Evening Star Newspaper, February 3, 1894, Page 18

18 FADS AND FANCIES The Good Results of a Sort of Slum- ming Trip. PRACTICAL AID FOR THE NEEDY A Good Woman Who is Poor Meets With Difficulties. ABOUT DRESSES AND FIXINGS Written Exclusively for The Evening Star. OROTHY, AND in a very creditable manner, too. It was not curiosity that ac- tuated them, but sympathy with the suffering. I do not know two gayer girls than Dorothy and Elaine, and I don’t believe that there are many girls who are fonder of dress and having a good time, but that does not hurt their hearts a bit. Indeed, I think that the fact that they are so much in love with life and its brightness makes them tenderer far toward those who have to drink only the lees of life's wine. It was The Star that set Dorothy to thinking. The sturdy appeals that it has been making for aid in behalf of the dis- tressed and hungry worked upon her sym- pathies until she evolved a plan of her own for helping tne poor, and she enlisted Elaine and half a dozen of the other girls in her crusade against hunger and cold. It re- quired a great deal of thought and quite as much self-sacrifice on her part. Her al- Jowance was all gone, and she had bor- rowed some of Rose-in-bloom’s, and she herself made a rule that when her regular dole of pocket money was spent, that was to be the limit, and she felt that she could not be the first to break her own rules, Dorothy has set aside,besides her allowance of pocket money, a certain sum for her Black and Red. iessons in music, dancing,painting and ath- leties. She can use this sum just as she likes, but she is an ambitious young lady, desirous of perfecting herself in every way, hence, has never encroached on the “ac- complishment™ fund. She was not long in deciding, however, that she could exist very comfortably for a week or two, if not lon- ger, without lessons, and she argued very happily, too, that she would not have time for charity and the other things, too, so she lopped off everything, and donated the money thus saved to the cause of suffering humanity. That is exactly Dorothy's style. if she were to do anything half-heartedly, 1’a send for our pastor, for 1 would feei pretty sure she was losing her grip. Good Work. It really is enough to warm the heart of @ cynic to see the way the half dozen girls are working. They are all in rather a de- pressed financial condition,excepting Elaine. She can give 4s much money as she likes and pot miss it, but she says that kind of giving is not right, that one should make some sacrifice, perform some self- denial. So she has no more flowers sent her. Now, that was a noble thing in Elaine, for she dearly loves flowers and squande: an awful jot of money on them. She geit- erally has them in every glass, jar, vase and cup in her room. Sven the soap dish and tooth brush mug have to do floral duty at times. She does without the flowers and gives twice her flower money to charity. The other girls gave up candy, matinees, fresh gloves, the newest music, latest books, and+waiked to save street car fare. Rose-in-bloom gave as her share of the self-denial her new white flannel wrapper, which now incloses in its soft folds a poor little girl who will never again leave the hospital. The girls made a very thorough canvass of a portion of the city where squalor and abject poverty abound, and after relieving hunger’s’ pangs, went home to round up some clothing. The moths will stand a poor chance in the closets that those girls invaded, and I think that a wagon load of half-worn garments is piled up in our sew- ing room, for Dorothy is at the head of the movement. They were not content to fe the garments as they were cast aside, t_must patch and mend and darn every article. Dorothy wrote the girls each a note on brown wrapping paper and invited them to a “hard times” and sewing free tea. They caught the idea at once and came dressed in very plain clothes, and supplied with scissors, thimble, needles and thread. A lovely old lady, who loves Dorothy, ask- ed that she be permitted to cut out and Petunia Velvet and Silver Fox. afranze the work and Doro’ very gladly accepted the offer. The things to make ever were for the little children. Some of Dick's cast-off trousers were converted into knee p: for two or three shivering street Arabs. I don’t think that the sew- ing would e. but the smali the p: boys, whose bare less show blue through torn cotton p2 wont stop to criticise it. Stocking: larned by dimpled hands whose heaviest w. had been a gold-em- \ THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 38, 1894-TWENTY PAGES. broidered altar cloth, and long-sleeved aprons, left pricked to the quick the — of a girl who had never owned a calico im all her petted