New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18
Frocks and Furnishings Of
VictOna'5 YoungerDdys
May Return but the
Women Never!
By ELENE FOSTER

-A-I wore a quaint black velvet
IfA outer garment trimmed with
NIX fringe. a first cousin to the
hSsS2a-- mantilla of our grandmothers
day. and duck Of a hat with
long. dropping feather.
How quaint and how becoming" ex-
claimed. "You look as if you had just stepped
out from the pages Of Godey's magazine.
Good" she replied. That's just the way
that want to look. I'm dressed for the part
This is Early Victorian Day for you and me-
A revival is on its way and, as Billy Sunday
would say, We must get on the band wagon
az love your clothes" said, "but have yet
10 be convinced that there is anything either
beautiful or homelike in that ugly middle
noriod' in house decoration. Marble topped
tables. hair wreaths, wax flowers, chenille
fringes! They give me the horrors"
az know lust how you feel" said Letitia, 81
have been through it all myself. But by for
aging around have found some really lovely
things of tina. period, and am going TO show
YOU two rooms of the Early Victorian Era
which will 90 long way toward helping you
TO change your ideas"
THE DAYS OF BEADWORK AND WAN
FLOWERS
"One Of the most noticeable characteristics
of the Early Victorian style OF decoration
she continued, as we climbed into bus on
our way downtown, "is the vast amount OF
handwork-I should say 'women's handi-
work'-which was used. The Early Victorian
woman was sheltered, timid creature, whose
place was in the home, and who had very few
If anv interests outside it. Because of this
her entire time seemingly was spent in making
articles for its decoration. and her patience
and perseverance were infnite-as the needle
point, the shell flowers and the embroidery
will testify.
There is no period of decoration IN which
woman's work predominates as 1T does IN that
of the first half of the nineteenth century.
And apropos of this it's a singular colncl-
dence that you should have mentioned Godeys
magazine, for / looked over file of those
last evening" at friends house where
dined, and l copied this paragraph TO read to
yoh
a'Hor1e is the sacred residence designed by
divine goodness for the happiness of woman.
Over its quiet retirement she was formed to
shed her peaceful influence, and In the con-
scious freedom with which she is permitted
70 discharge the responsibilities which its re
lations impose to receive happiness herself
and communicate it to those With whom she IS
connected in relationship and in love-
"That." said Letitia, ais the Early Victorian
wornanl No Votes for Women in those days!
She certainly was a busy little bee in the
home, however. Everything was decorated,
and often overdecorated, by her fair hand
II was the same with her clothes, pillows Of
ruffies and puffings and embroidery In fifty
seven varieties. You must still have in your
family lovely old embroidered collars and I'M
dergarments and babies dresses.
THE ONLY OUTLET FOR FEMININE
ENERGY
at was the period of elaborate and often
meaningless decoration in everything; some
good and some decidedly bad; it all depended
on The taste of the woman who was the home
maker. There are, however, many lovely
things that have come down TO US if one has
the time and patience 10 ferret them out.
Zone Of the great difficulties in rcviving the
interior decoration Of the Early Victorian days
is the scarcity Of furniture of that period to
be found in the shops You see, there has never
before been demand for this furniture. Col
lectors have never gone in for IT. and so II
has simply passed out Of existence with the
execution Of the pieces which were covered
with old needle point These have been pre-
served in families for sentiments sake because
Mothers Aunt Deborah made that when she
was a girl Fancy giving up tennis or skating
10 do that These bits Of needle point, grown
mellow with age, are many Of them as lovely
as piece Of ancient tapestry
We were evidently at the end Of our bus
ride. for Letitia jumped of and hurried
after her and presently found myself in the
ANTIQUE department Of famous old store,
standing before a black lacquer table painted
n q quaint. old-fashioned design Of birds and
flowers. -,
Exhibit ~" said Letitia. Early VIC
torian painted table Care for that"
~ love IT," replied, land here's a corner
cg,Eoard Ike il. II really n lovely"
EARLY VICTORIAN FURNITURE
There were several other pieces Of this same
shiny black furniture, exceedingly attractive
in colors and design bench with an interest,
ing design I. dull gold. funny old piano stool
with four legs and top that screwed UP ana