Evening star., 1909-03-07

admiration. The other day 1t was notice
able that, though playing her part OF
president with businesslike dexterity,
she never lost an opportunity to put in
a few words for the gentle art of being
womanly in the best sense. The doctrine
she preached, if one can call her soft
suggestions preaching. was courtesy and
kindness to one another and responsibility
toward all with whom one comes In con-
tact. If her words made as much i'm
preston upon all Of her hearers as
they did upon one or two, the Lyceum
will soon be a model womans club, for
In 1t there will be no wrangltng and no
spitefulness whatever. Where Mrs.
Mason's eloquence failed to appeal to
her audience her sartorial effort must
have proved most convincing. She
lace. fragile Grape, supple ribbon and
Parisienne chic. which was bound to de-
light the souls of the true lover of things
dainty and exotic. The little dress fash
ioned in semi-empire style was made OF
black silk cluny lace and net. both being
Of an unusually fine quality. There were
deep insertions of lace In two designs.
one showing bold scrolls and the other
sort of inset shell pattern. The inser-
tions were held together by bands of plain
black silk net, and the dress was mounted
on soft folds of pale gray blue crepe
de chine. The bodice was very clinging
and almost tight fitting. and a soft sash
of gray blue satin was threaded In and
position of the short waist. The ends
of this sash were tied in knot at one
side and then allowed to hang loose. Mrs.
Mason wore cluster of deep crimson
roses at the corsage and pair Of little
silver slippers. The gown was wonder
fully subtle and yet SO simple.
X
Controversy grows apace as to whether
ia femme tube Is to reign as the die
tator Of spring fashion-in shape-or
whether. as most strongly limited. the
normal waist is to be defined once more.
Judging from the signs Of the times, the
longer waist line will prevail, but who
can tell where all is surmise? Certain it
is that many of the smartest gowns are
draped models, close fitting, though not
unduly clinging, with the slightly defined
waist line apparent. True. the afternoon
costumes have less grace of line than
those worn at any other hour of the day,
for they are designed. so it would seem,
that each wearer has fewer curves than
the rest. In the morning comfort is aimed
at, and in the evening desire to please
men modiiies the styles.
Certain young matrons, leaders of So
ciety here at the capital, have begun a
short skirt crusade. They will no longer
be hampered with the trailing skirts with
which all winter women have been
burdening themselves on the street. The
american idea" these young matrons
call the short skirt, and it is delightfully."-
osurd that the American idea" adopted
in Paris will doubtless be taken up by
your dressmakers in the spring as very
''French.'' But. whimsical as the notion
is, the style is the only sensible one for
trotteur gowns. The skirts of these new
cnrinp walking skirts are cut nearly four
inches from the groupd, but the smart
Parisiennes who sponsor these short
skirts will not stand for the stout Ameri-
can walking boots that in America are
worn with the trotteur. No:
this would be asking too much from the