life. After three of the hardest work they had ever done in their lives, Dorothy invited the im- mortal six to a “hard times” lunch. The pine table was guiltless of cloth or nap- ii is. The tea was made in a tin tea pot and in common stone without saucers. ae The thin buttered slices of bread were a little stale and chipped beef and molasses Sa leted — menu. Elaine de- ie was hungry enough to eat shelled corn or fried chips, and the others surrounded such quantities of the singular to suggest that they too had been They declared, as they toasted Dorothy in water served in tin cups, that ever had had so much fun. They a happy lot, and how they Their work had set them to thinking and given them broader ideas concerning their kind. It had lifted them out of self, and they had discovered that they were only bubbles on the great ocean of life. It had saddened them, too. The woe and the want, the misery and the suf- fering that they found almost at the threshold of their well-kept houses aston- Ice Blue Satin. ished and dismayed them. Many were the self chidings that they should have been so long supinely ignorant of the helpless hungry humanity around them, and I am ire that never again will these girls, who are not only social favorites, but the pride of well-to-do parents, forget or neglect the poor. It was a sin of omission that they have bravely atoned, and I heartily com- mend their methods to other girls. A Sorrowful Story. As usual, Dorothy got right into the mid- dle of the thing, and her sympathies have nearly whirled her off her feet. She was not satisfied to do only what the others did, so widened the scope of her chariiies, and I really felt like protesting when the came home with an infant tucked under her arm and the infant's mother trailing along in her wake. But Dorothy sat upon my protestations with so much vehemence that I retired as gracefully as 1 could trom the arena. “You see it is this way, Sara,” she began; and then she poured forth a story in a way that would have crippled the House sten- ographers. Dorothy can talk more in ene minute than I can mentally digest in five. The story was the usual one, only a little more sorpowtul, perhaps. A story of a worthless husband, a deceived wife, broken marriage vows on his part and asserted womanhood on hers. Then the baby came. The woman had tried to get work, but the little thing was a hindrance. Honest, ca- pable and willing, there was yet no door open to her. There were charities and Christians working for the fallen, but for the woman whose misfortune it}was to be helpless and homeless, but pure, there was no shelter. ; “They wanted her to give up her baby,” Dorothy said, as the tears came in her eye “but she couidn’t do that, you know. A mother can’t give up her baby when she loves it, and it’s really a nice baby. She walked the streets all night New Year night, Sara, because she had no place on earth to go, and the baby cried because it was hungry. New Year day she went to the house where they take women who have fallem, and told her story, and they said she might stay a day or two. They don’t want her, though. They say they have no money to spare for women who are just poor. They must go and do something awful if they want to be taken care of, and surely you wouldn’t want her to do that, Sara. And there’s the baby——” And the baby’s there yet, and the baby’s mamma. Dorothy has opened a private soup kitchen in the breakfast room and the in- fant’s mother is in charge. At the present time our house resembles a foundlings’ home, with indigent widow attachments. Dorothy is up early and retires late, and the girls work like troopers all the time. I have failed so far, however, to see any signs of nervous prostration in ‘any of these ; og and I must confess I like their new A Pretty Evening Dre I saw a pretty evening dress lately that was evolved from a “bargain” by a treas- ury girl, who is going to look very sweet in it at a coming reception. It is made of black lace, some of the “piece” goods that was sold for a song because it was a lit- tle passe in style. The foundation * skirt is flame-colored satine, with a scant silk ruffle of the same color at the féot. The lace is made up separately, then laid and over the lining, which it exactly fit fastened down with’ the pointed arr: ment of flame-colored satin ribbon. The foot of the lace ruffle t:1s two bands of the ribbon and the lace cf tHe skirt only reaches to where the ruffle joins it. The bodice is made of flame-colored satine, sover2d with the lace, and the sleeves are lined with the same. The young girl who will wear ‘t has a perfect neck and arms and a dazzling complexion, or she would not dare wear such a trying style and pronounced red. A new bride—by the