60 
THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
illustrated in our last number, formed a beautiful con¬ 
trast with the dark green of the plush. Silk tasselled 
fringe, four inches deep in dull reds, finished the end of 
the scarf. 
Shaded plush is very much used with the latest de¬ 
signs ; it comes at £5.00 per yard in wide widths, and is 
so gradually shaded from a light to a dark tint that you 
cannot tell where one leaves off and another begins. A 
wicker-work chair was furnished with a square cushion 
for the seat, and an oblong one for the back made of 
dull red shaded plush, upon which was worked in Arra* 
sene a design of hemp-weed. The upper cushion kept 
in place by bows of shaded ribbon four inches wide cor¬ 
responding in color with the plush. 
Handsome brush holders are made of a plusli-covered 
palette intended to hang by the opening, and having a 
stiff band fastened across, ornamented with a cluster of 
Rose-buds and Forget-me-nots in ribbon embroidery, in 
which the whisk broom is slipped. 
Cynthia. 
SPRING SEWING. 
Where easy access can be had to city shopping, it 
seems hardly worth while for a hurried housekeeper to 
spend her valuable time in making up muslins, which 
can be pm-chased ready-made, for very moderate prices. 
Neat nightdresses having several tucks, and a narrow 
ruffle, on neck and sleeves, made from very fair muslin, 
can be purchased for 75 cents and £1.00: while shirts of 
good material made with deep hem and cluster of tucks 
are sold as low as 50 cents. Of course, they do not 
give quite as good satisfaction to those who are particu¬ 
lar as to the fitting and durability, and therefore, many 
ladies, even in town, have most of then- garments made 
in the house. During the dull days that always come 
in the latter part of February and in March, it is wise to 
get Spring sewing well underway, for it is not necessary 
to wait for the dictates of fashion before the under¬ 
clothing is made up for the coming season. 
For a heavy muslin, the preference is for the Dwight 
Anchor, a brand which resembles Wamsutta in heavi¬ 
ness of thread, but which, not woven so closely, laun¬ 
dries much more satisfactorily. The price is ten- 
and-a-half cents, when bought by the piece. For 
lighter material, there is nothing better than Pride of 
theWest, Fruit of the Loom hundreds, and the Lons¬ 
dale brands. 
The first of these being the most expensive, has just 
been reduced from 14 cents to 12J£ cents. Fruit of the 
Loom hundreds, comes at 10J4 cents, and is next in 
quality, while Lonsdale can be bought for cents by 
the piece. 
In trimmings, great varieties are shown, from hand¬ 
some Hamburgs to the cheap laces. The Swiss embroid¬ 
eries are a safe compromise between the two, as they 
are very durable, and have the advantage of being 
both pretty and cheap; the inch widths, both of inser¬ 
tions and edging, being purchased for eight cents per ’ 
yard, and could probably be had by the piece for much 
less. 
Those who have not tried the princess garments will 
do well to make the experiment, especially with the 
combination chemise and underwaist, which is simply 
cut gabrielle fashion, having, however, only one seam 
in the back, one under the arm, and one taking the 
place of the front dart. The neck is cut square, if not 
preferred high, and when trimmed around with narrow 
edging and insertion, looks very pretty, and never slips 
off one shoulder, causing that uncomfortable feeling one 
experiences with other .garments. Little puffed sleeves 
can be added, or simply trim around the armhole to cor¬ 
respond with the neck. The front of the garment is 
opened sufficiently to permit the putting on and off 
with ease, and is fastened with buttons and button¬ 
holes. The front of the waist can be ornamented with 
puffs and insertion, similar to other underwaists. 
It is also a good plan to get one's cambrics made 
before the Spring house-cleaning comes on. The 
styles in these do not vary much from one season to 
another, and it is always safe to follow one’s own taste, 
only being sure to choose something which will give the 
figure an appearance of neatness, and not be so abund¬ 
ant in trimmings as to hamper one while engaged in 
household duties. For those who are partial to a dress 
which shall have the ease and comfort of a wrapper, 
there is the plain princess, which is stylish in shape, 
and almost tight-fitting; having a single dart in each 
front, side gores under the arm. side forms in the back, 
rounding to the armholes, and a seam down the middle 
of the back. Extra fullness necessary to the skirt, is 
made by an extension a little below the waist line at 
the three back seams, the centre one being much the 
larger, and is shirred and fastened on the outside of the 
back seam, or left in a box-plait, fastened underneath, 
as are the other two extensions. The garment is neatly 
trimmed with gathered flounce and bands of contrasting 
material heading it. and bordering the front from the 
neck down. A turn-over collar finishes the neck. 
Waists are still cut liigh on the shoulders, and the 
sleeves sewed in so as to have a slightly full effect, but 
must not be gathered. Sleeves should be fitted as care¬ 
fully as any other part, as much of the beauty of the waist 
depends upon their nice adjustment. 
Plain round Jersey basques are giving place to those 
with square back made full by box plaits closely folded 
similar to the postilion basque formerly worn. 
The tailor-made costumes are still in great demand, 
and tailor styles are becoming more and more promi¬ 
nent, so a London authority advises us, and that many 
pardessus are worn with straight fronts fastened by an 
under-tab, and finished off with collar and cuffs, pre¬ 
cisely like those on a gentleman’s coat, and with sleeves 
cut exactly like coat sleeves. 
Redingoles promise to keep in favor, and are much 
worn by young married ladies for both visiting and 
walking. They are open in front to show the skirt, 
which often is highly ornamented with applications 
of velvet or plush on cloth. A rich costume is of 
fine green satin and plush. The satin skirt edged 
with a deep plush pleating and satin balayeusse, the 
front of the skirt covered with applications of plush se¬ 
cured by button-hole stitch in green silk. Plush redin- 
gote with the upper part open and filled with embroid¬ 
ered plastron like the skirt. Hat of green plush, with 
satin strings, and plumes of shaded shrimp-pink 
feathers. 
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