Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-25
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Copy fright. by Joseph u. BowleS.)


CComtesce Marguerite de Cassni. the
brilliant daughter OF the former Russian
ambassador to the United States has had
exceptional advantages OF travel and edu-
cation She speaks and writes with ease
MY languages. Chinese being the one In
winch. next to Russian. she can converse
most nuently. During residence OF six
Years In China she studied under the best
tutors)
There Is little doubt as to the fact
that some taste and probably good
deal OF it, considering the epoch, pre-
sided at the toilet Of the golden haired.
white shouldered daughters OF the
north as they wrapped themselves up
In bear wolf and fox sliins--those pro-
totypes of our sealskin jackets and
sable cloaks. 1t Is true that protec-
ton from the cold was the prime mo-
tive OF this covering yet 1t is permits
sable to believe-that some coquetry of
primitive kind formed part OF the
make-np- of these bellies.
Tue resurrection of women's attire
OF prehistoric times must be entirely
left to our Imagination, as no indica-
lions remain that might show us pal
pably the effect produced. But later,
when civilization dawned upon man
kind, the evolution of womans dress
can be traced all through the frescoes
of Babylonian palaces. the runic in
ecriptions. the pyramids of Egypt. the
eternally beautiful temples of Rome
and Greece. the exquisite statues Of
Tanagra. the medieval tombs In Gothic
cathedrals. The gorgeous apparel Of
the Renaissance period may be fol-
lowed through the works of art of the
great masters. the paintings of Leon
ordo da Vinci. Titan, Velasquez, Rem
brandt Van Dyck and Rubens; the
sumptuous dress OF the great century,
that of the "Roi Soleil," King
Louis XIV, has been immortal
lied by Largilllere. Regnaud and
Nottier; the graceful attire OF
the eighteenth century with its
court shepherdesses In coquettish cos
tune has been painted by Watteau
Lancret and Pater; it was closely fol-
lowed by the nobleness, sumptuosity
and simplicity of the empire style,
which is represented in the works of
lngres. David and Gerard.
II may thus be seen that from CEN
fury TO century through art alone has
it been possible to follow tho history
of woman'a dress. as characteristic of
the various epochs. The masterpieces
of the great artists have been che only
documents through whose medium 1t
has been possible to form an idea OF
the fashions Of bygone days-end not
OF the fashions alone. but also Of the
intimate life of the dead and gone
beauties-a precious and useful thing
for It has been instrumental In form
ing the taste and accustoming the eye
to beauty Of line and harmony OF col
Ors and shades.
Yet. in spite OF faithful adherance
to the fashions of the period a person.
al touch was given by each celebrated
master to his sitter-an individual
touch that must exist in every wom-
ans toilet, howsoever closely she might
desire to copy her model-be IL even
the reproduction of one OF the great
painters masterpieces for q masquer-
ade or a costumed ball.
So much the more must this indi.
viduality be assorted when the dress
IS copied from fashion plates In which
the design OF woman's anatomy Is so
conventional. and so to say, untrue.
There she stands. tall and slender,
with small head, swans neck, a
waist no bigger than her throat. di-
minutive hands and feet, every dress
and style becoming this creature of
Imagination.
1t must not be forgotten that fash
ion, rightly understood, is not friy-
olous and futile thing, as claimed by
its detractors. but one OF the phases
OF art. phase inspiring numerous
marvels which at all times make a fit
frame for beauty-that 10y forever"
as asserted by the English poet.
The fashions of the present period
will likewise be immortalized and
transmitted to posterity by the cele-
brated painters Of to-day, the Flem-