The Jersey City News

There is no reason why every girl should not be smart this spring. Nearly everything she could possibly wish for in the way of personal adornment is spread temptingly before her on the shop counters, and it is left to her taste alone as to what she shall select. There are things galore for the tailor-made girl, for the fluffy girl and even for the girl who does not know what she wants. The principal drawback, perhaps, of all these bits of finery is the cost, for many of the pretty luxuries come a trifle high; again some are surprisingly low, but this should never annoy the smart girl, even if her income is limited. If she is deft with her needle, and all girls should be, she can copy what she sees at one-half the cost; for instance the stocks, trim little turnover collars, and even the filmy lace boas should have no particular terror for her.

The up-to-date girl is equal to almost anything and a walk through the shops this spring will have many revelations that she can turn out for herself, regardless of the limitations of her pocketbook.

Those skirts with lawn ruffles are charming. Shaped flounces of fine embroidered white lawn are set upon white silk skirts, the embroidery in effective flower designs done in a rather heavy cotton and finished with lace. On some of the skirts there are inserts of lace above the embroidery, and on others only an insertion and narrow ruffle, with a lace edge at the bottom. There is a little heading of the lawn at the top, finished with an edge of lace.

If you want something new in the neck line, try the latest fancy, which is for wearing a stock with a low-cut gown. Of course, the gown must not be extremely decollete, but just about the dinner height, rounding, perhaps, or square. A square-necked gown with a pink velvet stock, fastened high around the throat like a necklace, is very becoming.

Have you seen the stocks with narrow gold chain attached, no larger than a thread, with a silver heart pendant? The heart opens, and inside there is a picture of some one's best boy.

Wear a heart. It is an interesting trifle.

Many of the handsome fabrics at the wool goods counters which are part silk have been treated to such a generous quantity of silk as to appear all silk.

Among all the rich weaves there is nothing more beautifully silky than crepe Orient. It has all the Oriental softness of crepe, and compares not unfavorably with the rich satin finish crepe de chines that cost $5 the yard. Only this charming stuff is marked $1.50. It, too, is 43 inches in width. It is especially effective in the cool, pale colors.

Hair brushes should be washed once a week, and are soon spoiled unless properly cleansed. The best way is to put a tablespoonful of ammonia in a quart of water, as hot as can be borne comfortably by the hand. The brush should be freed from hairs and dipped, bristles downward, in and out of the water until clean. It should be rinsed by dipping in cold water in the same way. Shake well, wipe the back and handle carefully, and put on a window sill to dry in the open air. The back should not be allowed to become damp if it can be avoided. Soap should not be used for washing as it makes the bristles soft.

Blushing seems to be a real trial to a great many young girls. The blushing face is an evidence of a refined and sensitive mind, and there would be something strange about a young girl who never blushed. A blush is a sign hung out by nature to show where purity and honor dwell. The poet Gay says charmingly:

"The rising blushes which her cheeks o'erspread Are opening roses in the lily's bed."

Abnormal blushing is a most uncomfortable ailment, and is often a symptom that the victim's health is not quite what it should be.

Blushing is always a mark of sensitiveness and the over-frequent blushing of the young girl generally subsides as the years go on, but it is to be hoped that she may never lose her power of blushing, for that would indicate a decrease of mental refinement.