The Washington herald., 1914-11-06
THE VOGUE OF SHORT SKIRTS.

Most Of the mere men who VIII see
the charming costume worn by Miss Ann
Murdoch in the third act OF THE Beau
tiful Adventure" which will be on view
at the Columbia Theater> this week, will
think that it is tennis creation with its
short skirt and blue velvet blouse. The
women, however. will know that the full
skirt, which stops eight inches from the
ground to reveal a dainty pair of high
laced shoes, Is cut according to the very
latest fashion from war ridden Paris
When the returning modistes, scurry-
ing before the Uhlans could cut on their
retreat to Cherburg and the liner bound
for New York, arrived back on Fifth
avenue and Broadway last August. they
one and all announced that the tight
skirt, the concave skirt, the hounce skirt,
and all other prevailing skirts must go,
and that the positively up-to-the-minute
skirt this fall and winter would be very
full and its bottom would be fun eight
inches from the street. New York wom-
en- were loath to give up the graceful
skirts they had been wearing for two
years, for an unadorned. meager garment
which they feared would make them ap-
pear hoidenish, and ii was some weeks
before the new skirt made its appearance
even on the stage. where the new fash
ions especiaIly the innovations and the
daring things, generally are shown weeks
before they become frequent sights on
the street
Thus Miss Ann Murdock had the dis
tinction Of wearing the first Of these new
abbreviated skirts on the opening night
of The Beautiful Adventure" at the
Lyceum Theater, New York This was IN
the first week Of September and at that
time even the modistes had not an
nounced the coming of the new skirt. SO
- Nl1 a
when she appeared In II. The manner In
which she came TO wear this costume
and thus to introduce a new style. IN New
York is rather intetresting. ALI Hayman'
general manager for Charles Frohman,
was dining at the Casino in Deauvilie,
France last August with number OF
Partsians, including George Doeuillet. the
famous Paris fashion designer. and Mile.
Mona Delsa, a popular French actress.
when Mile. Fauzane, best known. OF ali
Partisan actresses. and one OF the best
dressed women in the French capital.
entered the Casino wearing striking
costume with the new short skirt. Mr..
Hayfnan liked the costume so much that
he asked for an Introduction TO the
actress and after, meeting her. pied with
her TO give him the design and patterns
so that he could have It copied.
Nile. Fauzane had Just promised when
the mobilization of the French army was
announced, and Instantly all was eonfu-
sion. and every one rushed for home to
bid loved ones and friends 'Good-by.' .
afRe. Fauzane Joined the rush, but as she
left the table she told Mr.. Hayuian that
sAe would send. him the costume and he
could have it copied and return il to
her. The actress was as good as her
word, and thus the theatrical manager
triumphantiy- returned to America with
the complete COSTUME.
When Miss Mnrdock was ordering her
gowns for The Beautiful Adventure
she desired something very smart and
out OF the ordinary for >ese last act She
happened to ten her trouble to Mr.. Hay-
man and asked him II he could suggest
a gown, and he at once produced the
costume the Partisan actress had sent
him. Il WAS copied at once, and thus
Miss Murdock secured a. very smart cos
tune and at the same time had the dis
tfnction Of Introducing new style to
America. The costume II modelled after
the frocks worn by Russian peasant girls
and the hat is made up to resemble the
colored handkerchicfs In when the Rus
sian girls bind up their Eair. The effect
10 decidedly smart, and Miss Murdock Il