ETE EOI AY
CURRENT FASHIONS,
A'rady there seems to be a breath
of spring in theair,and we have only to
lanco at the windows of the leading
ry goods houses to be convineed that
at least the spring time is not far dis-
tant,
The fir<t importation of spring wool-
ens that are shown are homespun Chev-
iots, tweeds, anid fanciful plaids and
stripes with rough surfaces. Gowns
made of these materials are very stylish
and inexpensive. They only roquire a
stitching on all edges, or they may be
bound with silk or mohair braid, and
have light or dark pearl buttons or
those matching the braid, the mock bnt-
tonhole button being very stylish for
this purpose. An idea of simplicity
must pervade th dr ss to make it sue-
cessful. The skirt is plain acro-s the
front and sides or has a few plaits on
either side, at the belt, to break the
monotony. Lhe back is 'n fan or box
plaits, which must be firmly pre sed in
shape, as the, object is to see them
clearly defined, though not eaught
80 as to show that they are fastened.
Beige and tan shades are always pop-
nlar in the spring and are now of the
lightest mushroom tints. A special
fancy this reason will be the use of pale
een shades as garnitures of these
ight tan dresses.
arker green and pale yellow will also
be used with gray dresses. The pre-
vailing style of bodice for these, seems
fo be the deep-skirted coat, either sin-
gle or double breasted; if single breast-
ed they are o) en on a shirt waist of a
sontrasting color,
Ladies’ cloth, in light weight, will
also be in favor for street, visiting,
home, dinner and evening wear, with
trimmings of velvet, bands of ostrich
feathers, gold and silver galloons, em-
broidery and jeweled passementeries.
For street costumes, two shades are
combined, the lighter being used for
the vest, cuffs and under skirt which
is often braided with silver or gold
eord.
. In cotton goods, ginghams remain
the popular fabric, and these come in
faint tints of blue, tan or gray, with
white cross bars, and a second, or even
a third color in hair-linés or narrow
stripes. Th. plaids are from one to
three inche’, and small checks slso
form plaids, cross-barred with a thread
of contrasting color. The most costly
and exquisite of these goods ars copies
of Louis Quinze brocades in chine
stripes of flowers and vines on while
grounds, alternating with solid stripes
ol pale rose, sky-blue, mauve or
gray.
Sateens come in dark colors, snd
flowered batistes with lace stripes, while
¢hallies show long-stemmed effects, such
4s are seen in India silks,
The most important part of a lady's
toilet is Ler bonnet, which if not made
fo look attractive, to harmonize with
her face and dress, has the power to
eomplete'y destroy the effict of the en-
tire costume. Atieady mod stes are
beginning to display spring styles, and
from the models shown toques and
éapotes are to be smaller than ever,
mere ‘‘cothings” so to speak; a bit of
fluffy lace combined with a few flowers
#0 natural that they seem as if freshly
plucked from their native heath, or
gold lace, passementerie or jet orna-
ments with narrow rouleanx of velvet,
laceand flowers. Tha shapes show
bat little change from the winter styles,
but the trimmings are brought more to
the front. Long ends of bLlack tulle,
frosted with gold or silver, brought
from the back of the hat and fastened
loosely under the chin or st the mde
with s fancy pin, are shown by a lead-
ing Fifth avenue house, and will be, as
the season advances, very stylish and
popular for there is nothing which has
such a softening and beautifying effect
8n the face as lace. Mere bandelets
of flowers, with velvet ribbon ties and
bows, are suitable for evening wear,
euly.
Hats show large fronts coquettishly
bent here and there in the ar
ough style, and while pretty to look at
are becoming to but very Co Straws
show odd shapes like shells, leaves and
flower-petals also bi coming to but one
fa a thousand. A large white straw is
almost covered with arbntons while in
the back, between iho hat 1nd the hair,
is a lilt'c bandean of gold velvet from
which: depends a quaint golden? 1 6b
eanght ap, and letting the hair shine
through its meshes. A silver gray
straw has pendant clusters of pale lay-
ender wisterin fulling on the hair. For
spring coneerts, is a hoad-dress that
looks like a thorny roso-siem, twisted
about the head and then allowed to
fasten itsell under n cluster 0’ creamy,
ellow roscbuds. Black, lavendar, yel-
ow, turquoise, pale green and gray,
mignonette, hynointh, peach or pearl
colors to match walking costumes, are
the loading colors in millinery.
