Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1908-01-23

Early in the seventeenth century the
beaus and bellies of the great courts of
Europe possessed watches which In
beauty of workmanship were scarcely
inferior to those of today, while for
originality of design there were
watches that were carried by the diff
ferent Louis of the French court and
during the rule of the empire that have
seldom been cqualed since, says the
New York Times. To be sure. they
were principally the freak watches
upon which so much beauty OF design
pended, and TO hide a tiny watch per-
feet in mechanism beneath the folded
wings of a scintillating diamond fly o'
sapphire beetle was Il triumph of the
watchmaker's art.
In this century. with the practical
mind supreme In every branch of sci
ence, literature. and art, there is little.
il any, time expended pom the useless,
but where the beautiful and the prac-
teal can be combined, then, and then
only, is the best talent called forth.
The watches that are fashionable at
the present moment, therefore. 1t can
be easily seen, are designed. first of ali,
with the idea OF being useful and are
made just as exquisite and perfect as il
is possible for the designer to evolve.
The tiny so-called French watches,
for example, that are no larger than 81
25 cent piece. are made so as to fit
comfortably in "a tightly draped belt or
girdle. Many of these watches are OF
chastcd gold, but the newer ones are of
enamel of a most artistic design and of
a color to match the gown with which
they are worn. Others. of the same
size and shape, are studded with dia-
mOnds, rubies or sapphires, while the
face is of charming design in engraved
gold and enamel. Chasted gold with the
initials or monogram of the owner in
the center of the back makes 1t most
attractive. the letters being either
raised or set down in the gold, the jew
els being then necessarily very small.
Fascinating Watch Balls.
For Il princess or empire gown the
new ball watches hung about the necit
on a short chain are singularly appro-
pirate. With an elaborate reception
gown a plain jewel watch chain with
the watch inside the belt looks too emil
nently practical, 80 when One-piccc
princess gown came into favor these
watches were evolved by some clever
artist. This small timepiece. which is
but little larger than n pecan nut,
hangs from a chain set with Jewels and
engraved TO coincide with the watch it
self. II the watch is set with diamonds
so must the chain be, while II emeralds,
rubies or sapphires give color to the
brilliant stone they must be made use
of also in the chain. Pearls also are
seen in these little watches. but unless
combined with diamonds are not SO
fascinating as the more glittering gems.
Exquisite little watches worn. on jew
eled pins are rather more in favor thar
has been h case Of late years. A
small heart shaped watch. completely
studded with tiny diamonds and the
bar pin ornamented with the same
stones, is exquisitely pretty, and there
are numberless flower designs to be had
that are all exceptionally attractive. A
pansy set with a large amethyst formed
a case for one timepieoc. and the same
stone made a charming single violet.
Enamel instead of precious OF semi
precious stones IL also used extensively
in these novel designs of watches.
Watches in Lorsnettes.
OF essentially useful novelties there
are the lorgnettes with Z minute watch