BOLD FRENCHWOMEN.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 168, 21 July 1908, Page 2

BOLD FRENCHWOMEN.

SENSATIONAL FEMALE DRESS. Indignant comments are being made m the Paris Press on the bold display of some dressmaker's creations at Longchamp o.i a recent Sunday (says the correspondent of the London ' Telegraph '). Never before, some critics lemark, has public taste been defied to such an extent. Dressmakers, to cause a sensation, sometimes exhibit their latest creations on the first fine spring day at Longchamp. Sunday was chosen for this display by a few venturesome innovators of the Rue de la Paix, and the experiment caused a row, degenerating almost into a riot, m the p'esage. While sportsmen were studying their programmes and wondering whether the favorites would win or be beaten m the races of the day, four, so to speak, "classic" feminine figures walked out on the lawn of the members' enclosure m blue, white, havana, and purple directoire costumes of such tight-fitting and transparent, patterns as to make some of the onlookers rub their eyes and wonder whether they were notseeing Henner's or Bouguereau's figures m a dream. The four females were exhibiting what were intended tc be the most sensational toilettes to be worn this season, and from the point of view of sensa-' tion they scored a marked success. Men gathered around m a ring, stared most uncourteously at them, laughed and gibed at the unfortunate creatures, who had not had the slightest idea of doing anything very extraordinary. They were what are, called sheath gowns or " shirts a fdurreau," and the one which caused the greatest .sensation was divided below to showed the outlines of the lower limbs up to the knee. " What a scandal !" some ladies exclaimed, looking askance, and others hurried away from the lawn. Finally the excitement became so great that the police interfered, and arrested the one with the divided directoire gown. When questioned about it the police commissary stated that it was not true that models had been arrested. The police merely invited them to the. station to save them from being mobbed. But, the event, nevertheless, " gave rise to indignant protests. Prudists ask severely " What are we coming to? Are we again to see the license of the Directoire period?" ' Mile Cecille Sorel, interviewed on the subject, said that, for the present, she Avould be content to wear such a gown only on specified occasions, and, m fact, she would appear m one on the stage.