The Middleburgh Post

A Demand for Calicoes Among the Fashionable.

Soft summer silks and other more expensive summer materials are not possible with every woman. To some comes the necessity for a stringent economy that will not permit the purchase of these more expensive fabrics, and to such the summer print goods offer a chance. There are thousands of women who appreciate the attractive colorings that are to be found in the figured foulards, the dainty organdies and French muslins, but who are denied them because of the expense attached to their purchase. It is for the benefit of these that I wish to point to the revivals in calico.

Within the memory of the present generation there has never been such effects produced as are now seen in the calicoes and other cheaper cotton goods as are now being shown. There was a time when calicoes were regarded as the summer material, and every woman wore them, but our ideas as to the desirable materials for summer have expanded even more rapidly in many cases than our pocketbooks, and women whose grandmothers wore calico must now have silks. But this year, the merchants tell me, there is a new demand for calicoes. To meet this demand the manufacturers have turned out some charming French prints that in appearance are as lovely as foulards, and make up into becoming and fashionable gowns. Not only are our own looms turning out some marvels of perfection in the way of calicoes, but the merchants are importing others that are beautiful.

The French send us true prints - that is, cotton of a soft finish, its background white, with clear pale blue rings and black dots thereon, or faint yellow cottons that are printed in black rings and blue dots. From England we gladly receive the true old-style cottons, sprigged over with the same quaint and daring mixtures of very bright flowers that are seen on Minton and old-fashioned simple Worcestershire china. Most of these English and French calicoes are woven with borders that are happily utilized in the make-up of the country costume, for it is hardly the best taste to use lace and embroidery in the garnishment of a simple print dress.

From our own looms they are turning out the loveliest cotton goods flowered over in bold brocade and cretonne designs. Furthermore, these American calicoes are treated with a rich surface finish that gives them the gloss of silk, but does not injure the simplicity and softness of the fabric.

No woman need feel any hesitancy about wearing these delightful cotton goods. They are comparatively cheap, to be sure, but their finish and colorings have given them a prestige that is being felt even in circles where cost is considered of minor importance, and many charming gowns made of them will be seen at both seashore and country resort during the summer.