Year: 1878

Letter from Boston,


BUNTING IN TEARs-JoRDAN MARsH's NEW


COSTUME RooM-THEm OPENING LAST WEEK


HOW THE BUSINESS OF THE CONCERN HAS


GROWN, WITH SUGGESTION OF ONE FEATURE


MORE.


BosToN, Nov. /, 1878.


Going down Washington street yesterday,
one could hardly fail to be struck with the
mournful appearance of the campaign flags.
Each one was weeping profusely, presumably
for the coming fate of its rivals, possibly
shedding prophetic teFs for its own. But
why should J. who belong to the dsfranchis-
ed, waste words or thoughts on political mat
ters. But did pity the flags for having to
be out in such weather. It may be you will
wonder why was out in such a rain. You
may indeed suggest that the proper place for
one of the weaker half of humanity is at
home especially on stormy day. l have
come to the conclusion that Boston women as
rule like to go out in a storm. At any event
it never keeps them at home, if they have
made up their minds to go, and if they have
motive in going. With umbrellas and water
proofs and rubbers, they are independent of
the weather, aud they defy it at every oppor-
tunity


When I tell you that Jordan Marsh & Co.
issued invitations to the opening Of new COS
tune rooms yesterday, you will at once under
stand why the women kept the weeping flags
company in Washington street 1t was the
first time that the clerk of the weather had
done his duty on an opening day this year
his wits have been gathering, evidently,
and he has allowed the sun to shine with the
most remarkable recklessness on new gowns,
cloaks and bounets But yesterday he seemed
suddenly to recollect himself and such
down-pour as he gave us! He quite made up
for all his neglect in the past. Every body
accepted his attentions as matter of course
and not woman the less accepted the invi-
tation.


| Such q time as the firm had in getting this
new room ready The retail building was
already so crowded that there wasn't n square
inch to spare, and yet the cry went up, more
:" so one day the happy expedient was
hit upon of taking the entire second floor of
the Central Court building, which was form





to feminine vanities in the way of gowns and
garments. But it was absolutely necessary
that it should connect with the retail building
in some way; so a bridge was planned and
built; then somebody served nm injunction
against the bridge there We're hearings and
hearings then the injunction was removed
and the harmless bridge was allowed to re-
main. The bridge is a covered archway with
stained windows, which give a dim religious
| light and are suggestive rather of churches
than of clothes. However the effect is good,
and don't yet see the reason of tradition
which gives the churches a monopoly of
stained glass. Ever since l was at Mr.. Henry
| Ward Beecher's new residence at Peokskill,
one of the most thoroughly artistic houses
have ever been in wondered why this glass
| is not used more in private houses. have in
mind three windows in the library, represent
ing Poetry, Art, and Painting, exquisite in
themselves, and wonderfully effective in ton
ing the light. 1t may be answered that win
dows are to look out of as well as to give light ;
true enough, but there are always plenty for
that purpose, and one or two could easily be
spared for this lovely adornment.


But to come back to our starting point
We are qvite airy over these new costume
rooms, which are the largest exhibition rooms
in the country. We're ahead of New York
for once. It wouldn't have been possible to
have had larger room unless the proprietors
could have taken a permanent lease of Music
Hall or fremont Temple. It's quite privi-
lege to see costumes in good light and with
| out danger of sulfocation, as is the usual state
of things at openings. In the new exhibition
rooms, the walls are tinted a very pale robin 5
egg blue, scarcely more than white, merely a
suggestion of color. a handsome Brussels
carpet of shaded brown, with tiny spots of
blue and red finished with bright border,
covers the floor 1t is just the carpet for a
room of this kind. 1t has color enough TO
give an air of brightness, and is sufficiently
neutral to be good back ground for costumes
of any color. A few dresses are on eXhibi-
ton from which l selected one in olive satin
and plain blue watered silk, as the most ar
tistic. The vest and front of the skirt were in
inch-wide stripes of the two colors, and the
basque corsage and court train, buttoned on to
it: the sashes and draperies were of olive
satin, faced with the striped satin and moiTe.
1t was a modest dress and very pretty. An
other was in n pale brown shade, scarcely
deeper than old gold, brocaded on ruby
ground, with ruby colored bows and draperies
AS a rule like the homemade dress, design
ed from French models, better than do the
French dresses themselves; that is, unless
the French ones are made for private orders
Fitting rooms are attached to this large room
and are just as cosy and comfortable as posi-
BILE, prettily furnished and carpeted as they
are quite like little parlors. Ladies' gar
ments and furs and little girls costumes fine
IA place in this spacious room, and all withou
any crowding 1t was quite too bad that i
should rain, because everything was so fresl
and new, and one couldn't help feeling con
slant fear that the freshness would be worI
off and the newness dimmed by contact will
rsiny-day clothes


OF course this change made others possible
so no one was surprised to find the shawls oc
cupying the place which had been vacated
by the costumes, and looking as much a
home as though they had always been there
The rooms were prettily draped with shawl
of all kinds, from the expensive cameps hal
to the soft, light, clinging Shetlands, whicl
are nothing but shoulder wrap for tn
house. Here were piles of shawls who's
value was counted in thousands of dollars