Another imporiant foature of a lady
toilet is her foot wear. The best styles
oes are simple and plan, as far as
shapo 1 4 concerned; but in place of
largo bows, the whole shoe is
double lattice work of closely stitched
baby ribbon. For dressy occasions
the ooze calf, sometimes called velvet
calf, is very fashionable. 1t derives its
name from the fact that the dyes are
oozed through the ealiskin, which is of
a very fine quality, It takes readily
all colors, which do not easily fade,
but remain fast. It is so becoming
and so rich in appearance that it is not
strange that it increases daily in tavor.
It is made up in various colors with
satin Leels of a contrasting color: it is
also made up in handsome low ties for
alternoon wear,
Some pretty evening slippers, in tan,
gray and black suede, are shown with
beaded toes and silver straps, which
aro not oniy ornamental but keep the
slipper firmly on, they being inclined
to fit rather loosely around the ankle,
blippers of patent leather have the
sharp toe oS a pointed tongmne over
the instep under a strap and handsome
buckle. Spider web embroidery on the
toes of slippers in gold thread, with a
red and gold spiderand a bluish fly are
among the latest novelties, lack
slippers are worked with pink beads
lined with pink, and have a fluted bow
lined with the same rosy shade.
The greatest novelty which has yet
appeared for bridesmaids is a cream
suede shoe, entirely covered with em.
broidered gold stars,
No. 905. Lnm«s vor a Gm Tex
Yeans Oro. —Material plain wool gooda.
The skirt is pleated in the back and
plain in front; the front is covered with
a square apron of the same length and
now
decorated, For example, s bronze one
which is borlered with a
braided design. Round, elose-fitting
bodice, the front ornamented with a
braided plasiron having three flat folds
of the dress goods on each side. I'he
bodice is invisibly fastened under the
folds on the left side. Btraight collar
Full sleeves gathered into
deep, braided onfa
No. 9040,
illustration shows a matelas<c jacket of
slack wool with lining of
serge. The high collar, and enffs are
of black velvet also the plastron which
extends the entire lenzth of the
The jacket is invisibly elosed on
material
of velvet,
jacket
set on the vest,
of baitons with
cross the fronts
No. 907. Unmno 8 Froox. —This little
may be made of flannel or
mm and other ble materials
Ornaments cords
k of
1 washal
I'a
le voke
It is a sir slip gathered
drawstring. The nar
hem
are all ornamented with
featber-stite'nng The frock
sed 1n the back with pearl bat
URILDREN OSTUME - No, 90%,
first 8 8 dross of pink i
over a foundation skirt of sateen of the
The silk skirt is finished
with a hem two inches deep above
which are three tucks each one
three-fourths inches wide. The skirt is
gathered and fastened to a band an
inch wide. The waist is gathered at
the top and finished with a band of
about an inch wide, which goes
wrist-bands
the
el Ons.
gC
costams 1
same color.
sii K
over
bottom and fastened to the skirt-band,
which is concealed by a broad ribbon
sash. Short puffed sleeves and bronze
kid slippers
The second costume is a dress of
dark blue cheviol with netted insertion
of Crimson Berlin wool. The skirt is
pleated and the front breadth is trim.
med with two rows of notte l insertion
mounted with a cord piping. The
gathered waist has a square yok: com:
posed of stripes of ths dress material
and netted insertion. The straight
collar and waist-bind are made of the
netted insortion. Full sleeves gathered
into deep enifs formad hike the yoke of
stripes of the drew goods aad netted
insertion. A sush of the dress material
with a row of insertion across the ends
the centie of the waist-band in the
back.
> oH
a
~~
A WINTER GARDEN.
BY ELIZ ABYTH 0TANSON,
“It 1 my faith that every flower
Enjoys tho air it breathes.”
