
by such a prodiganty of clothes that
she has to have a description of them
kept in q book.
The color and a description of the
trimming is put down, thus catalogu-
ing the whole wardrobe For instance,
there is Mrs. Shonts' beautiful delicate
trimmed around the decollete neck with
silver and black tulle, long streamer
of tulle falling from the bosom to the
hem OF the gown, and on one side Of
the corsage a cluster of pink and silver
roses.
Then there is a black jet one mass
of shimmering, tiny discs of cut jet.
put on net which falls in clinging folds
around her, and there is a pale green
gown with trimming of silver and
touches of heliotrope, and so on through
the entire wardrobe.
When in doubt Mrs. Shonts consults
her maid, and the maid consults the
one, or perhaps two are selected, ana
the maid goes to the third floor to a
large wardrobe room, where the gowns
are kept, and brings one or two down
to her mistress boudOir, and, after
more consulting, one is chosen for the
occasion.
And yet. with all her clothes, Mrs,
Shonts cares little for dress, and, as
one Of her daughters says: mother
would wear the same gown all the
time If we would let her."
So, at the last moment, 1t is usually
one of the daughters who ecides which
gown will be the most suitable and
the most becoming to their mother
to whom they are devoted.
The Misses Marguerite and Theodore
Shonts are so near of an age that they
have been taken for twins, but, unlike
many girls of the same age and color
not dress alike. But they always dress