way, I wonder if one can speak of brides as » newer, new- est?” If so, this is the ‘newesi” bride— has a walking dress that is almost ihe prettiest thing I've seen yet. It is of pe- tunla velvet, rich and dark. The waring skirt has a band of silver fox at the foot, and two bands of silver galloon form a panel on the front. The same galloon forms two bands on the big sleeves and the helt, and stripes the umbrella cape. The jacket basque and cape are edged with the fur and she carries a silver fox muff. The it- tle round hat is also trimmed with bands of the fur. The vest of the basque is of silver brocade. One of this same bride’s evening dresses is .ure to make some w: men envious. The material is ice-blue satin, made with two skirts. The underskirt, which has just a suspi-ion of a train, has a full ruffle of the satin with a thread of sil- ver through the gathering. The overskirt is cut in long rounded effect and has first a ruffle of ice-blue satin brocaded with sil- ver and on that a fall of old rose point. The bertha and sleeves are formed of the ae lace. The belt is of silver vroceded satin. Dressy and Gracefal. Sometimes young girls whe are not yet “out” are put aside with plain dark dresses, because the family pocketbook will not en. dure so many tugs at its strings. Especial- ly is this the case if there are two or three older sisters. It is neither right nor kind to deny them everything that is graceful and pretty. I'm sure I don’t know how some mothers manage to suppress their half- grown daughters’ longings for pretty things. Rose-in-bloom will not put up with it for a minute, and she is a good child, too. She likes dainty accessories of dress, though, and will have them. Dorothy fixed up a dressy affair for her recently, which fose- in-bloom calls her “harness.” It is made of ribbon and lace and can be worn with al- most any dress. The sash about the waist may be narrow or wide, just as you like, and is tied in a Robespierre knot at the back, with long ends reaching to the bot- tom of the frock. It is particularly effective in orange yellow ribbon and black lace. Rose-in-bloom’s is made of fine wide Valen- ciennes lace and pink ribbon, and she gen- erally wears it over a black cashmere. ‘ The Practical Woman. A few days ago I was talking to a man, when a mutual friend stopped to chat a moment, then passed on about her business “There goes a thoroughly practical wo- man,” he said, as he looked after her, and I asked him to give his definition of a prac- tical woman, so that I might put it into print; and here it is: “The practical wo- man is one who is most respected, most Aonored, most beloved. It is she who earns her living with joy and makes her earnings more than cover her expenditures. As a girl she reigns, because independent and able to meet difficulties with a managing mind. As a wife she aids her husband by advice and economy. If necessary, she be- comes the bread winner. She despises debt and scorns false pretenses. When weak friends talk of keeping up a position, she thanks God she doesn’t care for any posi- tion that is built on a false basis. There are no dry goods bills to worry nor harass her, because she regards people who dress beyond their means as wicked. No one shall say of her, “It would be better if she dress- ed less fine and allowed her husband to pay his debts, or paid them herself.’ “The practical woman measures her fellow creatures not by words, but by deeds. There is no self-denial in speaking fine phrases. It the action which tells its own story. She gains that experience which never meets with disappointment—the experience which men who are not cowards gain early in life. With this she can adjust her opinions and expectations and judge people with unerring accuracy. People who fail her judgment— that is, disappoint her estimate—she will never fail to regard as treacherous. Men- be like worn-out gloves, she tosses them aside. “She does not desire to elevate womankind by dreaming, nor by philosophizing. She knows work and action will do it much bet- ter and much quicker. The dreamer must go to the wail. People may be bored with her vagaries, but whisper the most of the dust in her corners. Her daughters will be more apt to have accomplishment than solid education. The world will visit her and eat, drink and be merry at her silly ex- pense, wondering if the caterer’s bill is paid. This is the way of the world. It adjusts on a true basis. The practical woman never contracts a debt that she cannot see her way to pay. She realizes that if she fails to meet an obligation it entails an endless chain of failures. This ending of the cen- tury, however, with its union of forces, is molding a pure-minded, practical creature, who will be fit to