and the skirt Is also caught up twice at each side 
of the center, the corresponding tacklngs being 
connected by elastic straps. The bottom of the 
skirt is corded with light material, and may be 
further decorated by a continuation of the lace on 
the front. 
The lingerie consists of lace arranged Inside 
the standing collar of the polonaise and extend¬ 
ing down the front over the plastron In a narrow 
jabot, that Is held In place by clusters or roses and 
foliage. 
The drapery may be of the dark material. Two 
shades of rich or Inexpensive goods, or a combi¬ 
nation of slJk and worsted, will be found very 
charming for such a costume, the polonaise 
which was cut by pattern No. 6H3, price thirty- 
five cents. 
The plastron mentioned was cut by pattern 
No. Ri81, price twenty cents. This pattern is 
made the full length of a lady’s figure, so that a 
plastron may be made to wear over a Princess 
dress and polonaise. It Is also marked with per¬ 
forations, showing where it may he cut oil for a 
short vest like the one represented on this figure. 
This plastron only extends under the top of the 
drapery and Is formed of guipure net bordered 
with torcbon lace. It. Is gracefully shappd to the 
figure, curving In below the bust and rounding up 
over lt s and finally extending about the neck In 
collar-Uke tabs that meet and fasten at the back. 
The sleeves are completed with deep cuffs, 
which are similarly composed of net and border¬ 
ing, but are straight around at the top, being in 
this respect unlike t he pointed cufT pattern ac¬ 
companying the plastron pattern and Included 
under the same number. 
The cuff and plastron may be omitted from the 
costume, except when the latter is worn for full 
dress. Or, they may be made of black lace, or 
of the brocaded silk. They are handsome to 
wear with any costume, provided they are made 
of appropriate materials. 811k, velvet, Swiss 
muslin, and crepe lisse . as well as the more inex¬ 
pensive nets and laces, are all used in making 
the set. 
When constructed, like the model, of black silk 
and dark gray suit goods, with silk pipings, silk- 
bound slashes, silk buttons and simulated but¬ 
ton-holes, as decorations, it becomes particularly 
effective for ordinary wear, and when made of 
costlier materials In the fashionable evening 
tints. It completes a handsome toilette, that can 
be appropriately worn at receptions, weddings 
or any other entertainments where elegant cos¬ 
tumes are required. 
ThB center-front is formed of a vest that ex¬ 
tends the entire length of the polonaise, and from 
the neck to a short distance above the bottom, Is 
shirred over a piece of lining suitably shaped to 
the figure, and then falls in a moderately deep 
flounce, neatly hemmed at the lower edge. These 
shirrs are arranged In four atnstM-e, separated by 
deep puffs, the t wo upper and largest groups be¬ 
ing placed one above the bust and the otner below 
the walst-llne, the remaining two appearing at 
regular intervals below. 
The side-front extends from the top of the 
shoulder to the bottom of the vest, and Is snugly 
fitted to the figure by a bust dart and an exceed¬ 
ingly narrow under-arm gore. To Its gracefully 
curved front edge, which Is first laid in three up- 
ward-turning plaits below the middle or the skirt, 
Is joined a revers, which is carefully hollowed out 
at the waist-Line, above, and below which it grad¬ 
ually widens. Both rerers are made ot black silk 
piped around the edges, and are ornamented with 
clusters ot buttons upon simulated button-holes 
placed opposite the shirrs. The front edges of 
the side-fronts are lapped upon the adjacent 
edges ot the vest, whose right side Is joined the 
entire length, while the left is tacked only to a 
little above tho second cluster or shim, the re¬ 
maining edges being bound and Joined by means 
of buttons and button-holes to a fly sewed be¬ 
neath the edge of the front. 
