The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1908-03-27

In the earliest days of it's existence.
now some ten years ago, the blouse
seriously threatened the sovereignty
of the dressmaker. When we grew
more familiar with 1t and embraced
its easeful charms with enthusiasm,
we realized that, like every excellent
innovation, it had it's place, but that
It's place was not everywhere, with
every skirt. or on every person, or for
every occasion. There is no doubt,
however, that it's comfortable con-
venience and easy requirement have
exercised a baneful influence owe the
fortunes of the little dressmaker."
The blouse is the garment of the
populace, the JOY of the million, and,
If half the stories n hears be true,
it is at once the despair and support
of the submerged tenth, whose for.
tunes, or misfortunes, by the way,
realize as being too deep for mere
trivial allusion.
The blouse is the heroine of my
story at the moment, and l at once
confess myself addicted to It's delights,
though sternly refusing myself these
on any but early morning costumes
save in midsummer, when l permit
myself to revel in it's attractiveness
without a thought for the undoubted
fact that it is neither generally be-
coming to the figure, nor acceptable
to the connoisseur, unless made by
the hand of the expert, or deliberately
embroidered and of the finest fabrics.
There Is luxury in blouse land as well
as an almost incredible possibility for
economy. Blouses I have seen bear
ing the kimono outline, which remains
much in fashion, with insertions Of
lace Of the Cluny order, alternating
with tucks, the bodice portion of soft
lawn, at something less than six
| shillings each. How it is done l do
| not know, and should not like to ask.
But there is no doubt that blouses of
this description exist in the thou
sands, and the variety Of others, less
ornate perhaps but nc less attractive,
is practically endless.
The Parisians have taken a fancy
at the moment to the blouse Of fine
ninon merely decorated with tucks
and little pearl buttons, and completed
with lawn collar and glace tie, ad.
mirable examples Of what the jewellers
in the land of the Stars and Stripes
call "the shirt waist" Another very
attractive model Of a blouse which
combines the advantages of the blouse
and the shirt is of white pongee,
merely decked into large tucks hem
stitched. Then, again, the little striped
and spotted nuns yelling Is made into
plain shirts which cost but a few
shillings.
The shot silk blouse has waned in
our affections. and chine silk blouses
have comparatively little patronage
and the prodigal now turn their atten
ton towards shirts of crepe de chine
a capital material for the purpose, too
since it washes VOL and hangs dc
lightfully.
And lastly on the list of the blouse
popular, comes the blouse of lawn
of linen, and of crash. The industrious
amateur may buy a blouse Of crash
ready cut and traced with an embroid
cry pattern, and work her dainty will
upon 1t, and achieve a result FAR ir
excess Of its initial price. The finel
cambria and linen lawn blouses may
also be bought traced to embroider
but they do not perhaps reward ths
laborer since they are somewhat diff
cult to work successfully. There are
two new u~nderbodices in the market
specially designed to do the blouse
honor. Both are made OF linen, botf
are boned down the center Of thu
front. both cross at the back ant