The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-10-21
Edited by ROSE FREEDMAN.
LEAGUE L- 5: WILL CULTIVATE ART
 AND BEAUTY
Opening Program Points to Most Interesting Year
 For Members.

1 The inspiration of art and all that is Beautiful was the keynote to the opening meeting of the Bridgeport Art i League yesterday afternoon at their trooms in the Staples building on State 5treet, when a most interesting pro gram was presented under the direc- ] tion of the president, Mrs. F. Merton Hammond. The rooms were over i crowded with enthusiastic members tand friends who thoroughly enjoyed picturesque tahIeaux vivant, the jspIendid history of costumes read ] y Mrs. W. F. CoggesWcu of Strat- l ford and the inspiring talk by Mrs. J. i Phip2s. former president of the State ] Federation Of Women's clubs.
 Mrs. II. F. Brardcs assisted in the presentation of the Album of Old various characters, while they ap- poared in the costumes described in the album. Miss Erma Chase and Miss Irene Conner wore picturesque 1860 frOcks and pantelets and Mrs. F. | R. Hickman and Mrs. Clarence Lavey wore the beautiful gowns of that pc riod- Mrs. Lavy also delighted with @ fascinating char2.rterizatio of love tale of the time Mrs. Robert Horton made q most IovabIe grand mother in her hOop-skirted gown with iSi-t 9iIotN l. bilN lDIEdSOi ana all the iacCesSCries handed by various genera tions Miss Harriet Bassett wore her I&roat-"ra ndmothers' wedding gown land Mrs. Frank Beers anI Mrs. w. H. !farsOn were also gowned in fine heir
 looms.
 Mrs. Hammond presided at the meeting and presented Mrs. Phipps who spoke briefly of the uplift and education of the league and it's con
 tact to other leagues in the State Fed
 eration. She noted that art and liter ature were the foundations of all that is beautiful and lasting and said that
 long after industry and everything
 else are forgotten, the cultivation Of art will remain immortal
 , ''The forTigner." she said, "comes to this country often with a thorough knowledge of that which is beautiful and a fair desire to uphold his love for
 art and, beauty.
 Tt is therefore up to us to uphold
 that desire and even increase the
 consideration Of that art. In thi: i way We will preserve for the new
 homo the needIework. the lace
 making, the arts and crafts of the
 old world which will not only give g
 keener understanding of the beauti , fUl but will also develop a valuable gift for this country"
 Tracing the origin of costume. through the various stages of civili-
 zation, Mrs. Coggesweu presented ar ] educational as well as a most inter. esting paper which was prepared b!
 Mrs. George Starr of Kentucky. Sht
 noted the history of weaving, sill
 culture, the velvet industry and the
 costumes worn by the different ma l tions The new fashions, she noted = were combined with industry and sait . that the manufacturer, mOdiste ? some star of society. or one who ha ] come into the public eye, is in on s way or another responsible for tn l new styles and new fashions. Dress should be an index to one l character said Mrs Phipps, ant t concluded, help American wome1 g who are slaves of their dressmaker . and wear dresses which their dress r makers say are the fashion" e Following the program, a socia 2 time was enjoyed when tea and cak g were served and new members re : ceived. An exhibit of rugs, beautiful = painted china and collections of oIt = French prints attracted a good dea
 ] of attention.