The sun., 1908-05-17
SHEATH DRESS SURE TO COME
PARIS SENSATION ACCIDENTAL,
DUT CLINCHES TAE STYLE.


70 Q21o h0oo JO4k1o Uno n1tu0f0 On 8OVs60
Rsw-Involves winsesn Churchin In
Cellision-Just Clfcus Poster.
SysoaGi Cssls DsssatoAseesTHs-sur
LONDON. May le.-The incident at tho
Longchamps raoecourse when the crowd
almost representatives
qusnt discussion Of the, possibility Of the
indeoorous Direotoire gown dominating the
feminine modes gave tho style such an ad-
vertisement that its revival is assured.
Parisian actresses Immediately took I'D.
vantage Of the curiosity aroused among tho
masses to appear on tho stage dressed in
the andacious gowns. letting the public
judgs for itsels az to tho extentof their I'M
propriety.
To-day the Directoare gown; which has
becn the talk. Of London for a'woek, made
its appearance here and caused q sensation
hardly less than at Longohamps. The fact
that lady thus attired could ride through
Rotten Row without molestation seems to
indicate that Londonere' when shocked are
better able to restrain themselves than the
Parisians. ~
The fair unknown equestrienne almost
petrifed the crowd of fashionable riders
on the Row with astopishment when she
suddenly appeared among tham in the
morning dressed in tho latest Direotoire
gown. II was made Of cream cloth. cut
tight to the figure in Princess style with a
the left side to the knee. Underneath
were long. close fitting white boots en-
broidered with diamonds.
The lady's boldness nonpiussed q party
Of officials. The police at first thought
Of following the precedent Of the French
gendarmes and arresting her. But finally
decided not to interfere. Apparently un-
concerned and riding dappIe gray stallion
with case and graoe the lady mixed with
the others on horseback. attracting the
attention Of everybody.
The general surprise over the lady's
appearance led to an exciting incident
which should teach Winston Churchill,
the president Of the Board Of Trade in
the Cabinet, to curb his curiosity While
he and another rider were gazing at the
intricacies OF the lady's costume and not
looking where they were going their
horses oollided with great force. Mr..
Churchill quickly recovered his balance,
but the other rider only saved himself
from serious fall by assuming the un-
graceful attitude Of hanging down his
horses side with his arms flung desperately
around the animals neck, to the unre-
strained merriment Of the onlookers.
The mysterious woman rode up and
down the row for over an hour. the other
riders finally either forming lines through
whion she passed or following her in pro-
a t<, olo xri~~
Of the daring costume and unsuco essfully
trying to discover her identity.
The woman's appearance on the streets
caused no less commotion than on Rotten
row. Everybody stood looking on in
open mouthed wonder. Down Piccadjily
abe was followed by huge crowd. all en-
deavoring to keep pace with her Il was
herr discovered that the whole affair was
a clever advertising dodge of resouroefui
press agen-, the lady being an equestrienne
performer It one Of the London music halls.
PARIS, May 1.-THE cinging' Directoire
dresses worn by fonr dressmakers' models
at the Longchamps racecourse last Sunday
baye given rise to 30 much discussion and
10 many stories have become attached to
the accounts OF the affair that the creator of
the gowns has come out with an explana-
ton that they only became leg show
accidentally. The opening on the side
extends only Is inches from the ground
and ia filed in with plcated black muslin.
This muslin in one OF the dresses happened
to get torn, allowing the wearer's leg to be
seen. As proof that this was accidental.
the dressmaker says the opening showed a
black cotton stocking which would certainly
have been silk II it we're intended for ex-