Although the back presents a decidedly unique 
effect, it is still of the stylish Princess shape, 
having a gracefully Inflected center seam, and a 
handsomely formed side-back gore proceeding to 
the shoulder and terminating about an Inch be¬ 
low tbe neck. The center-back Is artistically 
shirred over a piece of lining made to fit, perfectly 
to the figure, t he shirrs being disposed in two 
groups separated by a very deep puff. At quite a 
distance below the walst-llne an extra width Is 
left upon the back edge ot the side-back gore, and 
another upon the adjacent edge of the center- 
back, the width upon the former being turned un¬ 
der for a hem, while the edge or the other is neat¬ 
ly bound. The plaits laid InUie rronr. edge of the 
side-front are continued across to the back edge 
of the side-back gore, which from the shoulder to 
the extra widths Is joined to the center-back in an 
ordinary seam. From the top of the widt hs the 
side of the center-back Is lupped upon that of the 
gore, and arter belog laid in t wo downward-turn¬ 
ing plaits or loops, is tacked to the latter as 
far as the lowest plait. Tapes, which are attach¬ 
ed one. to each plait at the. back edge of the side- 
back gore, tie beneath the back and hold the 
drapery In its graceful posltl m. The overlapping 
sides of the back are ornamented with silk but¬ 
tons and simulated outton-hoies, and the bottom 
of the polonaise Is cut la slashes, which are neat¬ 
ly hound with the silk. 
A long lap. wider at the bottom tbaq at. the top, 
Is made of silk and sowed between the edges of 
the seam joining 11>e sldo-back 10 the under-arm 
gore, at a short distance below the walst-llne. 
This lap Is fastened upon the under-arm gore, 
and Is ornamented with pipings, and a row of but¬ 
tons placed upon simulated button-holes of vary¬ 
ing lengths. 
The neck Is stylishly completed by a fralse 
made of the silk. The pretty article Is formed In 
double box-plaits at the back as far as the shoul- 
The back and side of the polonaise are In one 
piece, but are fitted to the figure by a center seam 
terminating In an extra fullness just below the 
with a scarf drapery. The fronts and under-arm 
gores are about the length of a long cuirass 
basque, tbe front being fitted at each side by two 
■ CONDUCTED BY MISS FAITH RIPLEY. 
THE BABES IN THE WOOD 
Now, grandma! why don't you look Jolly. 
Instead of that sorrowful way ? 
Don’t yon know Hal and I have been married 
Just a fortnight ago yesterday ? 
And we’re perfectly nappy, and will bo; 
Folks neod’ut be doleful, I know, 
If they don't look for troubles and worries, 
And heartaches. My Hal thinks Just so. 
Now you’re Kigbing ! I know what yoti’re saying 
“ Tho Babes in the Wood.” But you see 
That Hal’s twenty-one iu November, 
And I shall soon seventeen be. 
And we've seen a gi eat deal of the world, too. 
We know how to battle with life; 
And Hal says, " There can bo no sorrow 
When a man baa a true little wife.” 
You’ve had lots of troubles and trials, 
But maybe we won’t. 8eenis to me 
You old folks bring sorrow by looking; 
There! you want to say, “ Wait, and you’ll gee.” 
But you only look over your glasses. 
And olo8p hands, as though you would pray, 
And whisper. ” God bless you, my children. 
And keep you in sunshine ahvay.” 
FIVE YEARS AFTER. 
Grandma, won’t you come out and help us ? 
I’m worn out with watching and work. 
For the children arc sick, baby teething, 
And the cook (that old Biddy MacQuirk) 
Went away in a huff, without warning, 
And I cannot manage the range; 
So Hal takes his meals in tho city. 
You know a man must have a change. 
All night I was up with the children. 
For Hal says *’ It'B bard on a man 
To be wakened all night with tbe baby,” 
Oh, grandma, dear, come if you can. 
TEN YEARS AFTER. 
Tell me, grandmother dear, the old story 
Of the heavenly home and its rest, 
And hold me close up, as yon used to. 
And lay my head down on your breast. 
I'll try to look yonder to meet them, 
My two little saints gone before, 
And forget the sharp pain of the arrow 
That shattered the ring I once wore. 
Ah 1 I see it all now why you whispered. 
