Dressmaking Extraordinary.

Otago Witness, Issue 2303, 21 April 1898, Page 44

Dressmaking Extraordinary.

WHAT WORTH ACCOMPLISHED IN SIXTEEN HOTJHS. The record of rapid dressmaking has been broken by M. Worth. Not only did he finish four most intricate costumes ir> 15 hours, but in their magnificence he absolutely outWorthed himself. This is how it all happened. Some weeks ago the Duse was to play at Monte Carlo, and found at the last moment that none of her gowns were worthy of appearing at that paradise of frocks. So she wired late one evening to Worth, " The day after 10-morrow I am acting ii> the ' Dame aux Camelias. ' I have simply nothing fit to wear. Can you let me have four dresses — one for each act? Mind, they must be as beautiful as you can possibly make them." This was rather a large order, for the journey from Paris to Monte Carlo alone occupies 20 hours. However, the great dressmaker set to work, and the whole house of Worth, was ransacked from cellai to garret for its choicest brocades and cloths-of-gold. He created a marvellous ball dress of white satin, encrusted with gold and pearl embroideries and sparkling with diamonds, with a long train smothered in priceless point d'Alencon. His young women sat up all through the night puckering and gathering into countless tucks and folds more than a hundred yards of white mosseline-de-soie for the gown which Marguerite Gautier was to wear in the death scene. Probably poor Marguerite has nevei before drawn hei last breath in such ar> ideal setting ! And yet, in spite' of the delirious hurry, everything was finished off as perfectly as if a month had beer given to their preparation Ir> less than 15 hours the four dresses were safely packed away in their big boxes and despatched Lo their fortunate ownei. Happy Duse ! What envy, hatred, and malice must have reigned in the hearts of some of hex fair hearers that night ! — Sketch.

Household ESints.

For a flat " fringe " curl, that is considered to be so becoming to many ladies, curl the hair in the ordinary way, then secure an old veil over it and wear this until the hair sets.

A very useiul notion is the " glove stump." It is simply a wooden finger, correctly modelled, and used for mending holes m gloves. With the finger inside, the work is quite easily accomplished. White kid sldVes can

be cleaned with benzoline ; but for perfect safety the operation should be conducted in the open ah-, and away from any fire or flaifte. If a white glove refuse to return to its former spotless condition, dye it pale brown by diping it in strong coffee. Shoemakers are now frequently called upon to fasten two little strips of rubber across the sole of babies' shoes at the ball of the foot. This is done to obviate the constant tendency to slip back that attends the little one's initial efforts afc learning to walk. Everyone who has noticed a baby taking its first erratic steps from chaii to chair, slipping back till .the little soles of its shoes are worn almost as smooth as glass, and has felt his own ankles ache with sympathy at the" strain, will count this idea worthy of general adoption. _ Ladies who use chamoit, leather for cleaning and polishing their bicycles may be glad to know how to wash the leather when it becomes dirty. If it is washed with soap and water and rinsed and dried, it will become stiff and hard and almost useless ; but if it is washed with soap and water and the soap is not rinsed out, it will dry as soft and serviceable as when new.