The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-26
"A Costumcd Affair
Yes, indeed, II was the bieee.t thin

OF Shepa. 30 tar 40 real elegance OF
feeling and satisfaction of soul might
be taken into consideration. oh, "fuii
dress affair" what sacrilego 10 com.
mitted in thy namel Row after row
Of women In every sort OF conceiy-
nble costume pushed and elbowed Zach
other toward the receiving line and
into the supper room.
Every one was there from the wo-
man wEo sold buttons in a tiny shop
with tinkling bell on the front door
TO the most elegant grand dame, who
mad been brought ihsher own big ma
chine to The party. There wore the
neat pair of stout boots plainly Wis
ibie beneath a gown Of pink satin. She
had forgotten her dress shoes In her
haHts and had been assured theyc
would never show In all that crowd;
there was the walking skirt OF ones
Sunday quit with "dresay" Foulard
waist that had graced SO many meet
ings OF the sewing circle, and one
had turned too happily away from tho
mirror at home, and some OF the
gowns might have been considered
what IL sometimes known as elabor-
ate. Indeed, they were studies In
brainstorms. and represented months
ana weeks OF thought and yards and
Sards OF gold lace and the usual cry
b..
handsome and some were ugly: bome
trains were tucked under their own,
srs arms aB they were savipg them
10 be buried in and must by no means
have II injured against tina, time. ana
many were there from curiosity alone,
and gowns were merely a side issue.
ana their wearers looked the part
1t spreads like an ever.mov.ne.
ewor-ehangins scene before ones
eyes, and Is to be seen any
time at any public affair where
the invitation list Ia as broad
anu Wide as ones own backyard.
though II Is generally conceded thai
some are quite marrow affairs, bu, iet:s
say nice. big backyard and be more
explicit One merely drops In to OBJ
serve and hence the result
Novel PIncc Cards.
Attractive place cards are good
sized paper dolls dressed in satin and
tulte ven, and carrying a brides bou-
1uet. These are fastened to oblong
paper standards SO they can stand
erect at each plate. Sometimes ng.
ure OF the groom Is used for the girls,
but the male costume is of.a different
period. This Will not be hard II period
inshion books are found in a good
library
Another pretty Idea is big square
OF chiffon or thin lace tied into bag
Win narrow ribbon and orange blos-
SONS. Lay II open on a table filled
Win rose petals or rice to be 'thrown
after the departing couple, then tie
the ends go they drop in four points.
ne name OF the guest can be stuck in
the top OF these folds
simple cards. painted with orange
blossoms or other appropriate flow
ers, can have tied TO them charms OF
.iny silver wedding bells or bride
slippers.
Home Decorating.
Decorating has become q profession
ranking high In artistic demands. Tho
time has passed when any girl who
needs TO swell her income can call
herself n decorator. Because she has
q pretty bedroom OF her own and all
her friends praise her taste, 1t follows
not that she can win fortune fur
nishing other peoples houses.
The modern decorator. must be
many-sided. More essential than ar
hstic sense-wh!ch can be cultivated
is hard business sense. tact, adapta bill
ity. and common sense. A good .,du-
cation is imperative.
House decorating may he e1as.aa .,
phe OF the luxurles OF life The moor
or those OF moderate means do their
own furnishing, however dietrustful
d their own taste. And the rich er-
poet value received for their money
nc ueSOTdtOT VINO falla IN
SiVe IL rails to get customera
There Is no more interesting mo-
tession for the right woman, save ner
haps. landscape gardening. which
means more OF an outdoor lie. a cir,
. VINO Is considering a lifework should
give decorating serious thought.
IL VIII mean hard study, constant
itort. much responsibility, ineyttahio
encouragement. On the othar sidc 20
inc fascination OF turning out ths
mousse beautiful at some one elsa's A.
pehse. The beauty lover, the woman
who Graves an artistic environment.
VIII md real JOY in creating for 9TH
Self.
The modern decorator. she who ia
successful in the Highest sense, Is I'm
In history. She must know the proner
9anEings, furniture and decorations
i Tor any given period; otherwise her
decorating Will be a hodge -podge,
q ridiculous TO those who recognize in,
congruities.
she must also know textiles, not
only modern ones. but those of former
DAYS. She dare not be deceived in
eyes and weaves. must understand
raw materials as we'll as the finished
products
The best decorators are almost nI-
ways antiquariana They love old fur
niture and old things generally and
cannot be fooled. OFTEN in furnishing
mouse Tor wealthy person 1t falls
10 the decorator to produce as well.
as suggest. She may not say: 1--WE
VIII have this room entirely shera.
ton and then sit by while her pat
rons ill 1t with the pseuso- Sheraton
mat is flooding the country.
inc good decorator understands
color effects, also the connection OF
color with furnishing, temperament.
health and complexion Of the owner.
IT sounds most effete to consider the
hangings OF room with reference
to nne's skin and eyes. yet that is what
IS heing done every day by the dec
orator who understands her business.