FASHIONABLE NOTE PAPER AND MENUS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2399, 10 December 1881, Page 4

FASHIONABLE NOTE PAPER AND MENUS.

[From the “ Queen.”] The various moods, if we mi>y no call them, of modern caprice have permeated all the trifles of the stationery case. An roithotio young lady now conducts ail her social correspondence on art-tinted paper, bearing in ono corner tho emblematic sunflower, tulip, tigerlily, or else a solitary, weird peacock’s feather with golden eye. The strong-minded damsel, ■who is not. scared by mice, pigs, and elephants on her jewellery, permits these lucky animals to ornament her missives; occasionally, 100, her choice falls upon tho spinster’s kitlen represented in every colour of the rainbow, or a very apathetic-looking lamb, with “ My pet written underneath in gilt letters. A golden globe on a red sea is an appropriate symbol for letter-writing folk who are ever “ on tho wing.” Convenient and popular is the notepaper or.graved with gold-outlined leaves of various shapes, across which is inscribed the day of tho week. Every form of entertainment now calls for its special invite note. We have all become familiar with the woe paper and _ envelopes suggesting a cosy dinner by their willowpattern plate, crossed fork and spoon, or homely joint. Tho five o’clock tea prompts many other reminders ; sometimes the teapot seems to puff out. of its spout tho golden words “ Dome early,” or tho kettle recall the old-fashioned social parties, “kettledrums,” which first started those delightful meals. Another good idea is the hall clock with its hands pointing to the hour of five, and accompanied by a gipsy table set with aoinglo cup and a single choir. Rtally this is too great solitude ! But, by the way, has it been represented personally as a tolling appeal to the friend who is thus asked to share a cup of tea ? On another kind of “ tea inviio ” note the deck is without hands, probably to allow the hostess to mark herself any time most itiitable. A music stand, too, indicates the proposed entertainment of the visitors. For this new paper the manufacturer has entered quite into the spirit of tho fun. Tho surface, instead of beirg marbled, as it appears at first sight, is stamped all ever with tiny scattered spoons, sugar tongs, cream jugs, kettles, teapots, and cups and saucers! Lawn tennis mote, too, has it# own signs in the guise of crossed racquets, stretched netting, while one special kind is ornamented by etched figures of lively girls in different attitudes of the game. ... Scribblers of a comical turn of mind will patronise the paper with pen-and-ink headings illustrating with pleasant satire some ordinary and friendly sentences. “ Tho’ lost to sight, to memory dear,” is expressed by the smart drawing of an urchin stealing jam from tho cupboard. “I am taking steps to address yon,” by a workman carrying a ladder to reach tho window whoro the housemaid awaits her usual private chat. “Just a line is indicated by a boy fishing ; and “ Hero goes ” by a rather frenzied-looking individual with a pen towering above his shoulders. These are but a few from the countless caricatures now met with, amongst which none, however, are more to the point than the puns for invite cards, menus representing fashionable pastimes. The tennis menu, for inatance, shows a young girl standing on a lawn wearing a bonnet ingeniously shaped from a double racket, with one or two balls doing service for flowers inside tho hollow brim. On one side of her is written “ 10,” and on the other “ is”—tennis. Cricket is similarly signified by a large cricket standing on its bind logs, and enjoying a good bowl. For croquet a sombre crow is joining in the ■port, tho latter part of tho name being made np by a big K on the lower corner of tho card. The representation of bicycle is not quite so direct; a bee is perched on the vehicle, the insect’s name spelt in full on the left, and the word sea appearing on the right Menus for ordinary dinner and luncheon parties, &0., are decorated with gilded ferns and flowers, domestic scenes of “ Under the window,” character, and colored miniature pictures, portraying teithetio maidens in “utter,” “intense,” and other stages of rapture, before some ancient vase or piece of metal work.

Pink crape has been revived for bonnets. Pompadour flowered cretonnes are revived, Walking jackets never go entirely out of fashion. "Very little jewellery is worn with white costumes.

Necklets of beads are becoming very fashionable. Steel and gold are the admired combination this summer. White and pale pink bonnets are most worn at receptions. Trained skirts are worn only by married or matronly women. Queen Charlotte collars of immense size are worn in England. Sashes of ombre ribbon will bo much worn with white toilets. Mother Hubbard is tho fairy godmother of fashion this spring. Sateen or satinet is the most popular wash fabric of Parisians.

There is a brisk demand for batistes, seersuckers and ginghams. All young women wear short, untrained skirts on all occasions. A new collaret, called the Medici, is made of puffs of mull muslin. Tan-coloured, undress kid gloves are worn with white costumes. Mixed black and white feathers are used to trim black rough straw hats Gilded bamboo and violet wood sticks are the most popular for parasols. Steel appears as a part of tho decorative effects of every dressing toilet. Black costumes are brightened with ombre Surah or Bayadere striped goods. Bright gold colour, not to say yellow, is one of the most popular shades in dress. Embroidery of tho finest kind is considered more elegant on mull dresses than lace. Albatross cloth ia tho now material destined to rival Chudda cloth and nun’s veiling. Little puffed pockets of ombre and Bayadere silk are worn, with sashes to match. Sateens and cambrics are more in demand at the moment than muslins, lawns or linens.

Figured delaines, to match and combine with plain ones, oppear among the spring novelties.

Many small tucks, much shirring, and fine embroidery are tho adornments of mull muslin toilets.