The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-01
IN WOMAN'S REALM
SEEN IN THE SHOPS.
BIZ VIRGINIA.

trimmed with milliner folds OF taffeta
silk, having the kimona sleeve. One sees
more Of the long sleeve as the season
advances The cuff seems 10 be a second
airy thought. as the upper part OF the
sleeve seems quite finished without it.
and is usually composed of tiny rufies
OF Val or the entire cuff is made OF some
sheer embroidery or all-Over lace.
Monday viii find many strangers in
town, brought hither by the opening OF
Congress. When the first excitement is
over the hotel. apartment. or boarding
house viii seem very restricted after the
comforts Of ones own home, but much
can be done TO make even a temporary
abiding place comfortable Get a prettil@
shaded lamp, a chatting dish. and a percu.
lator-with the glow OF the lamp a CUP
Of steaming, good. hot coffee, and some
dainty edible done IN a chahng dish
home viii not seem quite so far away.
The beauty of old jewelry can many
times be enhanced by new setting. or
the stones OF one or two pieces can be
made into one elegant ornament There
Is tewelry shop on Pennsylvania avenue.
the Oldest in the city, having been esiab-
Asned over q century where one is sure
q finding correct ideas. protected by rare
judgment and good taste, and their Sc
lection OF jewels are rare and beautiful
Once more the chest of household linen
is considered an important item Of the
brides outfit-a chest Of linen, not OF
Tnuslin-and every piece must bear her
own maiden monogram. There is a de-
partment store in F street where orders
are taken for the brides linen chest"
She only has TO write out her list, select
the different weaves, choose the style for
her monogram. and give her order, and
at the promised time it will be delivered
10 her. This department store has
buyer who knows all about linen. as he
makes yearly trips across the water that
he may procure for his house the finest
qualities that are to be found in linens,
whether they be FOR personal wear. the
bedroom, or dining-roOm. While talking
with him I learned the following interest
ing history Of the manufacture Of linen.
as well as o. the most noted place where
Flanders. distinct from France and
from Germany, as much by her history
and by the language and political sep
aration, seems TO have been chosen by
prediction for the cultivation Of fax
and her products.
The soil OF Flanders and itS moderate
climate is especially favored By nature
for the precious fibre The rivers seem
70 have been made 10 share in this cult
walton, for the waters Of Flanders are
superior 10 any other for the retting
OF flax. This retting or sleeping In water
takes place as soon as the fax is ripe.
1t Is first pulled by hand. then dried in
the air and sun. then STEPPED in water.
This causes the decomposition Of the
! straw, envelOping ths real flax fiber. but
which Is entirely distinct from Is. the
| straw being foreign. as it were 70 the
hoe-. The water decOmposes the straw.
while preserving the integrity Of the
flax. and nowhere is II more perfectly
than in the river Lys. which. for this
reason. has obtained a world renown.-
The tepid and fresh waters Of the Lvs
favor, Enthusiastically. for some reason
still a mystery. the perfect rettirg
OF flax, and gives the fiber an appear
/ ance different TO any retted elsewhere.
the threads having a golden hue quite
their own, and are so soft and fine that
they are employed by the entire market
for the spinning Of fine yarns. and are
consequently the most valuable of any
known.
In addition 10 the favorable soil. water
and climate. the hand labor IN Flanders
is cheap and plentiful and II IS a sight
l n 20 0rIrFuN TIM
ing in rows with Bonded backs and nin-
4 bic fingers, wedding every square inch
/ OF the fax field. This has to be done 10
protect the young fax brairds from nox-
/ ious weeds.
! Until the last century fax was spun
/ and woven by hand, and not until abou,
/ the beginning Of the nineteenth century
was the art Of spinning and weavinp
/ fax by machinery introduced. Flanders
which hitherto had been foremost in the
manual industry. was now destined by
/ this new invention 10 more than main.
tain her supremacy and make Flemish
linens still more famous. The vast spin.
ming and weaving mills OF Flanders To-
day bear testimony to this happy result
Preparations are IN progress evervwber,
TO meet the Christmas spirit of "sift-giv.
ing. Our merchants have spared NJ
pains in getting together an effective dis
play Of all the beautiful ideas in mer.
chandise which the world offers. sendine
their buyers TO almost every quarter Of
the globe that the wants OF the most fas-
tidious car be satisfied right here in our
home city. And there is no reason why
they should be disappointed In their ef.
I fort. Times are good in Washington
tell 1t. and so keep the spirit Of cheer
and good viii going,