The Washington herald., 1909-07-11

/ AH addressing recently, a graduating
class OF young women, noted profes-
sor warned them against certain per-
nicious modern tendencies, and in we'll
! turned phrase and sonorous English de-
nounced IN particular this seasons fash
ions in hats and stats" as a Western
poet calls the up and down mode. saying
/ In substance that the present STYLES are
"the worst ever"
I Now. II IS just this point that arouses
his audience 10 ire; without attempting
any defense Of the peach basket class.
and the hair and frocks 10 match. that
fashion DEGREES 10 be the thing, the Ia
dies politely ask the perusal OF a few
Z old prints not as far back as the Tudors.
either. and the scanning OF some old Ia
dies books" and then judgment as 20
whether twentieth century Is worse than
nineteenth. IN the matter OF clothing.
The professor was so biting In his satire
that be left the impression that there
was personal feeling in the matter. and
the auditors are guessing whether he
IS the parent OF six dauehters who buy
peach-basket hats. or whether his dear
est foe Is getting rich in the millinery
business
II may be true that ''Tis love that makes
the world 80 round. as We have 50 often
been told In song and story, bat there
Is no doubt that it is fashion and the
nckleness Of feminine fancy that keen The
wheels OF commerce spinning. Every av-
enue OF trade. save the food supply. re-
celTes impetus from The clothes that we
wear and the way We wear them. mil
liens Of the peoples Of the world make
a.
expensive they are the more money Is
put in circulation. which after an Is
better FOR the masses than 10 be pur
In a bank. which may burst. or tied I'D
Tor a rainy day, which may not arrive
30 without quite attempting a defense
or the funny things now seen on almost
every lady In view. still the world is
the hvelier and the pockets Of the manu-
facturers better lined than # all donned
The dainty but inexpensive Quaker gray.
As 10 being much more extreme than
were our grandmOthers. listen 70 q little
story told By the last belle OF the Rev
oluuonaTy period. og, 70 be more correct.
ol me republican court, OF which Mrs.
washington was the central figure-Mrs-
Alexander Hamilton Mrs Hamilton Hv-
ed for many years IN washington and
was the senior member Of the trio OF
brilliant women. consisting Of Mrs Dolly
Madison, and Mrs. Gen. MacOnb. who
graced the Capital socially and intellect
ually during the first half of the last
century.
MS Hamilton was more than ninety
when she closed her active and useful
life, and 10 the last her memory was pc
cuharly clear. and her delight was 20
tell a select audience Of the thriUius
episodes Of the Revolution which passed
under her notice or with quiet humOr 20
give little word-sketches of men and
things that had amused or charmed her
when the coUntry's independence was a
new thing
She WIS entertaining a child friend
one day with tales Of the first levee given
by President Washington after his inasi-
guration. Mrs Washington was not pres
ent having 10 remain al Mount Vernon,
Ike the good housewife she was 20
close up affairs n preparation Of four
years absence. but the ball WAS very
brilliant one nevertheless, and the favors
we're hand-painted fans. prepared IN
France for the occasion. bearing the pic
ture OF Gen Washington on each-every
lady was given one as a souvenir
But one Of the incidents which particu-
larry fingered in Mrs. Hamilton's memory
was a rather thrilling episode Of a Presi-
House. New York. where the ceiling be-
ing rather low and the beautiful Miss
McEvers. sister Of Mrs. Edward Livings-
ton. having dressed her hair with the
latest and greatest exagge-ati0n Of
plumes. swept grandly through the room
brushing the lighted candles IN the chan
delier. setting her nodding head dress in
a light blaze. the Presidents aid. Mai
Jackson. was instantly 20 the rescue and
before the ladies had time 10 faint OF
scream. had clapped ont the flames with
his bare hands. thereby injUring hts rus-
aes. but winning great applause.
The danger Of a towering head-dress
passed from memory in the passing
years. and the moderation which followed
this disaster was lost sight Of, by the
time Lincoln was inaugurated- Many
there are stiIl IN the city who remember
the wonderful dresses and quaint ar
rangements OF the hair that marked that
brilliant Inaugural BAH. more brilliant
probably 0y contrast with the war cloud
which was rolling up in the background.
The New York Times gave a vivid pic
ture Of the scene and reserved a special
paragraph for this fashion note every (
lady makes the most OF her-Or some I
body elSeS lalr- which i frlzZeQ and 7
pufIed and curled IN the most extensive /
manner" The local paper. The Intelli- 4
geacer, comments on the "slat-like' fea- /
uure OF the costumes saying the feature I
OF the tolettes OF the evening-s0 we I
were informed in strict confidence by a I
lady frsend-was the absence Of crinOlinet :
Please don't mention it," As ten yards \
Of dress goods gathered around a slender /
waist had been about the amount Of ma I
teriaI needed 10 give the proper fullness /
TO the dresses q week before the bah, 4
the difference must have been startling.
There was once a fashionable dress !
maker in town who had belonged 10 a Z
Virginia family OF standing before the 4
war IN capacity OF nurse. but seeing her I
real ability with the needle and unusual 1
talent In construction. her master had set I
her free. and she with good business in /
stinct came 20 Washington as the best 7
field for her newly developed profession. /
N HORSE ARD ZT52A