The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-12
SPRING OPENING
 OF STEELE E-SMITH
EXQUISITE DESIGNS SHOWN IN EVERY DEPARTMENT AND UNI USUAL TASTE AND SKILL IS SHOWN IN DISPLAY.

To take a trip through the millinery department of the Steele-Smith Dry Goods Co.'S store upon the occasion of their spring opening yesterday was like visit to Mother Natures own flower garden. Flowers of every description were there Imitation flowers, of course, but so per feet in design and so true in color that one could hardly believe that they had not just burst into full bloom from a bud.
 Hats of every kind. Chic tailored hats, the large Merry Widow style that bids fair to be 'so popular this season with it's trimmings of deep red American Beauty roses; wings, owl heads, chic lit- tie turbans round hats and pattern hats Then the Parisian hats, very large and with most elaborate ostrich trimming and deep tones in rose and Copenhagen blue; also the rose and geranium shades: the rose hats and the Poinsetta ones with all the natural shades. Hats of every kind to suit all pocketbooks, but each one dainty and exquisite in design and color ing.
 But this department with all it's beauty was simply part of the dantiness which pervaded this great department store, 1t appearing as though each de- pertinent had tried to excel the others in the making of the space it occupied into bower of loveliness.
 One striking thing about this opening was the exelusveness which prevailed in every department. In the millinery de- partment hats of exclusive design, only one hat to a design, imported Parisian creations, were to be found. It was the same in every other department. There were imported robes of English batiste with galloon bands to match in Persian designs, all hand embroidered. Some in- serted baby Irish and flet combinations and some with English eyelet openwork. Then the exclusive Parisian novelties no two alike, and every stitch made by hand. Only at this store can these de- signs be found, while they range in price from $25 to ss5. Embroidered ba- tste f1ounces in dainty colors were also in abundance.
 In the suit department the Kimono sleeve was prominent. Suits of all kinds from very low prices up to $75, in all the pastel colors and Copenhagen blue, with skirts either fiared, gored or plaited. Voile skirts of Altman's voile presented d charming array; also lace dresses, haild- made shirtwaists of Paris lawn and lin- gerie cloth trimmed in shadow embroidery and round thread laces. with all of the dainty patterns of embroidery.
 In the underwear department exquisite daintiness prevailed. French handmade chemise were plentiful while the Red Fern and Bon Ton corsets in all colors displayed this seasons designs.
 In the dress goods department robes of champagne flet net, silk embroiderel ..liu the nght shade of cream and hand some Princess lace in values up to $110. the white duchess pompadour, embroid- cred voiles in different colors, exclusive lcusene with champagne background and shadow dots, made veritable fairyland. Imported woolen materials in fancy cheverons and amazons were also in abundance.
 The store was beautifully decorated, ferns, lilies, violets, sweet peas, roses and foliage all blending in one sweet scene of loveliness. A happy throng Of femininty surged through tine aisles on all the floors all day long. while the late evening hours found this throng increas- ing in size despite the bad weather. And the happy smiles in which the feminine faces were wreathed told of the delight which the trip through Mother Nature s garden was giving them