The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-12

,Arf old story. Yet It comes with the force
.t11e Americans who observe these daring
costumes for the first time. 1t is one
thing to read about them. another to see
chem. The dressmakers in Paris did not
hesitate at semi-nudity. They empha-
sized it. If the observer felt that the
clothes were an idle dream of the dress
makers. that feeling was altered when
the French women were seen at Deau-
wife and Biarritz going the dressmakers
.bit better During the week of the
Gland Prix at Deauville there were
clothes worn by well-known women
which have never been attempted since
BSrras was the dictator at the Luxem-
burg palace. A woman in his time was
publicly Kissed on the boulevards for
appearing in an unlined tulle frock and
there was woman of his encourage who
aRpeared in an opera box with no mate
rial above her waist and the flesh COW
ered with a harness of diamonds These
clothes were almost repeated at Deau-
vise. That lovely spot on the Normandy
coast, where the races are held in Au-
gust, proved to be the trying-out field
for the fashions which the Paris dress
makers have been showing to the Ameri-
can buyers, and the unlined tulle gown
arti the bodice made from loose harness
of. jewels was worn without Kissing In
that fact lies a difference between the
two periods after great war that should
cause the psychologist to go to work.
In. Barras' time the women were Kissed.
in. Poincaires time the women met with
amusement. Has humanity sunk bit
loFer that it did after the horrors of
the French revolution? One could fill
chapter with the various details Of the
semi costumes which were worn at Deau-
vile, and one should write book to go
along with the other histories of the war
concerning this supreme height to which
extravaganza, folly. costumery and gam
bling rose during the Grande Semaine
at-Deauville, the first after war was con-
cllded and peace was ratified. The money
that passed over the tables in the bac-
cara rooms was greater than any amount
copceiyed Of during the regency of
George " when he was master of Bath
TIE money that passed hands at the race
corrse was enough to help the national
war debt of France in considerable meas
urR. The prices paid by the French and
other Europeans for the villas at Deau-
NiHe and the rooms at the smart hotels
would have restored several villages in
the devastated regions of France. OF
course. people have a right to spend the
money they own, but it gives the Ameri-
cap a shock to see such gorgeous and
brilliant and reckless prodigality at SO
serious a time in the life of France If
one could sum up the fashions worn at
Deauville one would put it that skirts
which is coquetry of kind; that even
ing bodices are gorgeous because they
are composed of pink or brown skin and
harness of jewels. Bare legs are fire.
Qient and they are not in the least shock
ing or unpleasant to see Everyone
through a co-ordinated protest against
the price of silk stockings that last day.
Copper colored legs in the morning with
short jersey costumes and brown suede
sandals laced with copper colored rib
bon are rather artistic. The Americans
never thought they would approve of
bare legs, but there is a feeling of
leniency toward them now that may
SOME from familiarity, or from the idea
nAt they are suitable on hot summer