Evening star., 1952-12-02
Cooley Styles
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By Ruth Dean

Members of the District League
of Republican Women stepped
back through the pages Of
Godey's Lady's Book yesterday for
a real life glimpse of the styles
that were "high fashion" to MI
lady more than 70 years ago.
League members "oh'd' and
"ah'd" much as their great
grandmothers probably did. when
they were shown an authentic
collection of the Cooley fashions
following a business meeting and
luncheon at the Mayflower Hotel.
The collection, consisting Of
gowns and accessories from the
trousseau of a Youngstown
(Ohio) bride who wore them in
the year 1878. was presented in
the form of a playlet, charming
ly enacted by Mrs. AIDA Cham
bers Of Garfield. Ohio, one of the
owners of the collection, and Mrs.
Marion M. Diehl. also of Garfield.
Mrs. Diehl, as the bride, Cath
crime, excitedly tries on her new
Paris creations ("the latest,
Godey's says she exclaims) as
Cousin Adda" assists her with
buttons, laces and ties. .
AS Catherine tries on one after
another of the beautiful cos
tumes-jet beaded velvet gowns,
a crocheted wool stole with silk
panels, a ball gown of Tiffany
gauze and matching evening bon
net, and black sealSkin opera
cape lined in white satin-she and
Cousin Adda" carry on spirited
chit chat about recipes, menus,
household hints and the like.
The bride -to-be reveals that her
beauty secrets are natures own.
For hair rinse, she just goes out
in the spring of the year and
catches the grape vine drippings.
And for that alabaster look" she
explains: why Cousin Adda, I
just 60 out at the break of dawn
every day, and wash my face and
hands and arms in the dew"
Like brides of all ages, however,
she confesses she knows how to
make a cake icing that you have
to stir for an hour, but doesn't
know how to bake bread.
Highlight of the play was Mrs.
Dlehl's modelling of the ivory satin
gown which took two
three months to COM
plete. The Brussels lace which
cascades down the front Of the
bodice cost $100 a yard.
The play was directed by Mrs.
E. E. Kirkwood of Youngstown.
Ohio, co-owner of the collection.
reputed to be the finest in the
country outside of the museums.
Found in a Youngstown attic IL
years ago. the collection had it's
159th showing yesterday, Mrs.
Kirkwood said.
Earlier in the day, during the
business session, the
league heard an address by Sem
ator George w. Malone, Republic
can, of Nevada.
Senator Malone predicted the
cabinet selected by President
elect Eisenhower will be con-
firmed by Congress without ques-
ton" and that the next 80 days
may prove to be more impor-
tant than in any previous era of
history"
If the new administration is 60
ing to be honest with the people.
the Senator declared, it must es-
tablish a yardstick to preserve a
sound economy in this country by
restoring the gold standard, and
keep a floor under wages and in
vestments in this country by let
ting the "so-called Reciprocal
Trade Agreements Act die in
June" ....
Senator Malone attributed the
present state of imitation to the
fact that management and labor
in this country are operating un-
der constant pressure of competi-
ton from labor-cheap foreign
markets. He maintained that
restoration of the Tariff Commis-
sion's import price fixing powers
would force these countries to pay
their own labor with higher wages.
The Senator was introduced by
Mrs. Edward G. Rohrbough. pro-
gram chairman. Mrs. Carroll D.
Kearns, league president. con-
Quoted the meeting, her first ap-
pearance before the league since
she sustained injuries in an auto
mobile accident last summer