Evening star., 1907-08-24
Special Correspondence OF The Star.
PARIS 100? |

PARIS. August 10. 1907.
@ARIS will soon be deserted. So long
has society waited for the balmy
weather that would make tolerable
- its damp and chilly chateaux in
the provinces that despairing of
better days it has packed its belongings
and at last betaken itself to the country.
Do not think that / sneer at the chateau
because come of that nationality to which
these appurtenances OF aristocracy are i'm
possible. Far be 1t from me 10 shatter the
Illusions of my countrymen in regard to
these romantic abodes unless fully prepared
to substantiate my statements. The French
chateau Is even more uncomfortable than
the English castle. and, goodness knows,
that Is dark and damp enough. The Eng
lish have one redeeming feature-they keep
good fires. The French do not, and their
great stone towers and long wings that are
as massive as modern fertilization have
the further disadvantage OF being badly
ventilated by means of tiny windows set
deep in the stone walls at wide intervals
In the days when | was given to the read
Ing or Dumas | used to wonder why the
members of the nobility were all so anx-
ious TO escape from their ancestral homes
In the country and fare up to Paris, where,
II they attained the object of their dreams
they were accorded stuffy little back
room In the Louvre Versailles or the Tuil-
cries. Now I know why / spent a week
with the marquise-never mind the name
at her ancient seat In Brittany. and a more
uncomfortable week l never put in. My
very teeth chatter at the recollection. Be
longing to a people that have no traditions
naturally | was delighted to accept the In
vttation. as | had read much OF the place
and people and by madame had been baited
with many charming water color sketches
OF the scenery and alluring legends of her
people The reason for the existence Of the
light wrap that We Americans don more
for ornament than for use in summer was
then explained to me. l think my hostess
had a dozen of these. from elegant affairs
of light shantung heavily embroidered and
braided to soft and dainty furs In which she
incased herself when We went out to view
the
A WELCOMED Frenchwoman.
As madame keeps well in the fore of
fashion. in the various tailored gowns which
she then wore were many anticipations of
the fall fashions. for she is one OF the elect
few TO whom the couturieres unveil the
mysteries OF their inner holy of holies and
give the choice thereof. One innovation of
which l made mental note was the sleeves
She wore no short sleeves at the chateau
unless with full dress. and in my own alb
breviated sleeves l felt decidedly undressed
not to say chilly. The sleeves were not only
long but much longer than we have had
them for some time falling quite to the
knuckles They were in one two con-
SpicuouS Instances In two sections, the up
per one puffed and falling over the elbow
the lower part comparatively tight fitting
and trimmed with strapped bands. For de-
signs l should judge that the dresssnakers
intend to so far back. one being an almost
fac-simile copy of the sleeve in a portrait
of Marie TouChet. which looks as IL we were
going back to the period OF Catherine de
MediCi for fashions. Another sleeve
was 50 strongly of the Marie Stuart type
that there seemed to be ample grounds for
these suspicious. The Queen Marie sleeve
was really elegant affair. wide at the top
narrowing toward the wrist. On the shoul-
der was a most novel device in the shape
of square puff with much piping to set 1t
on. The simple cuff was corded and fas-
tened with five small buttons. As to the
possibilities of this period for yielding pic
turesque effects. far be II from me to pose
a. au auIhority. II was period rich in