The daily gazette., 1876-09-04
EXTRAVAGANCE.

much, was the abrupt exclamation
of the principal of a Hourishing
New England graded school, as he
came one day into the presence of
two Of his assistants in the lower
departments. You should wear
calico, or some other cheap mate
rial, and spend more money for
books" This principal was wise
man, and most successful man
ager of educational affairs, but he
knew nothing OF dress material.
Like most others of his sex,
he imagined that if a woman wore
calico. she was dressed economical
ly. That this was not the opinion
of the person addressed, may be in
ferred from the remark made by
one of them as he passed on:
"Why, what can wo wear, that is
cheaper than "fifty cent" black al
paca?
We confess to being tired of the
constant ringing of this word calico
in the ears of the sex,as though the
tide of extravaganza in dress that
is now rolling over our country
might be instantly stayed, if wo-
men would but come back to the
exclusive use of this seemingly in
expensive material. For many peo-
pie it may be inexpensive, but we
speak advisedly when we say that
a calico dress is one Of the most cost
ly ever worn by Il school teacher.
TO prove the assertion, let us calm
the aid of those illustrious truth
tellers yclept figures, which never
tell lie The nervous wear and
tear of the profession, combined
with the appetizing attractions of
boarding house tables, not tending
to produce corpulency, school mis-
tresses, as rule, may not be class
ed with Pharaoh's fat kline; hence,
4 plainly made dress of calico
would require twelve yards of ma
terial, which, at the average price
Of eleven cents per yard, would
make the original bill stand thus;
Twelve yards calico at llc....Sl 80
Lining and buttons. ............ 50
Making....................... 1.50
Total. 80
OF course this wonderfully in
expensive dress must be laundried
after a weeks wear, in order not
to be limp; SO another must be
procured to do duty in its place
every other week; the amount
then becomes double, and we have.
80 5zX2 X2..,................... ..S6 I'll
Laundress' bill for SO weeks at
lotal..........................Sl4 Ia
During these thirty weeks, one
black alpaca dress may be made to
do excellent service by an occa.
sional sponging with clear, cold
water, and the shrinkage and loss
of color incident to the frequent
washing OF a print be altogether
avoided. If the black dress be
made as plainly as the calico, ten
yards OF the first will go as far in
making up as twelve OF the last,
and the expenses Of the one alpaca
will be but half Of the expenditure
upon the two calicoes. Provided
however, that a little elaborate
style be desired for the handsomei
material, we find chat fifteen yards
will fashion q modestly trimmed
garment. Our problem will thei
stand:
| Fifteen yards Of alpaca ut
ooc''''''........... .....................S7 81
Trimmings....................... I
Making,........................... 35
lota .........................Sl :
We have calculated this amour
for the thirty weeks during whic
an alpaca dress may be comfort
ably worn, in nearly all section
Of our country, and have content
ed ourselves with showing the di
ference in expense, which as ma
be seen, is nearly three dollars i
favor of the better fabric, leavin
out Of consideration the fact tn:
every woman, be she fair or darl
tall or short, finds black dres
> the most becoming of any she CT,
wear, and, consequently, the on
|. in which sha foalo ~ oc+ -. l.