mother a generation of WARM AND PRETTY Becoming and Simple Cloaks for Little Ones FOR WINTRY WEATHER Suitable Materials and Color Com- binations SEEN ON THE STREETS Written Exclusively for The Evening Star. OTHERS CAN FIND many pretty patterns for their children's clothing in the beau- tifully dressed little tots to be seen auy park: Washington is always considered a picturesque city, of gaily clad little people certainly add four blocks in the street cars without finding oneself admiring some daintily clad mite who is sitting opposite. financiers that will make our republic the greatest money-making and most solid busi- ness nation on the earth.” That is a eu- logy worth having, I think. ‘ SENORA SARA. ————-+e- — ENGAGEMENT RINGS. Fashion Causes Them to Vary, but Leaves Room for Taste. From the New York Commercial Advertiser. There is a large variety of engagement rings in vogue at the present time, among which are some very elaborate and unique designs, but the engagement ring that holds popular favor among the young men | who are seriously contemplating indulging in nuptial functions is the solitaire dia- mond. About two years ago the sapphire, set with a diamond, was the favorite, because | it signified that the lady to whom it was presented was true blue and innocent, too. The opal is very rarely, if ever, used a8 an| engagement ring, because most people are) prejudiced against it through superstition. Mrs. Sartoris presented Miss Nellie Grant, The little girl in the first cut stands bob- bing up and down in time to a neighboring hand organ. Her costume is of cream white, and is trimmed in heavy cream lace of pointed pattern. It is made with a snugly fitting short-waisted bedy,to which ewed the long full skirt. The sleeves are made in the empire style, and the neck is finish- ed off by a small turn-over collar. The lace is put on around the waist and is ‘wed with the points pvinting upward. e wears a pointed cap made of silk to match the cloak. A wide frill of cream lace borders the face of the cap, and a large white satin bow is tied beneath the dimpled chin. If this little garment is lined throughout with cream-colored silk, or, in fact, any color, the effect will be daughter *of Gen. Grant, with an opal en- gagéMent ring, which she refused to ac- cept, in consequence of which the ring had to be exchanged for another. The most expensive ruby that has ever been imported into this country was one that, at wholesale, cost $32,000. It was re- tailed to a wealthy Californian for almost double that price. A greater numbe> of engagement rings are purchased during the months of February and April than ary other months of the year. The reason fcr this cannot be elucidated, unless it is be- cause February is the month previous to Lent and April the month following. The different stones are selectel in ac- cordance with the months of the year. If the engagement occurs in Jaauary the stone which represents that monih is the jacienth or garnet; if in February the ame- thyst is appropriate; March, bloodstone; April, sapphire; May, emerald; June, agate; July,’ ruby; August, sardonyx; September, chrysolyte; October, opal; November, topaz; December, turquoise. —____+e+—____ Mourning Over a Gas Bill. From the Boston Daily Advertiser. The Chinese legation has always been an object of curiosity in Washington, and the mysterious goings on in the famous old Stewart castle, which the celestials used to inhabit, were a never-failing source of won- der and speculation. Now that the legation has a magnificent triple house for its home out on the heights, the interest in the tn- habitants is still further increased. The Chinese minister is new to Washington, and his ignorance of some of its ways was the cause of a very peculiar complication the other day. bd The monthly bills of the Washington Gas Light Company are printed on paper of a peculiarly dirty yellow tint, which happens to be the exact hue of the Chinese emblems of mourning. The long strips are left reg- ularly at the doors of all houses in the city, and at the Chinese legation, among the rest. The other day one was left for the first time at the new home of the legation, which is filled with new Chinese servants. The gas bill strip was left in the vestibule and being carried to the new minister pro- foundly affected him. It was evidently in- tended, he thought, as a notification of somebody’s death, and as it was left at the legation door it doubtless indicated the be- reavement of some family high in official life. ‘The minister at once gave orders to close the house. The usual instruments of mourn- ing were brovght out, the shutters were drawn, and passers by for the remainder of the evening were regaled with a comoina- tion of curious