'* The Babes in ttie Wood.” long ago, 
While I trusted the reed that has broken 
The sand-chain, the knot made of snow. 
And though neither gray hair nor wrinkle 
Has come to me, now I can see 
Other Babes in the Wood, and am silent. 
Foreboding, ns you looked at me. 
[JSthtl Lynn in New York Ledger. 
" 
■mm 
waist, and by a dart seam extending from the 
shoulder for a considerable distance Into the 
skirt. The rullness of the center of the hack Is 
laid under In a box-plait, wnlle an extra width 
occurring In the under-arm seam is turned for¬ 
ward oq the under side and tacked to position. 
A downward turning plait is made In the front 
edge of the back skirt, before the seam is closed, 
bust darts and an under-arm dart. To these 
fronts and gores a drapery cut In one piece Is at¬ 
tached, descending from right to lert and laid in 
diagonal plaits. This drapery Is of brocaded mar 
terlal and Is trimmed with a row of white lace. 
The sleeves themselves are of the dark silk like 
the remainder of the polonaise, and are made 
with gatherings at the elbows. 
FASHION ITEMS 
What a boon It would be to working woman¬ 
kind, those who have little leisure to lollow the 
vagarlesof fashion, If It were possible to evolve 
for them a costume of fur or feather material 
which would protect from the cold, make laun¬ 
dries superfluous, renovate lcself, and never 
become old-fashioned. What an amount of time, 
toll, and vexation of spirit would be saved, 
Bui alftst there la little prospect Of this much 
needed reform ever being brought about. As It 
Is, It requires a liberal education In designing 
and draping, and dress-inn king to properly pm 
together one of theeostumes ol to-day ; and a lady 
who, living remote rrom largo cities (where one 
cau gather hints iroin experienced costumers, 
or from shop windows,) succeeds in making a sty¬ 
lish outfit from patterns simply, may prido her¬ 
self on being an accomplished woman. Why, the 
drapery or «n overskirt requires a degree of taste 
and a knowledge of artistic effects which, If ap¬ 
plied to some more pretentious object, would 
make the ” draper” famous. 
As t his Is an “ off Seasun" in fashions, there Is 
Utile to ebroutcle in the line ot novelties. The 
crop of “ Imlljalions ” is large, but nothing very 
definite has besn decided on. For the early 
spring tho prospects are that the colors and ma¬ 
terials so popular during tho past season will 
continue In favor. As In the winter fabrics, the 
dark colors—olive, bronze, blue, form solid inun¬ 
dations and are sprinkled or striped with gayer 
colors, Tho long-time favorites, Princess and 
polonaise, still retain their hold on popular favor 
and w I th a little modification a last year’s garment, 
of this description cau be made to appear In the 
latest style. A new feature is the panel Inserted 
back and iront. it Is either plain or shirred to 
suit tue fancy of the wearer. At 0145 and 0149 are 
published models of some of the latest styles in 
polonaise. 
Figure No. l—The combination of plain and 
brocaded goods continues popular and Is seen in 
all sorts of materials, from worsted to the richest 
of silk and velvet. Tho costume Illustrated Is 
composed of plain silk of a dark tint and brocaded 
silk of a light shade of the same color. 
The skirt Is a fleud-irulu and by The Insertion of 
fan-gores at the center of the back-breadth tails 
in the narrow flouncing out line which fashionable 
ladles consider Indispensable In handsome cos¬ 
tumes. Ills simply trimmed with a box-plaited 
ilouuce or the goods set on to lortu Its own head¬ 
ing, wiiiie the tralu and a portion of the sides 
are underlaid with plaited Swiss edged with lace. 
Sometimes two rows of irlmiutug are employed 
and may be similar or contrasting In style. Tho 
pattern to this skirt maybe used for any mate¬ 
rial, and is No. isse, price 35 cents. 
The polonaise is of the latest styles, and Is so 
constructed that over any skirt of the same ma¬ 
terial it produces the effect of a Princess dress 
