Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, January 9, 1916, Page 23

- 3 — i (rm “Luclle” Models) Puwotos @y Burxe Arweie CHicase Dress of Siaded Gray Tulle Qver Jo& ile” of Lon- don and foremost creator of fashions in the world, writes each weck the fashion article for this news- paper, presenting all that is newest and best in styles for well- dressed women. Lady Dufi-Gordon’s Paris establishment brings her into close touch with that centre of fashion. L/\D‘A’ DUFF-GORDON, the famous “L. By Lady Duff-Gordcn (“LUCILE") v HE little dress to theleft I call “Her Last Bouque| Why? 1 just don't know. It looks that way. It is of shaded gray tulle over a black jet em- broldered underskirt. The bodice is of pale gray satin, with jet embroidered sleeves. The shoulders have a dainty, old-fashioned suggestion. Notice, it you please, the halr. The little arrange- ment at the top is not artificlal. It is entirely a brald of the model's own hair twisted into an attractive orna- ment. I have written before of the ornamental uses to vhich one can put hair. This is one of them. Over on the right is “Milachka.” This dress is of blue fellle—a corded silk. The collar is loose lace. The, dress is trimmed with blue fox of a curious shade, and little hand-made flowers finish the ornamentation. The hat—a “topper”—is pale blue satin, trimmed also with the same fox fur and flowers, In the centre is one of the striped taffetas—black and white. This also boasts a “topper.” The three gowns are very representative of my nld- Winter modes. In looking over the mid-Winter models from Paris color, too, to my mind, seems absent, compared to what one usually meets in these garments. They, of course, have for the moment some excuse for any lack of gayety that one misses in the outfits sent over from the once gay city. Still, bearing in mind that Americd is In no way humpered by the terrible confilct now in progress on the other side, one might have thought that they would have sent something more lively than the grays, blues. blacks and whites. The coats were astonishing, some belng adapted from North African garments, others Russlan, and one panish garment in particular attracted my attention. These full and short skirts demand particular atten . on, for the feet and also the ankles should be covered For the purpose of afternon danccs, when the style of he outer coat is suitable, the Russian boots that I spoke of some time ago are common, because these are easily slipped off and replaced by a tiny pair of satin sandals that are easlly carried in the muff. Galiters in no way replace these, as they must be removed to dance, and the trouble of buttoning and unbuttoning is too much o make it worth while. For myself, 1 almost always wear shoes made of the same material as the dress, the stockings either to watch or flesh. Black and white partly colored shoes have become too common to be any more chic. A well cut shoe, however, 18 extremely smart always in black or white. With an all-black costume one can wear different olored ehoes, stockings and gloves, I have scen a French woman in black and scarlet slippers. These were attractive, but only to be worn by a person who is sufficiently chic and well aware of her chicness to be unconscious that she is wearing something a little bit more striking than the ordinary woman would dare. The Interesting Suggestion Before Parlia- ment to Pledge the Millions in Gems Now Lying Useless in the Tower of London. THE suggestion has been made in Parllament that it may soon be necessary to pledge the Crown Jewels of England to help defray the cost of the war. How many millions would be realized on this world's greatest treasure trove is hard to say. Again, the world's market for jewels is not at present the best. In order to see tne Crown Jewels of England it is necessary, first of all, to gain admissicn to the Tower! Time immemorial the Tower of London, at the heart of the metropolls, has represented the innermost keep of the empire. As you see the gray, old castellated struc- ture off among the trees even now—with its turrets and bastions This beautiful and costly array of jewels is kept in s glass case, within a little chamber almost built to size. The case has metal sheathing above and below; there are great steel bars at the windows around; and, night and day, two guards are seated here, trained to act and pro- tect on the instant. But the wealth that greets within is such as to dazzle the newcomer and render him almost powerless to do harm, it he would. You note, for one, the mace of the sergeant-at-arms to the Crown. This is solid gold and is borne before the soverelgn on occaslons of state. It is topped with a huge crown, resting on a cup of gold; the handle with knobs, the base spreading. Close beside there are two giant gold salt cellars, each with the figure of a knight on the rounded top, which, in turn, is elevated over the spreading bowl part. Over that a smaller salt cellar—a bowl, this—is preserved. Neighboring these is St. Edward’s staff, made by order of Charles 11, in memory of an older staff of the sort— but now a long, pointed, golden staff—its pole rich with balls of gold. In the upper part of the treasure room, as you ralse the eyes, wondering, crowns come to meet the gaze. The imperial state crown of George V. rests here, on the plush cushion, a thing of wondrous beauty, indeed. Queen Alexandra, it is recounted by the attendant, had jewels loaned her by favorite peers for ber crown of coronation —thus enhancing the historic value of each such gem by its being stated that the Empress of India and Queen of Britain wore it when she was crowned. Naturally, each of these gems was returned very shortly after the cere- monial, Meanwhile you note other objects among the many. Near the top of the case is the crown worn by the British monarch on other occasions than his coronation, or short- ly after that affair, at least. Then there is a good-sized crown, to be worn on all ordinary occasions—a treasure, indeed, that, too, rest assured! Edward the Confessor's crown, used for such times, it seems, was-destroyed in the Commonwealth period of English history; and so here, instead, they show a gold crown made in exact imi- tation of it. British monarchs, it would appear, have crowns made as ordinary mortals would hats; and kings do not faney the idea of wearing the old crown of their sires. So we see, laid away here, the state crown of Vic- toria, altered somewhat for her two successors, but not put to nearly the use that the newer crown fis. While'you hear folk recount the history of the other in. finity of jewels—royal objects—you take in the ensemble here. There are only two men on duty inside this inner- most treasure room; but they could very soon raise the Tower guard, they assure The Koh--noor, the private property of the king, the world's greatest diamond, may a(F I WIFH A New Black and White Striped Taffeta THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE MAGAZINE PAGE Mid-WinterDresses Gown of Pale Blus Cordnd 8ilk Trimmed with Blue Fox Pledde Englands Crown Jevels for Cannon? The Queen’s Crown, Showing the Famous Koh- i-noor Diamond. o S s 1 The Tower of London in Which the Crown Jewels Are Kept, be kept here and His Majesty entertain little fear of its loss. Before the present case was erected, one of very similar form was in use. When the king would make use of any, or all, of these How the Greatest Treasure Trove in the Worid Is Guarded While Great Britain Is Taxing Everything in Sight to Carry On the War. objects, he sends word to the Lord Chamberlain, and he, in turn, sends the proper official to the Govesnor of the Tower. That one, in turn, notifies the yeomen of the Tower, who arrange for the taking out. You advance to another vantage point to view other regalia. Some one tells of the big salt cellars and how, at a table, those sitting above the salt were of the royalty; those below, the commoners. Then some one else points out tankards of silver, gilded over—beautiful in the ex- treme, Jewelled swords of state are other features of the col- lection, - One such, made for George IV, Is actually en- crusted with diamonds the handle over, In the handle. top rubles and emeralds are thick set; at the hilt there is a great green stone, while the length of the scabbard dia- monds are inserted in design of rose, shamrock and this- tle. At the centre of each such,pattern there {s a colored jewel, making an ensemble that is most magnificent and unique. Property of the state, again, is an ampulla, made for Charles 11, Agalin, on an upper shelf, the orb, or golden apple, ot the royal consort, the queen; and the king's orb, a huge, glossy ball, the size of an ordinary billiard ball, are’ pre- served—each orb topped with its cross, heavy-set with diamonds. Here, too, is the Koh-l-noor, so huge a stone one can hardly ‘belleve it to be a diamond. Fine-polished ‘and ir- idiscent as well, Is another noted diamond, the Star of Africa—this presented to Edward VII, by the Transvaal government, seven or eight years since, You see bracelets, like thick, gold napkin rings, so strong end stout it seems impossible that they be solid gold. There is a huge christening font, of the time of the second Charles, too, that baffles the eye or mind to value. After all, though, it's the crowns that attract greatest attention. That for the Prince of Wales, made for a son of George I, in 1714, and edged with fur, on which the gold designery Is set, reaching up to the royal red velvet, is a cynosure for every eye. Then come more salt cellars of state, one in form of a gold chaplet, presented by Exeter City to Charles. A huge, withal plain, gold Maundy dish, from which the rulers’ alms are distributed on Maundy Thursday, is the neighbor in the case. Again, on the heavy stone walls of the Tower chamber, wire grating is set before three other cases, each with maces of various sergeant-at-arms, these unique for their monster tops. Another case has the sword of temporal justice, this with a red cloth embroldered with gold design, and its haft of finely-coiled wire. The sword of state, the sword of mercy, a gorgeous re elveted object, with serles of emblems typical of the various sections of the empire, likewise are here. So, again, there is the model of the Cullinam diamond, like a great block of roughly frosted glass, but totalling 3,025 carats in all. Beside it is the knife and heavy steel hammer with which it was cloven into two diamonds, the one of these the Star of Africa, aforesaid. Badges of various Orders, great golden collars to these, One, that of an Indian order, with its collar of crowns and elephants. Another, the Imperial Order of the Crown of India, set with dlamonds, in circles, and topped with a golden crown. Especially interesting is the Order of the Garter, with dark blue ribbon; the collar of St. George, the white horse and the dying dragon; and so one might €0 on and on. Will they be turned to account at last in England's hour of