noises, such as the Chinese only know how to utter when engaged in bewailing the dgad, and the minster re- ured with the satisfaction of knowing that he had performed a diplomatic courtesy. —_—+e< ——__—- The Hasty Word. From Harper's Bazar. To think before you speak is so wise an axiom that one would hardly think it need- ful to emphasize it by repetition. And yet in how many cases the hasty temper flashes out in the hasty word, and the lat- ter does its work with the precision and the pain of the swift stiletto! Singularly enough, the hasty word oftenest wounds those who love one another dearly, and the very closeness of their intimacy affords them opportunity for the sudden thrust. We know the weak points in the armor of our kinsmen and our friend; we are aware of his caprices, and ordinarily are tender and compassionate even of his vanities and his small fancies and w but there dawns a day when it is written in the book of fate that we shall be as cruel as we are loving. We are cold, or tired, or hun- gry. We are anxious over unpaid bills, or our expected letters have not arrived, or one of the children is ailing and we dread the outcome of the malady. So politeness fails us, fortitude is vanquished, philosophy is in abeyance and we say that which we repent in sackcloth and ashes. But though the hasty word may be forgiven, it je not at once forgotten. It has flawed the cry: tal of cur friendship; the place may be cemented, but there is a shadowy scar on the gleaming surface. Oh, if the word of haste had but been left unspoken, if the strong hand of patience had but held back the sword as it was about to strike! — Sure of Himself. From Life. City Editor—Well, what did you learn about the accident on the P., D. and Q. railroad? New Reporter—Oh, it was nothing. City Editor—Nothing! Why the dis- patches say it was te-rible. New Reporter—Well, I just came from the president of the road, “and he ought to now. = ees The Only W From Truth. Waite—“I could never make myself a favorite with the soubrettes, though I've sent them bushels of flowers.” Miss Fan Fare—‘“Flowers! Bah! didn’t you try a few square meals?” ———_+ 0+ Now, All Together. From the Macon News. I had a girl in Mexico, Insect bit her on the toe, Now she’s where the lilies grow, Why charming. Number 2 is rolling her hoop in the park and is quite gay in her stylish costume of Nght green and black. Her coat is of green cashmere and has a plain close body, which is split up the back and has a Wat- teau pleat made of black and green bro- caded silk. Wide ruffles border this and hang from the neck to the waist in front. The sleeves are made in double puffs and have a wide ruffle at the wrist. The edges of the whole coat are bordered with a single row of black velvet ribbon and a black vel- vet belt ends with two small rosettes at the Watteau pleat in the back. Her hat is a simple one of green with black velvet trim- mings. ‘The third child wears a coat of black vel- vet and a George Washington hat to match. The coat has a long turn-over blouse waist, to which is kilted a short skirt. The entire coat buttons down the side and can be made with a double-breast- ed effect or not. A wide coachman’s cape or coliar is placed about the neck and white lace collars and cuffs are worn. A black- and green cord is tied under the blouse and hangs in a knot at the side. Black velvet leggings keep the little fellow's legs warm, and his silk felt hat has a black rosette and a bright green quill in it. cetcteteeae Two rims of the same coat are shown in | the fourth illustration, and are for a small | boy of two years old. The double-breasted coat has a short sailor waist, underneath which a surah silk sash is placed. A wide sailor collar encircles the neck and is bordered around by a ruffle of white lace. ‘The cuffs are trimmed in the same manner. The skirt is a full one and has a triple box pleat in the back. A hat made on the Tam O'Shanter plan goes with this. It is turned up at the side with three round Name of ct you may know— ‘Tara-ra-rantula, &c ball-like rosettes, and has big tie strings to hold it in place, I saw this rather theatrical little lady on Connecticut avenue several days ago, and will try and describe the handsome cloak, hat she wore.. The gown and former was sunshiny day upon |of red beaver cloth and was cut in the the streets or in the | usual three-quarters length, being heavily gored in the back below the waist. A wide gf cape collar was joined to the stand- Ing storm collar and both were fastened at the throat by a black jet buckle. The coat and the many groups | buttoned down the side with big black but- tons. Wide cuffs and pocket flaps, cape, collar and the edges of the coat were braided in narrow black braid. She