The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-07
Evolution of Easter Fimery Shown i'm National Museum
az JOHN ELrnErH WATKINS.
WashinEton. ID. O.. April q, 1elo

Washington. -. c.. April G, 1912.
rT- lIE evolution OF the Easter fincry
OF Americans !ovclicst bellies and
d matrons IS 10 be illustrated in ii
comprehensive exhibit OF costumes now
being Installed In the National Mu-
The enterprise Was lately inaue-
urated by a committees ct Washington
society women. headed 10y Mrs julien
James whose chiei assistant i'll coll
lsctine The wealth OF apparel 10 be
displayed !s Mrs Rose Gouvcrncur
Hoes Observation-Disclosures OF President
Monroe a hall or the old National
Museum building, most of whose cN-
h!bi,s arc now being removed 10 the
new s,ructure. has been assigned to
the collection. which Will be under
The direction Of pr. Walter Hough,
curator OF ethnology. The exhibit
will be officially known as the "collcc-
ton of period costumes" ana will set
forth In series Of lifelikv lay liz
ures The various styles Of apparel cur
rent iii the various periods OF American
history, from Colonial times TO tho
present day. OF greatest interest vii.
be series OF costumes OF. American
celebrities, including the gowns worn
h. the wives vi our Presidents, the
court dresses which have graccl the
consor;s OF our ambassadors and min
listers abroad, and the beautiful con
fcctions which our noted beauties
have worn a official functions OF srca
historic Importance. such as those
given in honor OF Lafayette. OF the
Prince of Wales or Of Louis Kossuth,
when those notablcs visited this coun-
1ry. Masculine as well rs feminine
attire Will be displayed III the series.
which will include the typical dress
OF the civilian classes as we'll as
The special creations designed tor the
grandees of ofic!aldom. The cvolu
,iou of all manner OF appurtcua.:ccs
TO dress will be shown--typical sam
plce OF the milliner's art of all Amer
lean epochs as well as laces and
lingerie. fans, headdresscs aud wigs,
slippers and shoes, hosiery and gloves,
veils, cloeks, wraps, rnuffs, furs,
pRrasois handkerchiefs and whatever
else has adorned the human form in
American history
serjc. of Inaugural Gowu.
one Of the most gorgeous features
Of the exhibit will be series of
inaugural ball gowns OF our various
Presidents wives, and the nucleus of
this collection is that OF Mrs Taft.
which she has just contributed Martha
Washington will be also represented
by inc old dress OF embroidered mus
lin. the material for which the Father
of nj. Country had imported especial
~ from India, and which was made UP
III this country under Mrs. Washing
tons personal direction This. with
The original kerchiet worn with il,
will he loaned TO the collection by
Miss Mamie Randolph Hcth, of Wash
ington who in an accompanying pic
ture Is seen wearing this historical
costume, together with earrings aud
fan that belonged 10 the mother
OF her country. The collection OF court
gowns was started by Mrs. John HAYS
Hammond. who contributed her dress
worn at the coronation OF George r..
Mrs. John Hay, who presented not
only one OF her gowns, but Ambas
sador Hays court cape, Worn ut st.
James, and Mrs. Hoes. who added
Names Monroc's court dress OF green
velvet. In which lie was presented
10 Napoleon l.
The first figures in the chronology
cal order OF the series will represent
in full detail the characteristic garbs
of the stocks which settled America
the Puritan, the quaker the Dutch
PATRON, the Huguenot, the English
cavalier, the Spaniard, with his good
wife ct his side.
Gnrb of tho Colonial Dame.
The Colonial dame OF the eighteenth
century Will be represented by
wealth of original costumes ana their
accessories, although IN this period
radical styles. both in our Colonies
ana in Europe, changed so srldc. that
Young belle could wear her grand
mothers ball gown with propricty
and without a renting. That was
curing the tifty-year reign o; the
Louis Nv. gown. with its plain, gath
cred, fun skirt its ruffled sleeves
aud its pointed waist, low in ;h. neck.
The exhibit Will show that The only
stylish rival OF This form was the
French Wattcau dress. which. with it's
swelling skirts and wealth Of lace and
ribbons, came in the latter part Of
that century The hsurcs displaying
these quaint. cost<1mes Will be adorned
by heads on which tho hair appears
10 be drawn too tightly until. about
VIC. the monst!ous headGresses OF
Marie ..nto!nnette's time carried fash