TO BETTY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 318, 3 October 1908, Page 11

TO BETTY.

DEAR BETTY— I am ashamed I, A whole month since I wrote you last, but I cry peccadi. Suppose you are not so unforgiving as not to bo interested in my notes on chapeaux. A week or two ago 1 wrote to Belinda, describing the . latest millinery in .the Economic. To-day I am touching on the cheaper A white linen —round in shape—swathed in blue and green silk muslin, for' 10s. 6d., was admirable for morning wear, and 60 dainty. And I was puzzled over the unusually low price of an ecru chip, with a puffing of forget-me-not silk, edged with white lace, marked at 18s. 6d. One wonders how it is possible to sell such good value for so little. .' A very dainty hat in white chip, suitable for a young girl, the brim having fluted chilfon in white going right around, the edging being of narrow lace —was so sweet; price 13s. 6d. A dark girl was trying on a smart-looking affair in putty-toned chip; the crown hav- , ing an immense puffing of corn-flour blue silk. On the edge of tho straw, lying quite flat, camo a reseda green silk piece of straw —very, smart and most uncommon —I heard her quote its price as 15s. 6d., and the blue and green roses at the right side gave it a delightful finish. (I do not know if she took it.) ' ' Do you remember when in town-how enchanted you wero with a dull green readyto wear, worn by Miss Grace P a; the beautiful actress P My dear, I saw one. almost identical. T'was of the same shade, with silk shadow ribbon in green, aind briar rose pink, the left side having that suspicion of a tilt that made Miss P look so striking. Brown grasses threaded through a knot at the side finished it, price 10s, 6d. Of course you jump (you always were nervy), but it is not fiction. You might whisper to your mere that I hovered amongst tho bonnets quite an unusual timo. . ' Ono of black crinoline—a chic, crinkly thing, with a bunch of cowslips nestling so cutely amongst a handful of satin ribbon, had wide , satin streamers, and at a right angle a graceful osprey in white. _ By the way, I am continually being struck with, the large assortment of black hats and bonnets in this establishment. Those my eyes alighted on yesterday were really beautiful —many of the picture shape so far as the hats aro concerned, with fine plumes sweeping from front .to back. A bonnet of. that peculiarly enchanting bronze colour was very inviting: ribbons in glace of the same shade came in a fluting around, while a bronze osprey shaded to a pale blue, was very becoming ..and a smart finish. It was marked \quite reasonably, at 295. Gd. Now that we are really well into the spring, and the days aro hot and sunny, one turns naturally to dainty attire, and headgear is always the most striking, feature of one's apparel. . . ■ A Java straw struck me very forcibly, with its swathing of lovely saxe silk, and mingling amongst the soft folds were blue,_ green, and black poppies and tender little tufts of green and autumn, foliage—l2s. 6d. (You had better commission me to get you this —I verily believe you'd look sweet!) There was • a large picture shape in ecru chip, with such a big flop crown of brown silk (cinnamon shade) and 'trellised. _It was very fine; silk straw embroidery, with dull mulberry shaded roses peeping from loose folds. This was merely, 18s.' 6d. I'seo in country social notes that you are having quite a. giddy, foolish time —are you not becoming frivolous? And at your ago 1 Twenty, weren't you, in the autumn?:' 'Twill soon bo shearing time,, tool How [envy you I' I try-to imagine myself, amongst you all—the lambs included, and the-smell .of the wool and the pastureland is poignant. ! ■ 'Oh, the wild desire and tho uncontrollable longing to be there! Betty, Betty, you lucky child of fortune! ! ; ■' GEM. , [Do you remember the summer I spent with you, and the tossing ,of the hay and tho burrowing ? We didn't. trouble about the shape of our hats then, did' we ? Or the most becoming shades of ribbons and gowns? But, oh! it's good to see shop windows and our own reflections when becomingly attired! Surely it's not so very dreadful to bo a city .child l-G.'] 7002