Not long since | entered a neizhbor’s
house which was ro filled with ¢ eanty
and fragravee from a low stand of tlow-
ers near the window, that JT eould not
but wonder at their loveliness, The
winds of January were roaring withont,
the snow flew in little whirl-winds
aginst the window, but the bright
flowers litted their faces as cheerily as
ever d d rose of June,
“How do yon manage?’ IT said, for
my friend had no conservatory or any
special means of taking care of plants,
“Well.” she said, ‘to begin, I do
not try to have anv of the rarer hot-
house flowers, but only the good, old-
fash oned kinds, which are hardy and
easily eared for, The geraninms, as
you sce, make np most of my winter
garden, This beautiful erimson is my
fivorite; 1t is a dwarf, and gives an im-
mense mass of bloom.” “Lindy Wash-
incton” is old end good, This my
latest neqmisition, I'he Bridesmaid,”
and I am greatly pleased with deli-
este blossom. Goraoom slips should
he planted in squall pinching
them, occasionally to make the plants
stocky; the flo er stems must be Lept
bck nntil fail, then re-; otting them
into larger erocks, they will loom well
throngh the winter, Large pots with
a good sol, require watering but twice
a week apd must be k pt in rather a
cool room, with plenty of light, —these
are the conditions if you would keep
them healthy,
“Oeeasionally, I take all my plants,
nnd setting them in a large tab give
them a good shower bath, washing the
leaves gently, and tarning the
around as I set it back 1n its place so
that the sun can reach every part,
“| have flowers of some sort all win.
ter, and with the scented lesves of the
rose-geraninm are always ready to sap-
ply a boutonniers sta moment's notios
while my tab’e is never without its bou-
quet of lowers.
“The Begonias are very desirable
| house-plants and are almost entirely
| free from the nuisance of i sects. Tea-
| TOSS ATE AIDODE MY favorites, both for
| their beauty and fragrance. With them,
{ the question of bloom is only one of
{ growth, Secure healthy plants and |
| make them grow aud you are certain of
the flowers,”
“Here,” she said, turning to a small
| pot over-ran with a spreading vine-
like plant, **is my especial favorite; |
| never pass it without rubbing my fin- |
gers upon it, or pulling one of the hit- |
{tle leaves. Bee what am exquis te |
| lemon-like taste and fragrance it hss |
t is the lemon thyme aud is one of the
tiest little plants {magin bl
“No, I reidom have any trouble with
insects, i know of,
18
its
pots,
Crock
| dat ile
The best remedy 1
| for them is tobaeco, either smoking the
| plants or using weak solution as a
{| Was.
| *“lstady ti
imy bh
a
and mana
hay en
through the
1
& coalalogues
thee fants so a8 tO
stant succession of
{| winter; then, early in { ¢pring 1 be
gin with ms len, for flow.
Or
i
i
¥ out-door garden, fi
Ors Al'g 8 Lod wilh me ar
to lé! my wioter plants rest 1
the summer.
“I make
HOTS
sity 1 like
g
:
srough
up my mind early as to
wanted; have my
carly, and preparing
oxes and pans of earth, plant io the
{ house seeds of the kinds which will
| bear transplanting in order to have
{ early lowers. Among these are pan-
Bios, portalacea, petunias,
| Drnmmond phlox and nastartiams, all
{good and reliable. A later lot may
| also be planted out of doors making a
succession of blooming for the sum-
mer,
“Sweet peas can be planted very
early, as soon as the ground thaws
enough to put in the seed. If the
weather turns very cold after plantiag,
cover the spot with coarse hay orstraw,
miling it off again when the sun shines,
Treated in this way they will bloom
profusely from June till November, if
the flowers are eut with a liberal hand.
Cut them continually for bouquets and
tables and your plants will blossom
brighter and better for the pruning.
“Then, too, the children have their
“wild lower garden” where the early
spring flowers hit their heads before
| planting tizne has come. In the shel-
| tered corner of the fence is a row of
{tall ferns and feathery marsh-grass.
| Here “Hepaticas” show their pink and
| bine and white blossoms, sometimes
before the end of March. “Wake
Robins” with their white three-Jeaved
lilite and broad three-lobed leaves
“Spring beanties” and “Adder’s ton.
gues” (don’t ak me to be botanical and
scientifie, we call them all by their
common names). Blae, and yellow,
and white, violets and the waxen man-
drake blossoms of which we make ex-
quisite flat bouquets wired with green
leaves. They scent the whole house
with their sweet perfume,
“I cannot tell you all the treasures
the little ones Lring in from their gar-
den from March till June, when the
garden flowers sre in bloom and the
children's corner begins to be slighted,
thongh they have growing many of the
native shrubs which will command ad-
miration by the side of more preten-
tions amd highprneed bashes and
plants.” .
and kinds
hand
*
Lisa
*
balsamea,
Bread,
To some of the tired ones 1 will tell
my wav of bread making. First, all
that bother of polalo yeast is needless
work. In a hollow of your fiour put a
compressed yeast-cake and a little milk.
