The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-01-04
LUCKY Is OWNER
OF PAISLEY SHAWL
Genuine Article ExquisiteIy
Delicate, Yet Daring in
CoIoring.

Fortunate is the proud possessor of
a real Paisley shawl, for these rare
old heirlooms, with their exquisitely
delicate yet daring coloring, are not
all genuine. One must remember
that there are three distinct kinds
of cashmere shawl-the Indian shawl
the French imitation, and the Paisley
copy. Still another kind of Indian
shawl is the patchwork shawl, COM
posed of little pieces of marvellous
needlework, sewn together. II by
chance one should own that pretty
rarity, an Indian cashmere, then,
indeed, one should be happy, for it is
worth its weight in gold.
How To Wear 1t.
Since Dame Fashion has decided to
smile upon everything suggestive of
the Empire period, our beloved relics
have not escaped. No matter how in,
sinuatingly she may look upon our
shawl, we could not commit the afro
city of slashing our Indian cashmere.
Its French imitation, or the still more
beautiful Paisley, may be cut up, with
scme hesitation, to be made into
charming combinations. so appealing
to lovers of artistically daring ac-
cessories. But the Indian shawl
should be worn only as a scarf, as
were those belonging to the ladies of
Josephine's court. That fascinating
Empress IL was who caused the world
wide passion for these shawls. When
her, distinguished consort came home
from the French expedition into
Egypt, bringing with him some ex-
cd Tw,Is gI.o wn~1R gIa oil IN
instant fancy to the beautiful things.
When Napoleon told her that it took
two Hindus two years to make one
of them, she uttered a surprised little
Mon Dieu' and ordered one to match
each of her gowns.
Designed for Eternity.
II there is any immutable article of
dress designed for eternity, it is this
ancient garment They have been
worn for thousands of years in the
East by a people who resent the idea
of change and to whom every custom
is a form of religion. They have wo-
ven into the delicate web of the fabric
some of the symbolism that they love
in the form OF the pine cone. In all
of the Paisley and Indian shawls
there is a suggestion of this pattern.
Sometimes it appears in whimsical
guise, but there it is, the pine cone.
The mystic Hindu had not spent years
weaving a single shawl for nothing.
When once fashion accepted them, he
could not supply the demand. Ma
poleon looked with disfavor upon so
much money being paid outside Of
France. So a French factory was es-
tablished and the Indian shawls were
carefully and successfully copied.
In Paisley, Scotland.
England was slower than France to
adopt the fashion. Is it not always
so? But when they did accept the
shawls, the manufacture was nearer
perfection than the French shawls.
In 1870 the little town OF Paisley,
Scotland. had become perhaps the
most famous manufacturing center in
the world. Queen Victoria encour-
aged the vogue by buying seventeen
in one year. A bride felt that her
trousseau was incomplete without a
real Paisley. But, alas, as always
happens. when the abundance of home
manufacture enabled the "bour-
Geoise" to pu tit on, tho Saristocrat
put il of The beautiful glowing
stuff was folded carefully in the &c
dar chest to be brought forth for this
generations pride and glory.
The peculiar beauty, the value and
history. all make this lovely shOwl
particularly appealing. Shall we cut
il up. or try to initiate the art Of our
Erandmothers, who wore this shOwl
quantity. with dignity and charm?