wore a their share toward|black gown, and her broad-brimmed red upholding this reputation. One constantly | hat was trimmed in black flumes, and sees them, and hardly can one ride for | dainty black kid gloves and cloth-topped hoes complete this stylish little toilette. The sixth little figure is not in his best bib and tucker, but he looks very neat, nevertheless. On his curly head he wears a long-tailed Canadian cap of bright blue and red. His close-fitting coat is of navy blue, and he wears very long leather leg- gings. His trousers are of brown corduroy, and his warm gloves are of the same color, He is all fitted out for a fine game and is not burdened by too expensive clothes. The tiny little figure in the seventh cut wore a dove-gray coat trimmed with a bor- der of blue satin ribbon, over which white lace Insertion is p! . Her big old-fash- toned bonnet is a perfect creation cf light blue satin and lace, and her tiny gloved hands are quite lost in her huge ermine muff. The coat is made on the plan of a Russian jacket, being fastened down the side and having fullness from neck to hem, caught in at the waist by a band of the trimming. The quietly robed little one next shown wears a long blue newmarket coat of navy blue, which, with her worsted cap, forms a pretty contrast to the light golden hair. The coat is fitted with only under-arm and shoulder seams.. It is pleated at the neck in the back, the fuliness being caught in at the waist by a little pointed strap with a button on each end. The big cape is cut from a circular pattern and can be worn or not, according to the weather. The Tam O’Shanter cap is crocheted from blue worst- ed and has a big ball of the same material on top. The last little tot I have seen several times, and her pretty coat, in colors that harmonize so well, is quite worth the trouble of describing. This Mother Hubbard coat is made of fuzzy brown material and is pleated, in- stead of being gathered, at the neck. The big puff sleeves are made of brown, green and crimson brocade velvet, as are also the wide flaring collar and close-fitting bonnet. These last are bordered with birds’ breasts of soft green and brown, and the cuffs and little muff are of the same downy mate! L The velvet bow beneath her chin and her mittens and leggings are of crimson, and | help to make the little figure the harmoni- ous bit of color that one loves to see on a winter's day. MARY ELLEN SIGSBEE. iremmarnes «ary The Real and the Unreal. From Harper's Weekly. ‘We watch the ships sail forth and sink Whe: And, with a whispered ‘That some bright prayer, we tl day will they come back. ‘a fond good-by, And count it numbered with the dead. Yet, sometimes ships come not again, And no return the great sea gi White, ike the sunshine 4 x it day of beauty lives. VEL ScorTT —¥LAVEL /POINTERSFORWOMEN Notes and Comments on Topics of the Season. FLOWERS AND DRESSES Some Good Advice About the Lamp and Other Things. ECONOMICAL SUGGESTIONS Written Exclusively for The Evening Star. Bad teeth undoubtedly cause indigestion and ultimately dyspepsia. If children were taught from the first to take care of their teeth much suffering would be saved them. Children should be made to brush the teeth at least twice a day, and if kept per- fectly clean they have no opportunity to de- cay. eee The Danes have some very excellent in- stitutions, not the least of which are the “reform” associations. One of these has for its motto, “Let us honor the dead by our charities.” When their friends pay the debt and go the way of ali nature, the members of the reform society do not send tuneral flowers, but they do send their cards, on which they inscribe the name of the friend who lies dead. and below it the name of some benevolent institution to which they wish to make a gift in token of respect to the dead. Certainly a noble idea worthy of much emulation. eee The prettiest flowers soonest fade, but you can keep the frailest cut flowers sev- eral days if you exercise a little care. Put fresh water on them every day and clip the stems. This is as much for sanitary suspicion of any trimming about the dress, except folds of tne same material or crape. To use :ut jet 13 atro- cious, and even dull jet is in bai taste. A tive of the same kind at her throat. Through the folds of her enveloping vail they shone like glow worms. Grief like that is a shrieking sham. > eee There never was a fountain pen made that wouldn’t aggravatingly stick just at the wrong time. But when you know how it is easy enough to overcome izs refractor- iness. Light a match and run the flame rapidly around the top. It wil siip off as though charmed. pa ee If you get fruit or ink stains on your hands take a sulphur match, dip the end in water, and