With your wooden spoon break aud
mit; add more milk and make a thin
batter, whieh beat ton minutes, Early
in the morniog add more flour and
beat ten minutes, It should be ready
to mold soon after breakiast. Now
don’t double up your fists ones, but
stir it thack, and open your hands fiat
and roll it without using any strength
until smooth. ‘Lhe longer you roll the
nioer it will be.
Missns Kate andOarrio Mann, recent
. the lowa Agriounltural
mn
FANCY WORK,
Trryartsag fon A Cninp’s Dress o
Arnos- These hight stitches are easily
reproduced in wool, floss, eotton or
silk, and ean be made on a band of any
ma'erial desired to be used us a trim
Vixatouerre, Fax Bas axp Taarx
Lavy. —The great va ue of many of ti
fans now carried, as well as the perish-
sable nature of those which are handed
down as heirlooms in families, render
necessary these pretty fan bags to pro-
vi 'e against their destroction when car-
rying them to the opera or ball,
Drsiox vor Tray or Tarne Crora,
~—1f this design is used for a Tray
(loth, the entire surface of the linen
should be covered with the
16
design;
| hole stitelies in colored washable eme
broidery cotton, The veining is dong
in colton of nu hglter rhade, The obs
long mat is of while linen momie-cloth,
witha drawn work border and d
fringe. The embroidered design 18
done in outline stitch with white line
floss apd bire thread, The square
doiley is of eream linen with red bor-
der ines on each side of a band of
drawn work; the corner designs sréd
worked in red snd white linen thread
. -
5 HR ne RE
- inppsiekasitabaner
ee
at
ye.
RE
Bewixe Arvrnox,
cream-colored
yard wide and
— This is made
scrim and 13 8
twenty-scven inches
ong. Around the edge 15 8&8 cross-
stitched border worked in washable
i silk, the pattern of which is shown mn
No. 000, Eaeh stitch is taken ovef
three threads of the canvas, The bors
der should be worked two inches from
| the edge, and when finished, the mater-
| ial beyond, turned down and hemmed
under it. The top is pleated in sidé
pleats, turned .oward the middle, thus
reducing the width to nine inches,
of
round the eloth and the three
ed store in the corner be completed,
The corner design should
in each corner. The
with a color.
necting the stars, is a row of
drasn work blocks also
shaped ficure in the border. Thm
drawn work may be omitted and a very
pretty result still be obtaine l.
talile eloth worked ia cross-stiteh.
materisls used may be wash silks
" With this shouid
be nsed a table scar! worked with the
same d.sign, snd edged with Russian
lace,
Gunovr or Tantz Mars The oval
seal oped mat is of whites linen; the de-
sgn being outlined with fine white
linen toutache sewed down with button
Crooner Ear ror Uspun BEIinrs.—
This pretty odgo may be made of linen
thread or if for a flannel garment, of
wool.
For a foundation make 9 oh, the pat-
tern is worked backward and forward,
go forward 3 ch, 34 in the next 2 ch,
1s in the 5th ch, turn; 3 ch, 14 4,
round the 6 ch, 2¢h, 1 d, in the 8rd of
the 8 ¢h, turn; 3 ch, 34 round the 2 ch,
five times 2 ch, snd 1 d, inthe 3rd 4d, 2
ch, 1 4, in the last foundation mesh, *
turn: 5 small curves each of 18 84d,
and 1 s always round the 2d ch, then
round the last 2 ch, a 6th curve only of
18 and 3d, 2ch, 1d, in the last of the
8 oh, turn; 8 ch, 3 d round the 2 ch;
Gch, 18 inthe 20d d, of the first fin.
ished eurve, turn; 3 eh, 14 d, round the
Goh, 2 ch, 1d, in the last of the 8 ch,
turn: 3 eh, 83d, roand the 2 ch, five
times 2 eh, and 1 d, in the 8rd d, 2 eh,
1 8, in the next small curves and repeat
from *. The heading to be crocheted
in the length, requires 1 row slternate-
ly of 1dand2 eb.