August 14, 1915 
LAND AND WATER 
AN EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE 
{CcHtinued from /. ^43.) 
of which is fastened a minute true-lover's knot of heather. 
But all the same, as a spectacle it is a failure, and as such 
one of the few outward and visible signs of war that have yet 
reached the village and its villagers. 
And there is the same lack of spectacle in the reception 
that takes place at the bride's home. All that is formal 
about the reception is its somewhat alarming name. This 
war wedding, like many others, is not a formal occasion, 
It wouldlosehalf itscharm if it were — it would, quaintly enough, 
miss most of its solemnity. There is something very grave, 
very dignified, very arresting about its absence of ceremony, 
something that must have struck many who have been to 
similar marriages during the past year. 
It is near the time for departure. Outside the front 
door is a motor waiting to take husband and wife away for 
the few days' companionship which is all they can definitely 
count upon before the bridegroom rejoins his regiment 
once more. The bride comes down the stairs in a neat 
traveOing suit, and closely reefed, but infinitely becoming, 
motoring hat. There is a chorus of good-byes, a belated 
shower of rice, and away go one more couple married under the 
auspices of Mars. 
Impromptu 
The most striking feature about many a marriage to-day 
is the speed with which it is arranged. There is hardly a 
moment s pause between the day on which the engagement 
is announced and that of the wedding itself. Often, of course, 
this celerity is set off by the fact that the bride and bridegroom 
have known each other from childhood, and theirs, therefore, 
is a long acquaintanceship. Apart from this, however, there 
is something in the very spirit of war, making a wooing 
not long a-doing. The future becomes a most uncertain 
quantity. All that remains is to make the most of the 
present, and make that as certain as possible. 
In cases when the chief couple concerned know each 
other so well as thoroughly to know their own minds, there 
is a fascination about the impromptu air of it all. There 
is an absence of cold, matter-of-fact calculation, a delightful 
tinge of spontaneity. A quick wedding of the kind now 
continually before our eyes gives an unrehearsed effect 
which is very pleasing. It is a relief from the stereotyped 
ceremony with its month's notice of invitation, its crowd 
of bored guests, its convention. The whole affair takes on 
a different complexion in consequence. Those who attend 
it do so because their interests are bound up with one or 
another of the contracting parties, there is no loophole left 
for the merely inquisitive acquaintance. Perhaps in days 
to come, when the worfd is at peace again, those who have 
appreciated the intimate charm of these quiet family weddings 
may influence public opinion permanently in their favour. 
They strike the right note so surely and well that the return 
of the former order will be something of a matter for regret. 
All That Is Needed 
Trousseau-buying has become as simple as the wedding 
ceremony itself. In fact, much of the purchase of a trousseau 
must take place after the wedding, so short sometimes is 
the notice given. Clothes just now seem to lend themselves 
particularly to the summer bride, they might almost have 
been designed for that special purpose. The short full skirts, 
the ruches, tucks, and flounces, are very girlish, very appro- 
priate. And by reason of everybody's plans being uncertain, 
trousseaux are very small nowadays. 
This absence of ostentation is indeed particularly notice- 
able in most bridal outfits. They, like everything else, follow 
the subdued influence of the times. With much needless 
delay, also, people are paying more and more regard to the 
commonsense side of things, and are trpng to steer clear of 
the needless impedimenta of life. The bridal trousseau 
with a useless conglomeration of articles is amongst the 
first to go overboard. It is a question of the elimination 
of the useless, and an interesting question it is. For through 
it economy is not gained alone, but convenience and personal 
ease and comfort as well. We are tardy as usual, even in our 
efforts towards most necessary simplification. Our Allies, 
the French, have long before reached the goal, while we are 
making our first efforts to start. They have reduced to a 
fine art a science of which we have hardly as yet mastered 
the A. B.C. But even the most inveterate quibbler at English 
lack of method must admit we are progressing. The delight 
of the thing is that the stern avoidance of the superfluous, 
the rigid purpose of economy, does not mean a soul-destroying 
and ugly outlook. A clever speaker quoted it the other day 
as the cultivation of imagination, that most valuable of 
assets, and when imagination reigns even the dreariest 
outlook can grow gold 
The FASHION for 
PE TTICOA TS 
Owing to the remarkable 
change of fashion that has 
taken place underskirts have 
become an absolute necessity. 
We have now in stock a very 
large variety of dainty and 
inexpensive petticoats all cut 
in the new full shape. 
Dainty Petticoat, as sketch, 
in rich taflcta chiffon, in black 
and white checks, also stripes, 
in various widths, and navy and 
white stripes and checks. 
Special Price 
15 9 
Also in plain coloured chiffon 
taffeta at the same price. 
FUR RENOVA TIOSS 
AND REMODELLING. 
Many ladies who under or- 
dinary circufnstancts "would 
have purchased new furt, 
will this Season probably 
determine to have their ot>i 
fu TS renovated and re- 
modelled As th4 nnv 
Winter Models are ready 
customers can rely on their 
furs being f emodelUd in the 
newest shapes and at par- 
ticularly moderate prices. 
DebenKam 
GrFreebody 
Wigmore Street. 
.Cavendish Scjuare) LondonW! 
HOLIDA Y 
B LOUS Em 
With a view to keeping 
our Workers employed 
duringtheHolidaySeason 
we shall make up a large 
number of Blouses similar 
in character to the one 
sketched and offer them 
for sale at quite e.tcep- 
tional prices. Needless 
to say the quality of the 
materials used and the 
workmanship and finish 
will be quite up to our 
well-known standard of 
excellence. 
Dainty Blouse, an exact 
copy of a " Doucet " Model, 
in rich bright crepe de chine, 
in new hydrangea and light 
pastel colourings. Also in 
black and white, finished 
with goffered frill of clear 
white lawn. Stocked in 
mauve, sky, pink.champagne, 
lemon, French grey, hydran- 
gea pink and hydrangea blue. 
18/9 
DebenKam 
&Freebodv, 
Wifimore Street. 
iCovendish Square) London.w 