while it is dripping rub the stained fiesh, and the spots will soon dis- pear. If quite obdurate it may take two or three matches; the lies m keep- ing them wet. eee And now they say that water cress is an excellent tonic for the hair and complexion, because it has lots of sulphur in it. It may be eaten plain or with salad dressing. . The hovsewife who wants to whiten her clothes and expedite the removal of the dirt uses two or three tablespoonfuls of turpentine or coal oil in the boiling suds. Be very careful not to pour it into the boiler while it is over the stove. The fumes ere Mable to catch fire, but there is not a perticle of danger if you remove the boiler from the flames before putting the fluid in the water. eee Skirts are full, but fit the figure trimly in front and on the sides, the fullness be- ing rassed behind where it is laid in box Plaits at the waist, and hangs in rounded godets or organ-pipe flutes. These are held in place by tapes or teeks inside. oe The young man who is in “good form™ does not now buy cut a florist when ne chooses to remind his lady friend that she is honored in his thoughts, no, indeed. He selects three or four of the finest long- stemmed roses from the smartest shop in town or a few perfect Roman hyacinths or a tiny bunch of violets, which he sends her. If he is desirous of making an magnificent For an obstinate cough associa’ cold equal parts of sirup of squills, sweet spirits of niter and paragoric is lent remedy. Most every woman has in her scrap bag yards and yards of soiled light ribbons that she has no idea what to do with. Now is the time to use them. One of the very prettiest effects in dress trimmings is made by putting rows of bright colored ribbons cn dress skirts and bodices, and overlay- ing them with black or white lace inser- tion. Take the soiled ribbons and put them in borax water, after they have been in it five minutes, pick up by the end and alter- nately strip smoothly through the fingers and dip in the water until all grease spots are taken out, then rinse in the same way and hang up to dry. There are plenty of dye stuffs that you can use yourself; select the color you like and follow directions. It is such a cheap way of securing pretty results, for new ribbon costs a lot of money; as much or more than the dress very often. . Some women, through motives of econo- my, turn the flame in a kerosene lamp low, when necessary to leave it burning, yet not needed to read or work by, a thing they would not do if they were aware that the oil consumes just as fast, but the gas does not burn, hence is thrown off into the room giving the horrible odor, which ts not only offensive to smell, but poisonous to human life. The gas thus thrown off is capable of causing diphtheria and some contagious fevers. If the lamp must burn, leave it well turned up and put a big shade around it. It is said that Madame Carnot is the best dressed woman in France. It ts cer- tain that she wears the costliest clothes. All this she believes to be due her position. She is learned without affectation. and a politician. It ts said that not many men in France understand the political situa. tion in Europe any better than she does. In connection with this information that comes from over the water is another item of interest to those who were followers of French fashions when Empress Eugenie set the pace. This once beautiful woman is now fat and slow of motion. She has changed the color of her hair several times and now what there is left of it is a red- dish auburn. Her face is pathetic in the careworn lines which have obliterated the last trace of her once glorious beauty, but she has left in her heart many traces of coquetry. She has laid aside her mourn- ing, and at a recent dinner, where she was the guest of the Queen of England, she wore a magnificent violet velvet. She has not many gems left, and perhaps she does not mourn them, for they would but mock the dullness of her sorrow-dimmed eyes. A large number of the jewels that once be- longed to Eugenie and the French crown are now owned by Americans. Among female Moors birthday celebra- tions are unknown. A_ Moorish woman considers it a point of honor to be abso- lutely ignorant of of . ‘The minute your gloves show a rip, sew {t up. Turn the kid wrong side out, and be careful to bring the rinned edges evenly together. Use cotton thread and a fine needle, If the glove tears. take a plece of old kid glove, put it under the tear and darn it down neatly, exactly as though patching a calico dress, catching the eige of the patch to the wrong side of the glove, then turning it right side out and darninge the torn edge down to the patch. A light glove will wear the longest, because it is not rotted in coloring, and it can be easily cleaned with gasoline. Smooth the glove out on a thick clean cloth and rub with another clean cloth dipped in gasoline. Do not work in a room with a lighted lamp, gas or fire. eee To be really English, the bridal breakfast table must be graced by a huge white wet- dirg from which the bride herself cuts “hunks” for her guests, and to fill the little “dream” boxes tied with white ribbons. It is a costly idea, and spoils a $500 bill if the wedding is of any size or the friends are neerous. * One of the society fads of Gotham is bowling. All the handsome club houses for Women have bowling alleys, and these are —_-e.