LADIES' COLUMN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10014, 28 December 1895, Page 4 (Supplement)

LADIES' COLUMN.

THE LATEST FASHIONS.

A typical costume of the fashion is of flue silk gloss alpaca, the bodice having revers of white satin turned back from a foamy vest of white chiffon mingling with citroncoloured lace. Down the centre of the vest glitter from tho vest folds tho rays of diamond buttons, and neck and wrists are graced with ruffles and frills of the same chiffon and lace, a diamond buckle again clasping a jabot to the neck in front. The skirt is wide and expanding, lined around the foot with stiffened canvas, and up the back pleats. And alpaca is a material of which immense is to be adjectived to its degree of favour. It is a charming fabric in its possibilities, its effects, its adaptability to being trimmed. In all the fashionable colourings, it is both plain and in many fancy designs. Grey alpaca tailormade dresses are considered quite the acme of usefulness for ordinary wear, and these may be elaborai'd at will, though they generally psrtako of the coat and skirt stylo in build. Crepon cannot bo superseded, so many charms does the variation of its sue lace offeel hold for tho womanly mind. The much-crinkled crepons are the preferred perhaps generally, but others with satin or silk stripes or spots, and diagonal makes, most commend themselves to those who wish to be distinctively fashionable. The silks are of course a conspicuous feature, and range in many designs and characters. Shot colourings are to tho fore, and not only include two or three but frequently four distinct timings, and these often all more or less florid. Narrow striped silks are the spocial delight of the moment, and citing silks show brocade patterns of fairly small size. Spotted silks are also pretty, and those arc shaded again. Of the muslin' we have spoken before, and many and dainty will be tho costumos of this textile, made up over coloured foundations ol silk for the luxurious, or French sateen for tho more economical. A pink muslin dress with rose-spray design was over a green foundation, the bodice full in front, showing a pointed neck piece of green silk, and having a fichu of black chiffon edged with a double fiill, crossed in front and tied at tho back with a large bow of green ribbon. At the foot tho skirt is bordered with two tiny frilling*. Chiffon cannot bo excelled for making bodices, and bear? a vast amount, of bedecking of je.', passementerie, sequins, embroidery, and lace, all of which are a craze of the moiut.nt. The bodice contrasting to the skirt still hoi out, mid will continue to do so in nil the coming fashions. Chiffon bodices are worn with silk sleeves to match the skirt, but the silk bodice in the gayest hues of which we are capable of having thorn provide 1 are in the ft«cendency. Never did we in the annals of fashion, wo venture to say, attempt to inakeour«olves so indicative of the rainbow in the colours wo wear and the multiplicity of their union. Bodices are as the maker of wearer will have them, always demanding that they shall bo full and soft. But there is one indomitable rule for the skirts, and that is that they should be plain at tho top and set out in wide width at the (net. The choije of tho at'-angenient of the backs lies between pleats and gathers. Short capes for wearing with blouses match the shirt usually, and for more aspiring wear they are dainty conceptions of silk and lace, with flowers on tho collar rufll*.—Wiegel's Journal of Fashion.

THE GIRLS OF JERUSALEM. Of social life the girls of Jerusalem know absolutely nothing. They occasionally meet), a few together, ami appear t) enjoy each other's company a little. Th' v talk about their household work—which is really everything they know—and indulge in some lijjht gofipy chat about friends, though their gossip is never of a harmful kind. In conversation they show sumo little animation and spirit, but, being ignorant and illiterate, they have 110 idea of grammatical form of expression. Occasionally cards, dominoes, and checkers are played, but the native girls have little inclination for any pa-time involving mental effort. Such things as dances, fetes, and fairs are unknown to the girls of Jerusalem ; occasionally they are Uken on a family picnie to some olive orchard near their homes, where they p:i*s part of the day. From these and ali similar gatherings men are barred. There is absolutely 110 commingling of the sexes. For a girl to appear at any assemblage where there aie men would bo regarded as audacious and shocking. No Jerusalem girl would do such a thing; she would not dream of committing so fatal a breach in the unwritten, though well-defined, law governing tho conduct of her sex. So strict i< this law, or custom, 0! exclusion that under no circumstancos would a girl Attend the wedding of her brother to which were bidden guests outside tho immediate family.—Ladies' Home Journal.

CHILDREN'S FEAR OF DARKNESS.

A fear of being left alone in tho dark is almost universal among little children, and vet, in 99 cases out of 100, it is purely instinctive, and is not founded in personal experience. In civilised countries there is no greater danger to child-life in the dark than in the daylight. The feeling of few generally lacks definition as much as it lacks foundation, but accompanied with it is an imagination prerornaturally alert, which confers frightful shapes and qualities upon all dimly-seen objects, tear is obviously one of the most, effective conservative forces in nature. The jealousy which so many little children display, especially when the possession of some favourite dainty is in question, is another proof that in hard times it. was necessary for oach to acquire as big a share of the spoil as possible. If the morsel chanced to be tho last obtainable when a prolonged fast was impending, a seitish and jealous child might, by securing a double portion, hold out while others perished. But it is plain that jealousy and selfishness were nob invariably the qualities which were most helpful in the struggle for lifo during the primitive ages. Most babios, oven before they can talk, will ostentatiously otfur their nurses or parent* a share of their food at the very time when they show thogreatent repugnance togivinganytootherchiidren. Obviously the primitive child learned by sad experience that, in dealing with adults, a policy of conciliation and reciprocity paid better in the long run than one of brutal acquisitive ness. We see presisoly the same motives prevalent to-day in political and commercial affairs.—North American Review.