The Washington herald., 1917-12-29
knitting in Peacock Alley
BY LUCILLE CAMERON.

A knitting circle In Peacock Alley,
A couple of years ago that would
nave seemed incredible. But these
days the women arrange their chairs
In little semi-circles right along the
Willard corridors and knit, knit. knit
Helmets and sweaters and socks and
mittens occupy their clicking needles.
And while they chatter and laugh one
can feel their undercurrent of thought
for the boys on the Flanders front
and in the training camps over here.
But, as the song goes, we must Send
Them Away With Smile" And it's
pest to keep on smiling after they
have gQne. Yielding to depression
never hees. And to help along the
cheerful Impression one should also
look ones best.
A demure little maid whose knitting
needles are never seen idle was seated
In a big Georgian chair with her feet
primly on footstool. tor all the world
ike a little Quaker. Her suit of
platinum gray duvetyn was cut on ap-
propriately youthful lines, with an
Empire waistline and sash belt tying
In the back. A collar. deep. fiaring
GUNS and coat panels were of crushed
o@NS NoAoSoA ClOtII. HOSGQ over lIH
owners piquant eyes was a little hat
of soft gray velvet faced with cor
beau blue. Motifs Of rose and mauve
were embroidered over the crown.
Shoes OF gray patent leather toned in
just right.
Wonderfully becoming was the dis
tinctive costume of a charming matron
whose silvery hair frames a face as
sweet as any girls. Her simply tail
ored suit of black gloveskin cloth was
cut on smart double-breasted lines.
Instead of collar there was a square
cape of black velvet which fell below
the waist line in soft ripples. From
a small. rolling brimmed hat of black
panne there fell black silk veil en-
oroidered with trailing vines. The
completing note in this symphony was
pair OF priceless black pearl ear
rings.
A slim-ankled. blond cherub was
telling a group Of girls, between
stitches, Just what a perfectly thrill
Ing time she had at a Christmas eve
fraternity dance. One knew at a
glance that she had been no wall
flower. Her coat dress Of Petrograd
blue broadcloth was cut on long,
straight lines with a high collar and
cute little breast pockets edged with
astrakhan. A side fastening with
covered buttons emphasized the Rus
sian note. Pulled snugly over her
golden curls was a tam of finely shir-
red blue velvet. Boots of brown calf
skin with brown suede tops and wing
tips were also worn.
Puzzling perseveringly over "set-
ting the heeP' Of sock was a young
matron whose Wellesley, education
was evidently not of much help in
mastering the intricacies Of knitting.
But she looked very charming In her
tailleur of burgundy velvet with its
graceful hustle drapery: The high,
rolling, medieval collar and the under
tunic of the skirt were threaded with
steel embroidery in a complicated con-
ventional pattern. From a narrow
brfmmed chapeau OF burgundy velvet
there few a single big gray wing.
The handsome wife Of a prominent
member Of the Council of National De-
fense was lunching leisurely with some
friends In the Shoreham. apparently
not in the least ruffled by the Con-
gressional investigations which are
threatening the council. But how
could one look worried about anything
when clad in a Soulie model OF gazeIIe
velvet with braiding Of old silver and
banding Of black fox7 This opulent
frock was cut on modified moyenase
lines with band of black fox mark
ing the low waistline and a double
breadth OF velvet forming a straight
draped panel tunic on each side. MI
lady's hat was a tricorne Of gray and
suyss erosads With : deep circular