____ SKIRT GARNITURE. How to Make Over O14 Dresses by Piecing Tarning. In making over old dresses, particularly if the material has to be washed or dyed, one of the most annoying features of the work is found in the “pulling” or drawing up of the breadths, so that they must be pieced at either the top or bottom if they are to do service for a grown person again. When long basques were worn, the piecing could be done at the top, but now that the waists are round, the discrepancy must fall at the foot. It is a very easy matter to cover this up, however. If thé material of which the dress is made is scarce, piece the widths with something else so lt is of the same color, then cut novelty goods, plaid material or velvet on the bias, edge it and bottom with @ narrow plaiting te should not be over a quarter of an inch wide, and lay over the you can give touches of such trimming wfll help a dress wonderfully. For a light cashmere or challie dress has been soiled around the foot, yet is enough elsewhere, take off the soiled ruffle and wash it; no difference if it fade it will not show, and put it fli if laid lace up be moderately thick and shape, as the set of such depends largely upon its adjustment, and nd trim- ming looks well that has to be anchored every half-inch. —_——___ GOSSIP OF SERVASTS. 4 Malicious Practice That Leads to Mach Trouble. From the New York Advertiser. Often the most vicious and malicious gos sip is disseminated through the medium of vindictive and irresponsible servants, who curry favor with their new ai by tell- ing tales of those for whom worked. a It is useless to remonstrate that real ladies will not listen to the gossip of servants, for even real ladies are only human, @nd, alas, it is very human to be interested in the mis- behavior of others. The writer was told the other day of maid who has wrought incalculable harm numbers of families and whose calumnies are so serious that they really ought to be punished. She has spread her evil slime of calumny everywhere where it will stick. Hairdressers are notorious tale that has wrought ruin and sorrow has had its evil beginnings in the kitchen or from the mouth of the peripatetic hairdress- er, who “amuses” her ladies while smooth- ing their plaits. In the south our “hired help” ds particu- larly irresponsible. Most of the cooks are picked up in the street, as It were, and teir temporary mistress knows neither the name of their last employer nor even their own homes. What such a creaturé may have to say of her last “madame” has about as much moral value with ded wo- man as an anonymous t weur- rilous, stealthy stiletto that is the weapon of the traitor, whose deceit is thus smirched by the equal stain of ice. ——_c22—_—_——_ One Woman's Service for Another. From the Church Union. It is not often that one woman is called upon to help another in circumstances such as we shall now recite: A member of the National Christian League for the Promo- tion of Social Purity, whose name we are requested not to publish, had a thrilling experience a few days ago, in which was | shown a rare example of mental quickness | decision. Riding in a street car, her fects was attracted to a woman who, sit- |ting opposite, was evidently quite ill; but \ before our watchful friend could cross over \to ber aid she herself came, sat down at and remarked that she was sure ralysis imme- |her side, | she was going to die from pai | diately. | The appeal for assistance was not in vain. Not only her name and address were at once obtained, but that of her friends; she | was helped from the car; a cab was called, into which she was lifted and taken to @ \hotel near by: a physician and trained nurse summoned; the husband, in a neigh- boring city, telegraphed for, and inside of twenty minutes the now insensible invalid was duly cared for by her friends, amid whose ministrations she died about two days afterward without having regained consciousness, —<e2o—____ Gus—“What do you girls do at your Coa- versation Club—just sit around and stare at each other and tall Clara—No, indeed. We play whist"= Good News,